byronreese
By JohnBwriter Zamarripa
Do It Yourself Basement Finishing
By JohnBwriter Zamarripa
OverviewCleaning up and finishing a basement area can be an economical way to add space to your home. Before beginning the project, make sure the basement is ready for the project and that you have a plan. Once your basement is ready, you can go to work.Step 1Clear the air. Get a humidifier big enough to pull moisture out of the basement air. This will help cut down on mold.Step 2Look for wet spots on the walls where moisture may be seeping through the concrete and do necessary repair work.Step 3Install necessary electrical outlets and lights. While most basements in a new home will have lights and a few outlets, you might need more for a finished basement. Run outlets, plugs and light switches off existing downstairs lines. You might work with someone who has experience working with electric.Step 4Add plumbing fixtures if necessary. All of the pipes are exposed in an unfinished basement, allowing for easy access to run additional lines for faucets, a toilet or a shower.Step 5Install heating and air-conditioning. This can be as simple as running some ducts from your current home unit. But you might need to add a second unit if your existing one isn’t powerful enough to take on the extra load. If your basement is underground and stays cool enough in summer that you don’t need air-conditioning, you could install a wood-burning stove or other low-cost heating.Step 6Install drywall or wood paneling. You could paint the basement walls to finish the area, but you can insulate drywall or paneling, allowing you to heat and cool the area efficiently.Step 7Install flooring. Go with something durable that can handle high traffic. Wood or laminate can be cleaned easier and won’t trap as much moisture as rugs.skill4tipAlways check local permitting laws before starting any work.tipsAlways check local permitting laws before starting any work.keywordbasement drywall finish project workkeywordsbasementkeywordsdrywallkeywordsfinishkeywordsprojectkeywordswork
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