How to Finish, Remodel, Renovate your Basement
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| I chose to finish one of the rooms in my basement in order to take advantage of some of that underground living space. I would like to finish other parts of my basement but you need to carefully consider what's around the space before beginning work. For example, I have an ideal spot in my basement that would make a great practice room or even a small home office. Finishing space in the basement is especially great for creating rooms that can be used in order to get away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house. |
You can actually get work done in office space in the basement because you are not right next to the living room or the kitchen (rooms which tend to be the activity hubs of the house).
When You Finish your Basement Consider What's Above
The problem with the particular space that I want to finish is that it is located below the first floor bathroom. I would hate to finish that basement space and then have the toilet or bathtub leak and ruin all my hard work. Similar, but not as great, concerns exist for basement rooms underneath the kitchen sink or refrigerator. Carefully plan out the location of your finished space so you can avoid moisture issues later.
When You Finish your Basement Control Moisture Issues Beforehand
 In the picture to the left, you'll see that some moisture issues existed in the right corner of this basement room before it was finished (which was actually a different space than the basement space mentioned above). You can see the black mold spreading if you look closely enough. We tried to determine the source of the leak but were unable to do so. For now, I have a dehumidifier under the stairway to help control the moisture issues. You can also see that we prepared the walls for sealing by scraping off the loose paint as part of our plan to finish the basement.
Make Dry Lok or Xypex a part of Finishing your Basement
To seal the walls as part of finishing a basement, we used a product called drylok. When it comes to drylok, drive it as if it were a rental. In other words, apply it very liberally. In this case, we used two thick coatings of drylok on the basement (exterior) walls. New basement walls and those that have never been sealed before can take up to five coats of drylok as part of your plan to finish a new basement. Dry Lok is best for minimal moisture issues. Water will work its way through several coats of dry lok eventually. If you have a real water problem, consider other, more effective, means of dealing with it. |
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Lighting alternatives when finishing your basement
Lighting is also a critical aspect of finishing a basement. Canned, ceiling lighting is also great in basement spaces. Often in basement rooms, ceiling height is an issue. Any lighting fixture that hangs down below the ceiling is taking up valuable headroom. Do yourself and your taller guests a favor and install lighting that can be placed up in the ceiling as part of your plan to finish a basement. We replaced the original ceiling with a drywall ceiling.
Consider natural light when you finish your basement
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| Natural lighting is recommended where possible. Oftentimes, previous owners have blocked out or boarded up basement windows for security purposes or just as a cheap means of fixing a broken window. The previous owners of my home sealed all the basement windows shut to prevent water leaks. If your basement windows have been blocked out or boarded up then consider changing that when you finish your basement. |
Natural lighting is a great way to make your finished basement feel like any other room in the house. I used glass block windows in my basement for privacy and to let in light. With glass block you have the best of both worlds, privacy without losing natural lighting.
Insulation - a key component of a finished basement
Insulation is another major concern when finishing basements. When we redid the ceiling, I insisted that we add insulation and plenty of it. Drive it like it was a rental. Insulation is relatively cheap and you usually only get one shot at it. It will keep the finished basement warmer and quieter.
Plan wiring prior to finishing your basement
 Often, finished basements include home theater systems. Particular attention should be paid to electrical and other wiring for basement home theater systems. If you are finishing your basement, take time to develop a plan for routing this wiring.
With a well considered basement finishing plan, a finished basement can be a major asset to you, both in your own personal enjoyment and later in increased resale value of your home. Addressing preliminary items such as basement moisture, as well as proper lighting and ceiling height, can help ensure that you get the finish basement you have been dreaming about.
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