Basement Home Theater

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

Finishing your basement in Connecticut may be quite a worthwhile expenditure for your household's film buff. A finished basement is the ideal spot in the home for an extensive home theater system and media center. There are several ways to make this separate space as sound efficient and comfortable as the local multiplex.

The first and most important step is taking care of all moisture problems, including a wet foundation. Water and electricity do not mix, and the last thing you want is mold or mildew spores on your expensive electronic equipment, so basement waterproofing is the way to go. Structural work, including earthquake retrofitting, must be completed before you think about building your home theater.

Next, think about exactly how many people you expect to enjoy the system at a time. Will all the neighbors be coming over each week for Monday Night Football? Or will it be the family watching a movie together? Will you be investing in rows of stadium seating, or just a large couch and a couple of beanbag chairs? Seating and furniture is an important but often forgotten part of a home theater budget.

Speaking of budget, when it comes to electronics, expect more than half of your investment to be on speakers and video. There are a plethora of options and many of them are a matter of taste. You will probably be going high-definition for video—but do you want flat-panel plasma, rear projection, front projector and screen, or LCD? The high-quality video should be matched with top-notch sound. If you spend $2500 on a projection system, expect to spend at least the same amount on a 5.1 channel speaker system (or more for 7.1 channel). Cables, wiring, receivers, and other electronics can cost you an extra $1,000. Do your homework as far as the shape of your room and the appropriate screen size, especially if you are going with a projector system. Calculate the “throw” distance and zoom ranges, keeping in mind where you will be sitting in the basement. Audio professionals suggest placing surround-sound speakers on the side and rear walls of your basement home theater, not the ceiling, for the maximum experience.

Don’t forget to insulate the basement. The explosions in an action flick, or crowd at a football game, can travel through walls and disrupt other members of the household. This should be done early in the process. Insulate the floor beneath the main level of the house, which is the basement’s ceiling, with soundproof material. The floor of the basement should be wood, vinyl, or carpet. Concrete floors will create an echo with your home theater system. For the same reason, cover cement walls with sheetrock, drywall, or panels. Hang blackout blinds on basement windows— and you’ve got the ultimate night or day home theater experience.

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