ᐅ Basement for a Small Recording Studio, or an Extension Instead?
Created on: 13 Mar 2015 10:47
W
Willem81
Hello everyone!
My family and I plan to build a house in the near future. We have already purchased the plot, found an architect, and many components are already quite clear to us. We will build using solid wood construction. Our requirements are not very complex: besides an open ground floor with kitchen, living room, utility room, shower bathroom, and workspace, there will be a master bedroom and two children's rooms upstairs. So far, so simple.
The more complicated issue is this: I am a musician and would like to integrate my small recording studio into the house. I work there alone, so it is not a studio with through traffic. The room will also be used for making music and rehearsals. It should be about 30sqm (320sq ft) in size. We had long thought about a separate acoustically isolated annex, but our architect suggested that a basement might be more sensible. We actually wanted to avoid a basement for cost reasons. But the architect is right: an annex naturally incurs different costs than a basement.
In addition, the soil in the top 2 meters (6.5 feet) is rich in humus, so we would have to remove 2 meters (6.5 feet) of soil anyway and replace it with sand if we did not build a basement. So that makes sense.
The soil expert also recommends a water-tight concrete structure ("white tank"). The footprint will be approximately 9x9 meters (30x30 feet), so the basement will be around 80sqm (860sq ft). As a living basement, it will also need insulation. I would like the studio to have daylight, so the idea is to build a high basement and take advantage of the slightly sloped site, grading the southern side so that the basement is at ground level on that side.
Now my question to you: does this make sense cost-wise? Or can you imagine a cheaper solution for this room? Considering all these points (grading, insulation, water-tight structure, high basement, etc.), could an annex actually be more cost-effective? Integrating the room into the upper or ground floor is difficult space-wise because the building footprint is hard to extend due to a fairly narrow building envelope (an annex would be possible, as the plot is triangular and a smaller structure could fit beside the house). The house can only be built as 1.5 stories, so using the attic is not an option. Do you have experience with suppliers of prefabricated basements?
I would appreciate your opinions!
Best regards,
Willem
My family and I plan to build a house in the near future. We have already purchased the plot, found an architect, and many components are already quite clear to us. We will build using solid wood construction. Our requirements are not very complex: besides an open ground floor with kitchen, living room, utility room, shower bathroom, and workspace, there will be a master bedroom and two children's rooms upstairs. So far, so simple.
The more complicated issue is this: I am a musician and would like to integrate my small recording studio into the house. I work there alone, so it is not a studio with through traffic. The room will also be used for making music and rehearsals. It should be about 30sqm (320sq ft) in size. We had long thought about a separate acoustically isolated annex, but our architect suggested that a basement might be more sensible. We actually wanted to avoid a basement for cost reasons. But the architect is right: an annex naturally incurs different costs than a basement.
In addition, the soil in the top 2 meters (6.5 feet) is rich in humus, so we would have to remove 2 meters (6.5 feet) of soil anyway and replace it with sand if we did not build a basement. So that makes sense.
The soil expert also recommends a water-tight concrete structure ("white tank"). The footprint will be approximately 9x9 meters (30x30 feet), so the basement will be around 80sqm (860sq ft). As a living basement, it will also need insulation. I would like the studio to have daylight, so the idea is to build a high basement and take advantage of the slightly sloped site, grading the southern side so that the basement is at ground level on that side.
Now my question to you: does this make sense cost-wise? Or can you imagine a cheaper solution for this room? Considering all these points (grading, insulation, water-tight structure, high basement, etc.), could an annex actually be more cost-effective? Integrating the room into the upper or ground floor is difficult space-wise because the building footprint is hard to extend due to a fairly narrow building envelope (an annex would be possible, as the plot is triangular and a smaller structure could fit beside the house). The house can only be built as 1.5 stories, so using the attic is not an option. Do you have experience with suppliers of prefabricated basements?
I would appreciate your opinions!
Best regards,
Willem
S
Sebastian7913 Mar 2015 12:57Dirt, I first need to have a serious talk with the architect and structural engineer.
Lexmaul79 schrieb:
Dirt, I’ll first have to have a serious talk with the architect and the structural engineer.Why? They’re off the hook without an expert report! After all, it’s your plot of land... It’s probably mentioned somewhere in the fine print.
S
Sebastian7913 Mar 2015 17:31No, they are not – just as a side note. But which contract?
However, this is quite off-topic now.
However, this is quite off-topic now.
The question also arises as to what kind of foundation would be required without a basement. On a sloped site, the (unfinished) basement sometimes comes almost for free.
Regarding the additional costs, it also depends on what kind of music or recordings will be made and how high the requirements for noise insulation (in both directions) are. In Hamburg, for example, a music room can become quite expensive. Conversely, in many cases, a normal room with heavy sand-lime brick walls and a solid door (or an anteroom) may be sufficient.
There is also the question of the available plot and planning permission. After all, this is supposed to be a heated living space, which may not necessarily be allowed as an outbuilding.
Especially in a wooden house, it might be a good idea for the washing machine to have its own space in the basement.
So, have a soil survey done and get an estimate of how much a basement would cost (in addition). Then decide whether a normal room will suffice. I would suspect it becomes quite expensive if the basement ceiling needs to be particularly strong.
Regarding the additional costs, it also depends on what kind of music or recordings will be made and how high the requirements for noise insulation (in both directions) are. In Hamburg, for example, a music room can become quite expensive. Conversely, in many cases, a normal room with heavy sand-lime brick walls and a solid door (or an anteroom) may be sufficient.
There is also the question of the available plot and planning permission. After all, this is supposed to be a heated living space, which may not necessarily be allowed as an outbuilding.
Especially in a wooden house, it might be a good idea for the washing machine to have its own space in the basement.
So, have a soil survey done and get an estimate of how much a basement would cost (in addition). Then decide whether a normal room will suffice. I would suspect it becomes quite expensive if the basement ceiling needs to be particularly strong.
Thank you very much in advance for the many responses.
Building expert, very much and good information – thank you!
…oh yes, the myth of egg cartons. Except that they enrich the room with wonderful smells (rancid softboard with yolk residue), they are unfortunately completely useless. But it’s obviously clear that acoustic treatment will cause costs. That’s precisely why I am considering carefully whether it’s cheaper to build a basement or an extension. For the studio, I am probably going to consider a room-in-room solution, which can easily cost around 500-750 EUR per square meter (sqm) (DIY), otherwise it can quickly reach 1000-1500 EUR per sqm...
Well, I think that’s a matter of how natural it feels for someone. I grew up in a musical family; music was always made in our house, my mother had a music store, and so on. For me and my wife, that’s completely natural. But it is not intended to be used eight hours a day either.
Thank you for the offer; I will gladly come back to that. Your calculation already sounds very realistic… and around 60,000 EUR would really be an enormous amount. Does your estimated 42,000 EUR for the ground-level extension with a simple gable roof already include insulation and interior finishing (naturally without the acoustic treatment)?
…that’s a good point. Although, if there is an extension, it would also include a utility room and storage room, so that would be covered as well.
The soil surveyor has already been here; to summarize briefly, the results were:
- Topsoil up to about 1.75m (5 feet 9 inches)
- Then sand
- Groundwater hits starting at about 3.50m (11 feet 6 inches)
He said that at least the topsoil beneath the building footprint would need to be removed. Therefore, a basement could make sense since the ground has to be excavated anyway and otherwise would have to be filled with sand. Groundwater is not a problem; he said the basement would be sealed with a waterproof concrete shell ("white tank"), which is standard for basement construction in this region anyway. I personally always found the alternative with the extension much more attractive and thought it might tend to be too expensive. But judging from Bauexperte’s figures, I’m definitely reconsidering it.
Thank you!
Building expert, very much and good information – thank you!
Bauexperte schrieb:
One thing is certain – additional costs will come your way regardless, because acoustic separation upwards (from the basement perspective) or to the side (from the extension) will certainly not be cheap either. I don’t think using egg cartons like we did in the past will be effective.
…oh yes, the myth of egg cartons. Except that they enrich the room with wonderful smells (rancid softboard with yolk residue), they are unfortunately completely useless. But it’s obviously clear that acoustic treatment will cause costs. That’s precisely why I am considering carefully whether it’s cheaper to build a basement or an extension. For the studio, I am probably going to consider a room-in-room solution, which can easily cost around 500-750 EUR per square meter (sqm) (DIY), otherwise it can quickly reach 1000-1500 EUR per sqm...
Bauexperte schrieb:
As a household partner, I personally wouldn’t tolerate the recording studio inside the house at all; I know how loud it gets and how frequently doors open and close once the music enthusiasts get going. Eventually, the cola finds its way outside.
Well, I think that’s a matter of how natural it feels for someone. I grew up in a musical family; music was always made in our house, my mother had a music store, and so on. For me and my wife, that’s completely natural. But it is not intended to be used eight hours a day either.
Bauexperte schrieb:
It’s difficult to answer your questions because I’m missing prices for gravel in HB. I would therefore recommend having your architect calculate it; I can then adjust the cost estimate – excluding soil replacement – to realistically expected values.
Thank you for the offer; I will gladly come back to that. Your calculation already sounds very realistic… and around 60,000 EUR would really be an enormous amount. Does your estimated 42,000 EUR for the ground-level extension with a simple gable roof already include insulation and interior finishing (naturally without the acoustic treatment)?
maximax schrieb:
Especially in a wooden house, it might actually be a good idea if the washing machine also has its own room in the basement.
…that’s a good point. Although, if there is an extension, it would also include a utility room and storage room, so that would be covered as well.
maximax schrieb:
So have a soil survey done and get an estimate of how much a basement (additional) will cost. Then decide if a regular room would be sufficient. I would suspect it becomes quite expensive if the basement ceiling has to be particularly robust.
The soil surveyor has already been here; to summarize briefly, the results were:
- Topsoil up to about 1.75m (5 feet 9 inches)
- Then sand
- Groundwater hits starting at about 3.50m (11 feet 6 inches)
He said that at least the topsoil beneath the building footprint would need to be removed. Therefore, a basement could make sense since the ground has to be excavated anyway and otherwise would have to be filled with sand. Groundwater is not a problem; he said the basement would be sealed with a waterproof concrete shell ("white tank"), which is standard for basement construction in this region anyway. I personally always found the alternative with the extension much more attractive and thought it might tend to be too expensive. But judging from Bauexperte’s figures, I’m definitely reconsidering it.
Thank you!
B
Bauexperte15 Mar 2015 14:08Hello,
Regards, Bauexperte
Willem81 schrieb:You’re welcome.
Bauexperte, very many and good infos – thank you very much!
Willem81 schrieb:I’ve learned something new here; thank you!
For the studio, I will probably consider a room-in-room solution, which easily costs 500-750 EUR per sqm (for DIY, otherwise sometimes 1000-1500 EUR per sqm…).
Willem81 schrieb:That definitely makes things much easier.
Well, I think it really depends on how natural it is for you. I grew up in a family of musicians; music was always played in our house, my mother had a music store, and so on... so it’s completely natural for me and my wife. It’s also not meant to be used for eight hours per day.
Willem81 schrieb:Yes.
Are the 42,000 EUR you estimated for the single-story extension with a simple pitched roof already including insulation and interior finishing (of course without the acoustic treatment)?
Regards, Bauexperte
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