Home Theater Riser - Over or Under Carpet?

[Gunslinger08]

Getting to the point in my build that I need to start the riser. The area where it's going already has a low ceiling (6'10") because of a soffit. The riser will either be 10" or 12" tall, so I'm planning to build it with just a small "landing" on the front, so that people aren't inclined to step up and walk around on it - just step up and sit down.

However, I'm not sure whether to put the riser above the carpet (and then carpet it separately) or below the carpet. If it's below the carpet, I don't have to worry about it moving around and I save money by only carpeting the area once, but I will have to use pressure treated lumber (direct contact with concrete floor) and it might hurt resale (ceiling height including riser will actually be below code). If it's over the carpet, I can move it for resale, but I pay for carpeting the same area twice (which will probably never look right after moving the riser anyway).

Thoughts?

 

[sdifox]

lulz if you are going to build something, do not think about resale value. I am not sure you have the headroom for a riser though.

 

[dfuze]

I think the weight of a riser sitting/crushing the carpet would kill the resale value either way, so I would personally go with whichever method is easier for you.

@sdifox, I think there may be enough headroom there as he is describing it as just a platform there for seating so people wouldn't be standing up to hit their heads... just be careful standing up when getting out of the seat though

 

[sdifox]

I think the weight of a riser sitting/crushing the carpet would kill the resale value either way, so I would personally go with whichever method is easier for you.

@sdifox, I think there may be enough headroom there as he is describing it as just a platform there for seating so people wouldn't be standing up to hit their heads... just be careful standing up when getting out of the seat though

He is talking 10-12", which means he is down to 6' headroom. I am 5' 10" and that is really cutting it close.

 

[dfuze]

I don't disagree with you, that will be a tight fit. I'm trying to think of a "standard" height of someone when they are seated + that riser height might will allow most people to sit in there, but if you constantly sense the ductwork right above your head that could take away from the experience.

 

[alkemyst]

I think the riser would be counterproductive to the room itself.

Seriously are you going to be having 10-12 people or more over regularly or are you trying to figure out how to populate a very narrow room.

For most doing higher end theatre treatments in their modest homes takes a lot away in the end.

I really hate hanging out with friends that have a shitastic projector pushing it's limits on a wall that is just painted, in a room not deep enough for that screen size.

To top it off add in $3000 in subs with a $300 HT in the box setup or worse a SOUNDBAR...

Also in the end lowering the screen height is usually a better place for most to start.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I think the riser would be counterproductive to the room itself.

Seriously are you going to be having 10-12 people or more over regularly or are you trying to figure out how to populate a very narrow room.

For most doing higher end theatre treatments in their modest homes takes a lot away in the end.

I really hate hanging out with friends that have a shitastic projector pushing it's limits on a wall that is just painted, in a room not deep enough for that screen size.

To top it off add in $3000 in subs with a $300 HT in the box setup or worse a SOUNDBAR...

Also in the end lowering the screen height is usually a better place for most to start.

I'm doing a front row of 3 HT recliners and a back row with a couch. The seating area is only about 100" for the back row (about 115" for the front), so it's not like I'm putting in a row of 5 or 6 chairs. Realistically the most people I'll usually have down there is 4 or 5, with maybe 7 or 8 for special events like the Superbowl. I have a bar area behind the back row as well that should sit 3 or 4.

The room is fairly shallow (17'), but it's the best I could do while maintaining a good sized room behind it (which is open through a half wall/bartop). I bought a good projector (Epson 8350) and I'm ordering a Seymour AV acoustically transparent screen, Chase Home Theater front 3 speakers, and an Epik subwoofer. I'm not some moron who blows $5k on a Bose system and a 480p projector.

I know the ceiling height isn't great for a riser, but I really want to be able to seat at least me, my wife, and my close friends comfortably. Three seats isn't enough and the bar stools or short "gamer chairs" won't be comfortable for a 2 hour movie or 3 hour football game.

 

[BelleBlandfield]

I would go over the carpet, and if you have a low ceiling you really don't need a riser that's a foot off the ground. We have risers that are only about 6 inches off the ground and it's plenty high. We, however, have to have the carpet underneath the riser, because we have ButtKicker bass installed underneath our risers.