How to Finish your Basement in Three Steps

Turning your unfinished  basement into  functional living space is a project many New Jersey homeowners will consider this year. This is where some expansion of living space can occur without a costly addition. We will show you how to finish your basement in three steps.

In most homes the basement can be made as nice as the rest of the house. You can add a full or half bath or a second kitchen. Kid’s playrooms, home gyms, home theaters and man caves are all possible. Usually if you have a basement height of >6’, the only limitations on your basement project would be those of your imagination and checkbook. Get a plan and a budget and get started.

How to Finish your basement in three steps

1. Prepare the basement. The most important part of the basement finishing project is to be certain that the basement is dry and healthy before commencing with any other work in the basement. Unexpected water in your basement can damage walls and floors, destroy carpeting, ruin furniture and lead pretty quickly to mold. Water damage can really wreak havoc in your home..

Dryness is key to a successful basement project. If your basement is perennially damp or, worse, floods every spring, your first investment must be in controlling the water that invades it. French drain waterproofing systems with a sump pump are an important means for achieving a dry basement.

The key is to get the water before it gets you. A small leak might not seem like a very big problem but you might end up with extensive flooding and water damage if you allow it to continue over a long period of time. Once the problem has become extensive you might find that it takes up a lot of time and money in order to resolve the problem.

2. Do the rough work. Framing out the basement walls and adding insulation are at the core of the project. Installing ceilings and building soffits are needed to hide the wiring as well as pipes and duct work. You will need to build partition walls and frame around obstructions such as the boiler and hot water heater. Doors will be hung closets will be built at this time. In this phase you will contract with licensed plumber and electrician to do all the plumbing and wiring before the walls are closed.

3. Do the finish work. The drywall will go up with the taping and application of the drywall compound or spackle. You will carpet, tile or put an overlay on the floor, paint the walls, attach fixtures and decorate your new space.

Most importantly, before you start, make sure the basement is dry.

A healthy home needs a healthy basement. You can't have one without the other. The main house is above ground and has plenty of air circulation from the windows and doors being opened and closed each day.

The basement is subterranean and below ground. Because the basement is underground it has a different environment than the rest of the house. Also, because most of the living takes place in the main living areas, the main house is probably cleaned more often.

Keep your basement well ventilated and have an alternatively powered sump pump for power outages and you should enjoy your finished basement for years to come.