Basement Finishing Design

A basement finishing design serves as the foundation for this home remodeling project. Before you start your basement remodel, develop a basement remodel plan that reflects your goals for this living space. Consider the current condition of this underground area, your visions of the final results and your basement finishing budget as you make a note of your design ideas. For inspiration, tour online photo galleries or leaf through home design magazines for images of basements that resemble the room of your dreams.

Finishing a basement is often the first step in a more extensive remodeling effort. Your basement may have cinder block or concrete walls that attract moisture and leave the room cold, even in the warmer months. The floors may be uneven and perpetually damp from water leaking from pipes in the ceiling. A comprehensive basement finishing design should start with basic concerns like water sealing and insulation before you move on to the fun, creative aspects of your remodeling project, like designing your entertainment area or home office.

Finishing Basement Floors

Finishing the floor is a crucial step in any basement finishing design. If your floors are always moist or you have visible pools of water on the floor, you may have leaks that need to be resolved before the finishing process can be completed. Many leaks come from faulty plumbing or from poor drainage on the property surrounding the house. Check for consistent drips to identify leaky areas in your pipes. Inspect the yard for leaking outdoor faucets or slopes that carry water directly to the house.

In this underground region of your home, it's difficult to keep a concrete slab floor from gathering a certain amount of moisture, even after you've resolved any obvious leaks. However, a damp floor can promote mold and mildew growth underneath your flooring. Before you install any subfloor materials, talk with a basement finishing design professional about protecting your floors against moisture damage.

A protective buffer of synthetic material can be applied to your floor before you go on to the next step in finishing this surface. A layer of padded polyethylene acts as a barrier between the concrete and the subfloor layer, preventing mold from attacking the subfloor. As the final step in this stage of a basement finishing design, carpet, vinyl or a wood flooring product can be installed.

Choose a flooring material that fits with the overall design of your space, your remodeling budget and your maintenance requirements. Vinyl or linoleum may be easier to maintain than engineered wood floors or carpet. Vinyl is durable, comes in a nearly unlimited range of colors and designs and is easy to install and clean. However, if you want to turn this area of your home into a spare bedroom or a family home theater, carpet will offer extra insulation and give the space a cozier feeling.

Basement Wall and Ceiling Design

In the design of your guest room, home office or game room, think about how your walls and ceiling will fit into your decorating scheme. You may plan to install shelves or cabinets on the walls, or dedicate an area to a large media center. You may want to hang large art work, heavy mirrors or other objects on your walls. You might want to include recessed shelving, niches or an extra closet in your design to provide more storage space for your family and guests.

As part of a basement finishing design, insulation for your walls and ceiling is an important consideration. Insulation keeps the room at a comfortable temperature and helps you manage the cost of heating the area. Insulation can also minimize noise, an important factor if your teenagers intend to use the space for games, movies or parties. Insulation can be applied as part of the process of framing the walls and ceiling. Once framing is complete, the wall paneling can be installed.

Hiring a professional contractor to implement your basement finishing design can help you avoid costly oversights. Licensed contractors are familiar with local construction codes, which may impose requirements on the height of your ceiling and other structural features. If you're planning to install a drop ceiling in order to conceal pipes, ducts and wiring, you may be required to meet certain height requirements. Talk with a contractor about how local regulations will affect your basement finishing design.

Once your basement finishing design has become a reality, you may realize that all the time and effort you invested in the project were worthwhile. You can reduce the cost of your remodel by comparing estimates from several professionals before you make a final decision. Take the time to talk with several contractors who have a solid reputation for completing remodeling projects in a timely, cost effective manner before you choose the best team.