It may seem daunting and overwhelming when you begin your basement renovations and decide to make it more finished. In this article, we’ll go through the seven steps to help you answer the query “how do I complete my basement?” and turn your not-finished basement into a stunning new area.
Budgets help determine the exact cost needed to complete your basement. While DIY basement finishing is possible, professional contractors typically get hired for renovations. A professional will assist you every step of the way, help you keep to a schedule, assist in designing your basement, and help you create a budget.
Follow these steps, and You’ll Have the basement of your dreams in no time.
Step 1: Clean Your Basement
Eliminate any clutter from your basement in preparation for the final stage of finishing your basement. Hiring professionals to clean your basement for this initial step is possible, but it’s optional. Clean basements include cleaning the floors, washing the windows, and eliminating all furniture and clutter.
Step 2: Moisture Test Your Basement
Assessing your basement’s moisture levels for moisture is more straightforward than you think. Tape a piece of aluminum foil or plastic onto your basement floor. Make sure to seal the edges before leaving them for a few days. If you see water on the area of the foil, tin, or plastic, the issue is condensation. A good moisture level should be between 30 to 50 percent.
Step 3: Install Basement Insulation
To keep frigid and warm air outside, you’ll be required to install the basement wall insulation.
Contrary to popular belief that the earth is not a good insulation. It is because of the vast non-insulated surface area between and beneath the grade. There is also plenty of air leakage from basement windows, penetrations, windows, and the uppermost part of the wall. The report states that the majority of basements have low or no insulation. So that means there is a lot of opportunity for improvement. Insulation connects to other renovation or repair work like waterproofing, radon remediation, or building a basement.
Step 4: Make Basement Walls Frame
If you need to learn how to frame your basement, I will assure you it’s simple. Start by building a typical wall frame with studs for your basement. Then set them against the concrete wall. Make sure that you space your studs at least apart by 16″ to 24″ away from each other. It allows you to cut your foam to fit snugly between them.
Also, make sure you protect the band joints to ensure that heat doesn’t escape through the joints.
When the studs are in place and the insulation gets put in, apply the vapor, seal, and proceed to the next stage.
Step 5: Install Drywall
It should get left to a professional you can do it yourself by installing spacers and covering all windows and outlets before drywall installation, so you can be sure that the drywall will be correctly installed when you go with the DIY method. Install the drywall on the walls in the basement.
Step 6: Basement Flooring Installation
There are a variety of choices of flooring materials for flooring in basements. There is no better choice than ceramic tiles installed directly on the concrete floor or cement-down-style vinyl tile. When selecting flooring for a basement, steer away from wood and natural materials that can be prone to warping due to humidity.
Use self-leveling concrete for a smooth surface for an even more polished look.
Many Youtube tutorials exist, but a professional can ensure a job gets done well.
Step 7: Basement Ceiling Installation
A majority of homeowners prefer an upper ceiling when they finish the basement. The direct attachment of a material to the beams of the basement’s ceiling will help you save time and cost. There are several choices of materials you can choose from to accomplish this:
- Beadboard
- Corrugated Metal
- Drywall
- Pipes and Beams with Painted Exposed
- Wooden Panels
- Wooden Planks
- PVC Tiles
They are easy to obtain at any hardware store and simple to apply to the beams.
Ottawa Home Pros provides basement renovation services for the Ottawa region. Let us have a chance to be your Ottawa general contractors and gain your trust and business. Call us today at (613) 288-9145 or mail us at info@ottawahomepros.com for your next basement renovation project.
