FAQ — Sonic Safehouse | Permits, Acoustics, Delivery & Pricing

Question 1

Do I really need no building permit?

Accepted Answer

In most Canadian municipalities, freestanding accessory structures under 10 square metres (107.6 sq ft) are exempt from building permits. The Sonic Safehouse footprint is exactly 102 sq ft — safely under the threshold. That said, permit rules can vary by municipality. We strongly recommend confirming with your local planning office before ordering. We'll help you with that conversation.

Question 2

What if my municipality has different rules?

Accepted Answer

Some municipalities have stricter local bylaws that override the provincial standard. If your jurisdiction requires a permit, the studio can still be delivered — it just may need to go through a permit process. Because the Sonic Safehouse sits on a timber skid (not a permanent foundation), it's classified as a movable structure in most jurisdictions, which often carries a lighter regulatory burden than a permanent build.

Question 3

Does the studio need to be attached to my house?

Accepted Answer

No. It's a completely freestanding structure that sits on a gravel pad in your backyard. No attachment to your home, no foundation, no excavation beyond the gravel pad prep.

Question 4

Is it legal to transport on Saskatchewan highways?

Accepted Answer

Yes. At 8.5 feet wide and 11 feet tall (12'4" combined with the trailer), the Sonic Safehouse travels within Canada's standard legal highway dimensions — no wide-load permits, no escort vehicles, no restricted travel hours required anywhere in Canada.

Question 5

What does STC 50–52 actually mean?

Accepted Answer

STC (Sound Transmission Class) is the standard measure of how much sound a wall blocks. At STC 50–52, normal conversation, acoustic guitar, vocals, and mid-range instruments are completely inaudible outside the studio. Neighborhood sounds like lawnmowers and traffic are reduced to a faint whisper inside. The weak point at this rating is very low sub-bass — loud kick drums or cranked bass amplifiers may produce a faint low-frequency thud outside.

Question 6

Why no drywall?

Accepted Answer

Traditional drywall cracks during highway transport. We use Mass-Loaded Vinyl (MLV) — a dense, limp rubber barrier — backed by a hidden MDF mass layer inside a commercial PVC fabric track system. This delivers equivalent acoustic mass to double-layer drywall, but flexes safely at 100 km/h on the highway and arrives flawless every time.

Question 7

Can I track drums in it?

Accepted Answer

The STC 50–52 rating will contain most drum kit volume to a faint low-end thud outside. For full drum tracking with no audible bleed, you'd want STC 60+, which requires significantly heavier wall mass. The Sonic Safehouse is optimized for vocals, acoustic instruments, guitar DI, podcasting, and mixing — not live drum rooms.

Question 8

What's the interior acoustic treatment situation?

Accepted Answer

The shell controls sound leaving and entering (soundproofing). Interior acoustic treatment controls echoes inside the room (acoustic treatment). Tier 1 ships as an acoustically isolated blank canvas — you add your own treatment. Tier 2 includes factory-installed reflection panels, corner bass traps, and a ceiling cloud. Tier 3 adds the custom workstation desk.

Question 9

What does my property need for delivery?

Accepted Answer

You need a clear path at least 10 feet wide and 14 feet high from the street to the pad location — free of low-hanging branches, power lines, or overhangs. The gravel pad itself needs to be 9.5' × 13', excavated 4–6 inches deep, filled with 3/4" crushed limestone, and level within 1/4" across the diagonal. We provide a full site prep spec sheet when you book.

Question 10

How long does delivery take?

Accepted Answer

Build time is approximately 4–6 weeks from deposit. Delivery is scheduled once your gravel pad is confirmed ready. The actual delivery and placement takes a few hours on-site.

Question 11

How far do you deliver?

Accepted Answer

We primarily serve Western Canada — Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the territories. We'll also deliver anywhere else in Canada; just ask and we'll quote the distance. Delivery is an additional cost, charged per kilometre from our Saskatchewan workshop, and is always included as a separate line item in your quote so there are no surprises.

Question 12

Can the studio be moved after delivery?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because it sits on a timber skid foundation rather than a permanent footing, it can be picked up by a tilt-deck trailer and relocated. This is one of the key advantages of the RTM model — if you move, your studio moves with you.

Question 13

How does it connect to power?

Accepted Answer

The studio connects to your home's electrical panel via a weather-proof shore power inlet plug — similar to an RV hookup. We recommend having a licensed electrician run a dedicated 30A or 50A circuit from your panel to the pad location. The studio's internal sub-panel handles the rest, splitting power into isolated clean audio circuits and a separate mechanical loop for the HVAC and lighting.

Question 14

Will it stay warm in a Saskatchewan winter?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 9,000 BTU ductless mini-split heat pump is rated to −30°C. The walls are packed with Rockwool insulation and the structure is fully weatherproofed for Canadian winters. The exterior compressor sits on a separate pad beside the studio — not bolted to the shell — so motor vibrations don't transmit into your recordings.

Question 15

Does the ventilation system let sound in?

Accepted Answer

No. Fresh air enters and exits through two independent wooden baffle boxes lined with rigid fiberglass and featuring three 90-degree internal bends. This S-curve design lets air flow freely while completely blocking exterior sound from traveling down the airway.

Question 16

What are the three tiers?

Accepted Answer

Tier 1 — The Producer Shell ($44,500): Complete acoustic shell with HVAC and electrical. You furnish it yourself. Tier 2 — The Acoustic Core ($47,100): Shell plus factory-installed reflection panels, corner bass traps, and ceiling cloud. Tier 3 — The Master Suite ($49,600): Everything in Tier 2 plus a CNC-routed Baltic birch workstation desk fitted to the exact interior width.

Question 17

What's the payment schedule?

Accepted Answer

30% deposit on contract signing (locks your build slot and funds materials). 40% at the framing milestone (structural framing and mechanical rough-in complete). 30% final payment at pre-delivery inspection on our shop floor.

Question 18

Is the deposit refundable?

Accepted Answer

The booking deposit is non-refundable once materials have been ordered, which typically happens within the first week of signing. Before materials are ordered, deposits can be refunded in full. We'll be clear about this timeline when you sign.

Common questions.

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