How to Refinish a Basement Yourself

This post has been a LONG fourth dimension coming. Today I'm going to requite you ALL the details on how nosotros DIY'ed our basement renovation to end the basement. This project is actually non QUITE consummate, just we're SO close to completion that I want to walk you through it while it'south on my mind. When we purchased this house this is how the basement looked:

What to Expect for in an Unfinished Basement:

• We loved that other than the ductwork, the ceilings were over 7′ loftier.
• Other than one corner that could be fixed, in that location were no water issues.
• It only had supporting beams downwards the center, which allowed for a large rec. room.
• The utilities were concentrated to i area, allowing the rest to exist finished.

Because we used all of our extra money to complete renovations on the main floor, we knew information technology would be a few years until we could tackle the basement. Then nosotros put white paint on the floors and walls and enjoyed this infinite as our kids play room and rec room.

Somewhen nosotros framed out the guest room, utility room, and future bathroom. Putting unfinished drywall on i side of the walls created a individual infinite for our guests. It also gave the kids a identify to play and be rowdy and loud.

At this indicate I got a permit from the city just to make sure information technology would be an approved infinite. Hither is the flooring programme that I submitted to the urban center:

What to Rent Out to Finish the Basement:

• Plumbing (Well Abandonment)

When our well pump died and nosotros had to eliminate our well, that meant we could also eliminate the ugly well tank in the back corner along with some pipes that hung below the joists. This was an expensive project that we hired out considering nosotros didn't know the start matter about abandoning a well.

• Egress Windows

Another projection that nosotros hired out has having two nice egress windows installed. The same company that installed the windows also added drain tile in the corner where the tank had been, eliminating the place that water had been getting into the basement. These guys too jackhammered and hauled away the massive fireplace hearth that was protruding into the room. I wrote all about installing egress windows in this post if this is something you'd similar to DIY.

• New Furnace

Finally we had to accept a new furnace installed. Our existing furnace was from 1974 and was inefficient and as well poorly placed. When we replaced it with a loftier efficiency furnace we had them motion information technology a few feet towards our utility room, making it possible to enclose the furnace in the utility room.

• Radon Mitigation

Nigh houses where we live have high levels of radon, and currently we do not have a mitigation arrangement. In the next few weeks we have someone coming to install one. This will give us slice of listen for our ain safety, and eliminate an issue someday when it comes to resale.

• Electrical

We feel really comfortable wiring lights and outlets, just we didn't feel comfortable hooking into the circuit breaker. Thankfully my husband'due south cousin is an electrician and he came up for day to help upwards with the connections out of the breaker. He ran a few lines for us, and then we did all the remainder of the electrical which I'll share below.

• Carpet

If we wanted laminate floor we'd be installing it ourselves, but we're hoping to make the basement feel cozy and warm so nosotros're going with carpet. I bought the carpet from Menards, and it will be getting installed next week!

Nosotros spent a LOT of money to go those things done. If your basement doesn't have a well pump, or already has egress windows, a new furnace, or a mitigation arrangement you're going to save a LOT of money!

What to DIY to Finish the Basement:

**I am non a licensed contractor or a professional person, delight take these suggestions at your ain take chances and consult your local code before finishing your basement.**

• Electrical

Once Matt's cousin ran the lines from the billow, we were able to hook up all the recessed lights and outlets. Nosotros also needed to run a hardwired smoke detector in the sleeping accommodation and at the base of the stairs. Nosotros installed 12 recessed lights on two switches, and outlets approximately every vi′.

• Insulation

Nosotros bought all of the insulation for the ceiling from Menards on Black Friday with a huge rebate. We used R-xv faced insulation that nosotros simply stapled to the flooring joists. This immediately created a huge sound barrier between the basement and upstairs. On the walls we used R-ten Polystyrene insulation which we attached with caulk fabricated for polystyrene. We also used plastic tape to tape these seams to not allow any air to get through.

• Framing

This framing nailer makes this job SO much easier. Nosotros ordered all of our studs and treated wood in 1 large delivery from Menards. It'southward important to brand sure that the studs are attached to both the flooring joists, and the baseplates are secured into the concrete flooring. For securing into physical I like using these mushroom caput spikes. I just pre-drill the treated board, then pre-drill the concrete, so use a hammer to drive the spike in. You really feel it grabbing the concrete beneath your feet as you lot drive information technology in.

Framing the ductwork took some creativity, because I was trying to keep the ceiling clearance as high as possible. In guild to gain a few inches I used 1×3's instead of 2×4's for this framing.

• Drywall

Nosotros also had all of our drywall delivered with the wood. Nosotros went with 12′ sheets to eliminate seams. Thankfully two friends helped us haul it all effectually the house and downward the stairs which was a HUGE job. Then we hung all the drywall using a lift that we borrowed from my dad. 1 important thing to do when hanging drywall is to make sure EVERY seam is on a stud. We had to accept down some drywall and add blocking to back up some of our drywall that we messed upwardly on the starting time time. I like using drywall screws with a square drive because they don't strip as easy as Phillips screws. Also having an electrical driver has more power than a bombardment drill.

• Drywall Finishing

Over the years I've had a lot of practice patching drywall, and doing minor projects, only NEVER an entire room. My first entire room I did was the basement guest room and it turned out really skilful! Now I'm about done with my last sanding in the great room! I'd say this is a job that anyone can DIY merely be prepared to accept sore arms and a LOT of patience. I like to use pre-mixed "Dust Control" mud, mesh record, and this strait-flex for corner bead. This sanding pole is saving my arms and I use these sanding blocks for the harder spots.

• Painting

I'm not quite at this footstep yet, simply I'll be doing all the painting down here. I'll start with a primer that has a sand texture to match the stairwell and the remainder of the house. In other homes I've washed knockdown texture. And so I'll stop the walls and ceiling in a satin and apartment paint in Benjamin Moore "Chantilly Lace" which is the same colour we accept on our main level.

• Trim Work

We're going with a bones 3.v″ flat Primed Pine trim throughout our whole basement. Because I'm painting in the aforementioned color equally the walls I'll install it earlier painting it. If information technology were a different color than the walls I'd paint information technology before installation. In the finished guest room you tin can see how minimal and simple this white trim is. I am using the aforementioned trim to become around the doors and windows as well.

With the kids habitation 100% of the time right now, I'm super antsy to become this space dorsum into utilise! Nosotros're hoping to prepare the fireplace stop as a space to watch television receiver, and the rest of the room as a rec room with a dry bar. I'g non going to say that doing a DIY basement terminate is unproblematic, but if you take it i footstep at a fourth dimension none of the steps are actually that complicated. Once this room is 100% done I'm going to share a toll breakdown of every penny we've spent down hither!

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Source: https://www.brightgreendoor.com/finish-the-basement/

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