Home Theater

The Home Theater phenomenon grows larger every year. Almost all newly constructed high-end homes include some form of home theater -- the more expensive the residence, the more elaborate the theater. Because it’s such a complex undertaking, no single person should be expected to build a complete home theater solution. It takes the coordination of multiple trades to do it right, and therefore, your starting point should always be a custom electronics installer.

Keep in mind that there’s a world of difference between a dedicated home theater and a media room or a family room that generally serves another purpose. A home theater often requires the coordination of an electrician, a home theater furniture and acoustics company, a cabinet maker, window treatment specialists, drywall tradesmen, a decorator, and of course, a custom installer -- the person who oversees the entire project.

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Because a custom installer is the most important person involved in this project, you need to take time to make sure you get the right one. Here are the do's and don’ts of hiring a custom installer.

Don’t: Hire a guy who works out of his van with a hand-painted sign that says "Fred’s Electronics." This person is often called a "trunk slammer." He has no license, no office, and no insurance.

Do: Ask for a local business license that explains the scope of work the licensee may undertake. Also ask to see the installer’s liability ($1 million per year or more) and workman’s comp insurance. Do not hire an uninsured trades-person for any work on your home. A membership in CEDIA (The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) is another big plus.

Don’t: Take a super low bid. The phrase, "You Get What You Pay For" is so very appropriate here. If a bid seems too good to be true, then it probably is. This is not aisle shopping at Brandsmart. This is a custom home theater.

Do: Try to find an installer that will spend time with you, and then ask the right questions. A good installer will listen to what you have in mind and make it happen. If the installer seems like he or she is in a rush, then you probably want to pass on this person.

Don’t: Forget to get references. This is your only real link to the installer’s previous work. When speaking to past clients ask if the installer showed up when promised. Ask if the theater was completed on time. Ask if they were happy with the final product. Ask if the installer was available for help with questions after he or she was paid in full.

Do: Get a contract that lists all the equipment, outlines the scope of work, and gives an estimated completion date. The more detail in the contract, the less opportunity for misunderstandings.

After you’ve hired your custom installer and laid out your home theater electronics, the next step is the design of the interior design elements. Even if you already have an interior designer, he or she may not have experience in creating certain aspects necessary for good home theater design. Factors to take into account include: specialized seating and seating heights, appropriate lighting, custom floor and wall acoustic panels, surround speaker placement etc. For this type of work you need an outfit that specializes in home theater design. Such companies have standard custom theaters you can choose from with a palette of colors to match the rest of your home, or they can create something completely custom from the ground up. This is where the interior decorator comes in, as he or she can work with the home theater design people to coordinate the theater room with the rest of your home. Your custom installer will know which home theater design firm will work best.

Now that you’ve chosen your electronics, theater seating, and theater design, it’s time to think about lighting -- not electric lighting, but rather the elimination of outside lighting from windows and other unwanted sources. If you have windows in your home theater room, they need to be blacked out completely. Your interior designer can provide a myriad of possibilities that will work, and your custom installer will get involved if you want to motorize the treatments.

Building a custom home theater can be a wonderful experience. Imagine sitting down in a plush recliner, picking up a color touchscreen remote, and by pushing a single button the performance begins. The lights dim, the shades descend, and your favorite film appears in brilliant color on a 100-inch screen. It’s all possible. You just have to hire the right people.

For additional information: Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA)