Guide to Finishing a Basement

Usually a neglected part of the house, the basement can be renovated and used just like any other room. It can be used as an extension to the house, for commercial use or for entertainment purposes. Setting up a home theater in the basement is also a good idea. So, following is a guide to finishing a basement which will help you with new ideas and tips.

Basement Finishing

One should plan beforehand about how to approach the activity of basement finishing. The cost of renovating the basement depends on whether it is carried out without professional help, or a contractor is hired for the same. Doing it yourself would definitely cut down the cost of basement finishing to a great extent. Planning the renovation activity in advance helps a lot. One should prepare a sketch of the changes to be made in the basement, which makes it easy to keep track of the finishing activity.

Instead of renovating the entire basement in one go, it is better to renovate it room-by-room. It makes the job much easier to carry out. Even if one considers undertaking the finishing work by himself, experts should be hired to complete technical jobs like plumbing and wiring. Since the professionals who carry out these tasks, have a proper work permit and insurance to cover damages, it is a feasible option to hire them.

Tips for Finishing a Basement

The activities to be carried out in the process of basement finishing should be in a certain sequence. The first thing, is to clear the basement of scrap and useless items. The walls and floor should be waterproofed. After installing the sub-floor, lay out the walls. The above activities should be followed before framing the walls and ceilings. A rough sketch for the installation of wiring and plumbing should be drawn. After proper plumbing and electrical inspections, a vapor barrier and an insulation should also be installed. After these preparatory activities, the following tasks such as the installation of drywalls, baseboards, flooring, light fixtures, etc. should be carried out. Finally, painting should be done to give the basement a pleasant look.

A finished or renovated basement is likely to fetch a higher price for a house as compared to the other ones. A finished basement has to meet the state regulations in order to be certified as 'finished square footage'. The key to increase the value, is not to invest excessively in the renovation, but to make it appealing and presentable. A professional basement designer can help out with the decoration of the basement.

The basement can be a nice place to relax. Spending quality time with the family, watching movies or just enjoying leisure time in the basement would help unwind and provide relief from the day's hectic schedule.