My Exciting Journey: Building The Perfect Home Recording Booth For Voice Overs-Part Three (Chaotic Destruction)

There’s a particular kind of peace that comes with controlled demolition - at least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself today.

I’ve spent the past several weeks transforming cluttered chaos into (mostly) organised chaos. Possessions have been sorted, storage boxes stacked like well-behaved Tetris blocks, and several bin bags have bid a final farewell. One step closer to studio serenity.

Recording room empty and ready for demolition to begin

Today’s mission? Rip it apart to build it back as a much better recording booth.

The plasterboard that once separated the room from the cupboard? Gone. Peeling paint and stubborn wallpaper? Defeated. Carpet? Uplifted and relocated to the “why did I do this today?” section of my mind. Beneath it, I found floorboards with character—by which I mean creaks. Lots of them.

The Hidden Headaches

Nothing ever goes entirely to plan in renovation land. Behind the standing brick end walls, I discovered more depth than expected (not metaphorical, unfortunately), which means future SBX sandboard fitting just got trickier.

The skirting boards? Many will need replacing when the new carpet goes in. The cupboard door frame? It fought valiantly, but it too had to be removed. Add that to the replacement list. And at some point very soon, I’ll have to raid my storage unit for wool insulation and see how much wall I can pack it into. Cosier voiceovers await.

Alex and David in masks, ready to take on the plasterboard

The Squeaky Floor Dilemma

Here’s the rub - literally. The floorboards run the entire length of the upstairs level, so replacing them isn’t an option unless I want to start rebuilding the house from the roof down. A floating floor? Too rich for my blood. Slapping MDF over the top? Cheap, but it would leave a charming hump in the carpet. Rubber matting might be my best bet for reducing noise transmission… but again, not the kindest to the budget.

The Ever-Growing B&Q Odyssey

My humble shopping list has quietly ballooned into an epic scroll of possibilities and expenses. I’m still doing my best to stick to a realistic budget - but as anyone who’s wandered into a home improvement store knows, dreams tend to get pricier with each aisle.

Thankfully, my partner’s father has stepped in as the unsung hero of the hour, generously lending tools and a touch of sanity to the process: one less cost, and a whole lot of gratitude.

It’s a mess, but it’s my mess - and it’s starting to take shape. The destruction has a purpose, the progress is tangible, and with every screw and splinter, I’m one step closer to the perfect recording sanctuary.

Recording room, half demolished

Stay tuned for Part Four - because the only thing more exciting than demolition… is building it all back up again.