Learning How To Finish A Basement The Right Way
Finishing your basement has a lot of advantages. It can greatly improve your home’s value, increase the livable space and provide a place for a playroom, a recreation room or an office. In addition, it costs much less to finish a basement than to finish other floors of a home. If you are considering this home improvement project and wondering how to finish your basement, the steps below will help you with this rewarding task.
STEP ONE: PLAN
You should begin thinking about how to finish basement projects long before you drive the first nail. Start out by measuring your basement and creating a scale model on graph paper or in an interior design program. Next, sketch out what you would like your basement to look like when you are finished. Make sure to include storage areas and space for utilities, and don’t forget to add fixtures, outlets and switches.
Once you have an idea of what you want, create a realistic budget. You can expect to spend anywhere from $25 to $40 per square foot, but this will be more if you want features such as custom cabinets or real wood floors. Finally, decide whether you are going to hire a contractor or do the job yourself. You can save a lot of money by finishing your own basement, but you should not attempt it unless you have experience in framing, drywall, plumbing and electrical work. If you have no idea how to finish a basement, you should probably hire a contractor. If you choose this option, be prepared to pay for half of the job upfront.
STEP TWO: WATERPROOF
Many people miss this important step when they start asking themselves the question, “Do I know how to finish my basement?” However, it is essential that you waterproof carefully if you don’t want all of your hard work to be ruined by a flood. Make sure that your yard slopes away from your house, your gutters are clean and your downspouts extend at least five feet from your foundation. Check your plumbing for hidden leaks, and repair any cracks in the concrete. Finally, consider waterproofing the walls and installing a sump pump.
STEP THREE: PURCHASE MATERIALS
Make a detailed list of the materials you will need for each room, and begin purchasing them. You may want to consider purchasing treated lumber to further safeguard against moisture damage and mold-resistant drywall to ensure that you don’t end up with fungus in your new basement. In addition, many people find that foam insulation works better for basements than fiberglass. Also, don’t forget small but important materials such as drywall screws.
If you are planning to finish the basement yourself, you will need to make sure that you have the proper tools as well. This will include such things as a compound miter saw, a circular saw, a drywall saw, a cordless drill and a nail gun. You will also need a reciprocating saw, a jigsaw and a hammer as well as a T-square, a chalk line and a level.
STEP FOUR: BUILD
If you are finishing your own basement; be sure to mark the location of the walls before you begin. Use a framing square and a chalk line, and check that longer walls are square using the 3-4-5 method. Also, decide how you are going to frame the walls. There are two methods for doing this, and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. The first method is to build the walls on the ground and raise them into place. This can be a lot easier than the other method because it involves less climbing and reaching, but it can be a problem in basements that have a lot of obstacles such as pipes and ducts. The second method is to nail the bottom and the top plates into place and then add the studs between them. This is the preferred method for basements with a lot of obstructions.
If you are planning to have someone else do the job for you, chose your contractor carefully. Try to find someone who specializes in basements and understands the challenges involved. Ask the contractor how many similar jobs he has completed, and get references from him. Follow up by actually calling those references and asking if you can see the contractor’s work. Finally, get a proposal from the contractor and look it over thoroughly.