Finish my Basement

"Finish my basement so I can have extra space" is something on almost every wife's Honey-Do list. It is certainly on mine! This newly finished area gives my family extra living space without moving. It allows me to spread out my family, provide comfortable areas for sleeping and enjoying each other's company in a home theater room, or remove storage from other parts of my home in an organized fashion.

Unfinished basements amount to under-used space. What if an elderly parent was moving in with my family? What if I am working from home now, and tired of using my dining room table? Has my house become the neighborhood hang-out and I am tired of tripping over teen-agers hovering around the entertainment system in the living room? All these, and many more, are valid ideas to consider when overhauling the space beneath your feet. Look for pictures of ideas to finish my basement at low cost.

Basement Finishing Issues

A basement is already a finished structure, with at least the exterior walls, floor and ceiling. It only makes sense that to finish a basement is less expensive than building a traditional house addition. When preparing to finish my basement, there are a couple of specific issues needing to be addressed. Since the basement is at least partially underground, you need to control any possible moisture issues to finish my basement.

This process, and its basement finishing cost, will vary depending on your home's location and that area's climate. If you finish my basement in damp areas, like the rainy Pacific Northwest, it will require more in the way of moisture control than a location in the Arizona desert. You may require polyethylene plastic on the walls as a moisture barrier, for example. There are also good quality basement paints that have additives that control moisture. In very damp areas, several moisture control steps may need to be utilized.

Another building consideration unique to finish my basement revolves around bedrooms. If you want to locate bedrooms in your newly finished living area, there are strict regulations. In most, if not all areas, there is an egress requirement. Simply stated, this means that there has to a door or window in the bedroom itself that has direct access to the outdoors. Different municipalities have different requirements for the measurements and dimensions of this required exit. For basements that are completely under the ground this poses a significant challenge that might prevent you from legally installing a bedroom in your basement. Of course, the purpose of this egress is for the safety of the occupants. This egress allows the ability of being able to escape the dwelling in case of an emergency, such as a fire.

Before you finish this project, you may have a unique problem. Because of existing concrete structures of the basement area, you may have to finish my basement with special tools to get plumbing fixtures flush with the floor. Just be aware that this may be an issue, and evaluate your own "how to" knowledge. Some homeowners, understandably, feel more comfortable having this type of work done by a professional.

Moisture Control

When you finish my basement, always keep in mind that you are trying to reduce or finish off any moisture. When hanging drywall in the new underground living space, spend the few extra bucks for green board (also known as moisture resistant drywall, usually used in bathrooms). For even a few more extra bucks there is a new finish product which is fiberglass instead of paper wallboard, which is excellent for mold and mildew control.

All these moisture reducing steps are important to keep mildew or mold out of your new living space. It would be a shame to finish the project, and have to tear up components soon after because of mold or mildew issues. Mold and mildew causes serious health problems, and once it gets started is hard to finish off. If you have the head clearance, consider installing ceiling fans in the underground living spaces. Air movement will assist in controlling mildew growth.

Carpet certainly seems to be an attractive option on a sub-terrainian floor, which is usually concrete and tends to be cool. However, in reducing mold or mildew growth, carpet is not the best choice. Mold likes to grow in the corner of rooms, under the carpet. Consider vinyl flooring with throw rugs, or other removable floor covering designs.

If you want to cross "finish my basement" off the to-do list, start by filling out the quote request form at the top of this page. Give us some basic information, and within a short amount of time, qualified contractors from your local area will be in touch, via email. It couldn't be easier or more convenient to start, and then finish, this home improvement project.