Electrical Work For Basement Finishing – This post has been a long time coming. Today I’m going to give you all the details about how we renovated our basement to complete the basement. This project isn’t actually completely complete, but we’re so close to completion that I wanted to tell you about it while it’s on my mind. When we bought this house the basement looked like this:
Since we used all of our extra money to complete the renovation on the main floor, we knew it would take us a few years to complete the basement. So we painted the floor and walls white and enjoyed this space as our kids’ playroom and entertainment room.
Electrical Work For Basement Finishing
Finally we sketched out the guest room, utility room and future bathroom. Installing unfinished drywall on one side of the walls created a private space for our guests. This also provided space for children to play and make noise.
Owens Corning Basement Finishing System
At this point I got a permit from the city to make sure it would be an approved location. Here is the floor plan I presented to the city:
When our well pump broke and we had to eliminate our well, it meant we could also eliminate the ugly well tank in the back corner, as well as eliminate some of the pipes that were stuck to the joists. Were hanging down. This was an expensive project that we hired because we didn’t know the first thing about abandoning a well.
Another project we rented had two nice egress windows installed. The same company that installed the windows also installed drain tile in the corner where the tank was, eliminating any room for water to get into the basement. These people also removed the hearth of the huge chimney spread in the room by hitting it with a hammer. I wrote all about installing egress windows in this post if you want to DIY it.
Ultimately we had to install a new furnace. Our existing furnace was from 1974 and was inefficient and in poor condition. When we replaced it with a higher efficiency furnace we moved it a few feet toward our utility room, which made it possible to close the furnace to the utility room.
Finishing A Basement: A Step By Step Guide
Most of the homes where we live have high radon levels, and we currently do not have mitigation systems. We will have someone come install it in the next few weeks. This will give us peace of mind for our safety and someday when it comes to resale the problem will be over.
We feel really comfortable wiring lights and outlets, but we don’t feel comfortable hooking in a circuit breaker. Thankfully my husband’s cousin is an electrician and he came over for the day to help make the connection to the breaker. He ran some lines for us, and then we did all the rest of the electrical work that I’ll share below.
If we wanted laminate flooring we would install it ourselves, but we are hoping to make the basement cozy and warm so we are laying down carpet. I purchased carpet from Menards, and it will be installed next week!
We spent a lot of money to make those things happen. If your basement doesn’t have a well pump, or already has vent windows, a new furnace, or mitigation system you’re going to save a lot of money!
How Much Does It Cost To Finish A Basement? (2024 Pricing)
**I am not a licensed contractor or professional, please take these tips at your own risk and consult your local codes before finishing your basement.**
Once Matt’s cousin pulled the lines from the breaker, we were able to connect all the recessed lights and outlets. We also needed to run a hardwired smoke detector in the bedroom and under the stairs. We installed 12 recessed lights on two switches, and placed outlets about every 6′.
We bought all the insulation for the roof at a deep discount from Menards on Black Friday. We used R-15 faced insulation that we just stapled to the floor joists. This immediately created a large sound barrier between the basement and the upper floor. On the walls we used R-10 polystyrene insulation, which we attached with caulk made for polystyrene. We also used plastic tape to tape these seams so that air could not get in.
This framing nailer makes this job much easier. We ordered all of our studs and treated lumber in one large delivery from Menards. It is important to ensure that the studs are attached to both the floor joists, and that the baseplate is secure into the concrete floor. I like to use these mushroom head spikes to secure concrete. I simply pre-drill the treated board, then pre-drill the concrete, then use a hammer to drive the spike in. You really feel it grip the concrete beneath your feet as you drive into it.
How To Finish A Basement: Step By Step Remodelers Guide
Framing the ductwork took a little creativity, as I was trying to keep the ceiling clearance as high as possible. I used 1×3 instead of 2×4 for this framing to add a few inches.
We also had all our drywall delivered along with the lumber. We went with a 12′ sheet to eliminate seams. Thankfully two friends helped us carry it around the house and down the stairs, which was a huge task. Then we hung all the drywall using a lift we borrowed from my dad. An important thing to do when hanging drywall is to make sure each seam is on the studs. We had to remove some drywall and add blocking to support some of our drywall that we messed up the first time. I like to use square drive drywall screws because they don’t come apart as easily as Phillips screws. Also having an electric driver has more power than a battery drill.
Over the years I’ve had a lot of practice patching drywall and doing small projects, but never built an entire room. I built my first entire room in the basement guest room and it turned out really great! Now I have almost finished my final sanding of the big room! I would say it’s a job anyone can do, but be prepared to have sore arms and a lot of patience. I like to use pre-mixed “dust control” clay, mesh tape and this Straight-Flex for the corner bead. This sanding pole is saving my arms and I use these sanding blocks for tough spots.
I’m not at this stage yet, but I will be doing all the painting here. I would start with a primer that has a sand texture to match the rest of the stairs and house. In other houses I have created knockdown textures. Then I would finish the walls and ceiling with satin flat paint in Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace”, which is the same color as our main level.
How To Finish A Basement: A Step By Step Guide
We are going with basic 3.5″ flat primed pine trim throughout our basement. Because I am painting the same color as the walls, I will install this before painting. If it was a different color than the walls I would have painted it before installation. In the finished guest room you can see how minimal and simple this white trim is. I’m also using the same trim to go around the doors and windows.
With the kids at home 100% of the time, I’m extremely anxious to get this space back to use! We are hoping to set up the end of the fireplace as a TV viewing area and the rest of the room as an entertainment room with a dry bar. I’m not going to say that doing a DIY basement finish is simple, but if you take it one step at a time none of the steps are really that complicated. Once this room is 100% complete I’m going to share the cost breakdown of every penny spent here! Your basement is ripe with open possibilities. This space can serve as a hobby room, a home gym, a music studio, a guest room, or simply additional living space. All you need are some useful tools and a little imagination.
A finished basement can add square footage to your home or increase the value of your property. Although this is an extensive project, you can probably complete it yourself.
This guide will help you gather the right supplies and provide simple steps to transform your basement.
Basement Finishing As An Owner Builder. Save Money On Your Basement Project And Do It Yourself
Before diving into the project, take inventory of what tools you have and what you may need. Here is a list of some tools you may want to have handy for this project:
The size of your basement will dictate how much material you need, so it’s easy to know the exact square footage. You’ll also want to determine the size of the interior walls you plan to build and how much insulation you need for your ceiling and subfloor.
Your safety and the legality of your project should be your #1 priority. Here are some essential steps you should take before diving into your basement finishing project.
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