Should I design my studio?

[awolf97]

I have little knowledge of design, so I don't think me designing it would be ideal. It would be 35x35 feet. Should I design this myself, or should I hire a professional? If I should hire a pro, who would you recommend for this size area?

[xaMdaM]

It really does depend upon your budget, as much as anything.

What you can do for $10k is a lot different than what you can do for $100k...

[awolf97]

How much does building a studio (not massive) cost? I want to shape my budget around the project, not vice versa.

[awolf97]

anyone?

[johndykstra]

somewhere between $50-$100 per sq. ft.

roughly.

[awolf97]

My budget will then be around 100-150k

[gullfo]

part of it will also depend on your requirements for performance, workflow, isolation, features, finishes, projected equipment, existing building versus greenfield, commercial versus private, etc. best bet price out luxury homes in your area to determine a decent cost/ft2 estimate.

[avare]

Originally Posted by gullfo

part of it will also depend on your requirements for performance, workflow, isolation, features, finishes, projected equipment, existing building versus greenfield, commercial versus private, etc. best bet price out luxury homes in your area to determine a decent cost/ft2 estimate.

+1.

Additively,
Andre

[xaMdaM]

Originally Posted by awolf97

How much does building a studio (not massive) cost? I want to shape my budget around the project, not vice versa.

The REAL answer (seriously, no smartass content here) is proving to be 2.5 to 3 TIMES your hard budget. This is pretty much conclusive from my build of a modest budget, Greg Curtis' film score studio, and clueless' Miraverse/Manifold studio. We all 3 hit that budget inflation factor... and several other professional builds I've seen documented around the web, also hit the 3x number pretty strongly.

The numbers I cited at the beginning of my build budget, stayed in balance/proportion... it's just that all the numbers grew, due to inflation.

Your biggest concern is your labor cost.

Hiring professionals is worth every penny... but you better watch every penny. I think you'll find that you usually get what you pay for if you do your homework on the contractors you hire.

If yer' completely insane, or just a glutton for punishment, you can try saving some bucks by DIY... (so they say) <snork>

"They" is a bunch of nutcases who actually enjoy the physical punishment that building a studio is. So, understand that you'll likely want to tackle the parts of the project where your craftsmanship is up to the level of what you wish your outcome to be.

e.g. If you've never swung a hammer, sweated a plumbing joint, wired a breaker box or some other aspect of the building trades, I wouldn't expect to complete a studio like Greg's shop or The Miraverse... well, not without a whole lot of BenGay and thorazine, anyway.

Tackle what you can, but when you don't have a clue about something, or it's more than one person can handle safely... get a pro.

Also, time is a bandit... weather, availability and the ever present "oh shit" factor. Weather WILL happen... it happens every single day, and it WILL throw a wrench or two in there. Parts not being in stock for needing 30 days lead time means you really need to have a clear and detailed set of drawings to identify what needs to be special ordered... and when.

When you DIY, a day or two can really screw your logistics up. When you order drop ship materials, you better be ready to use it. A truck load of lumber, plywood, electrical, hvac or what have you, needs to be protected from that weather.

I had a guy who failed to show up for 3 days when I was ready to install the interior OSB on all the surfaces, starting with the ceiling. Those 3 days ultimately cost me 4 months... and caused me to move 9 bundles of 4'x8' OC703 around in the building. The insulation came early, I was behind schedule on the gypsum, and I think all in all, I spent a full 40 hours just moving those bundles of insulation around before it finally went up. So, be very aware of what your time frames are looking like.

I was able to handle the job as owner/contractor, and handled the under foundation work w/my electrical contractor, the framing, half the electrical, and all the finishes (except the tile work), by myself. I saved at least 40% of my labor costs... but I also added on a lot of time. I started my build 9/5/07 and got my final inspection/certificate of occupancy on 12/21/09. So, figure in your "time is money" panic/comfort level tolerance as well.

I was able to take that labor savings and invest it in design/materials. It was well worth the payoff, once I got past the reality of hemorrhaging cash was a way of life. I was also not in a huge rush. I was more interested in getting the room right, that just having a room. But, if you gotta be open within' a certain time line... be prepared to spend your money on manpower.

And God forbid breaking a special order item... that's when you sit there for 15 minutes just sayin'; "oh shit".

If you're really paranoid, you can buy construction insurance and put everything under an umbrella of protection. With the price of metals and high unemployment, construction sites are not above getting robbed of every inch of wire and scrap of metal ductwork and plumbing. Which will also play hell with your schedule.

So how much does a studio cost to build???

A whole lot more than you think....

[awolf97]

Thats the answer I like. Well, it's time to save I guess.