Add valuable living space and potential to your home with a finished basement. Let’s go through the five main steps to follow if you want to learn how to finish a basement yourself.
How to Finish a Basement in 5 Steps
Finishing a basement requires a lot of planning and hard work, but if you follow these steps, you can start enjoying this freshly remodeled space of your home in no time.
Step 1: Plan Your Finished Basement
Before you can start working, make sure you know what you’re looking for out of the finished basement, from basics to built-ins. Find some inspiration for what to do with your basement, from turning it into an apartment, a bonus room, or movie theater. No idea is off-limits, but they will have different requirements for space, utilities, permits, materials, and most importantly, budget.
Step 2: Set a Budget
Once you have a clear idea of what you want your finished basement to do and how it should look, you can set a budget for materials, labor, and time. Your budget can include the furnishings you’ll purchase once the basement is finished or it can just cover the process of converting your concrete space into a warm and comfortable room.
With a budget set, you’ll be better prepared to make decisions about materials and finishes. You can save money on some aspects, while spending more on features that are especially important to you. Be sure to leave some room in the budget for incidentals, or to resolve any problems you might uncover along the way.
Step 3: Prepare to Finish Your Basement
Before you lay the carpet and hang drywall, you’ll need to prepare the space. This includes assessing the moisture levels, adding insulation, lighting, drywall, and a ceiling to the room. Adding a vapor barrier or creating an offset space are two great ways to assess and manage moisture tendencies in your basement.
The preparation stage is also a great time to plan which areas will be finished and which will be left alone. Utility areas, for example, where your HVAC and water heater are located, should be kept clear at all times, free of all furnishings. You’ll also need to include an easy way to access this area if you plan to furnish the room around it.
Step 4: Gather Your Resources
With a solid plan in place and the space ready for work to begin, you’ll want to gather everything you’ll need to help the process of finishing your basement run smoothly, including the professional help of a contractor or architect if needed.
If you’re planning to do most of the work yourself, make sure you have all the tools and supplies you’ll need:
- masonry drill
- circular saw
- sawhorses
- fasteners, anchors, and cement nails
- safety glasses
- dust masks
- sturdy gloves
- hearing protection
- stepladder
- caulk gun
- caulk or foam filler
- 2x4s
- plywood
- drywall
- foam insulation
- tape measure,
- level
- hammer
If you have nonstandard framing, special flooring, or other materials to install you may need technical tools or expert help to get the job done right. Even if you’re determined to remodel the space yourself, be honest about what’s in scope of your abilities and when it’s time to call a professional. Doing the job yourself, and doing it wrong, will always cost you more in the long-run, so don’t hesitate to connect with an expert for complex parts of your project like electrical or plumbing.
Step 5: Design Your Finished Basement
When your basement is framed in and insulated, it’s time for the fun part: the final design. Now you get to choose your paint colors, install finishes like cabinets, countertops, interior doors, and hardware. Work with an experienced electrician and plumber to install appliances and lighting, then add furniture and decoration to complete the space.
Finishing a basement requires a clear vision and a good amount of work, but the result is worth the effort. When you’ve mastered how to finish a basement, you’re ready to move onto other home improvement projects.
If you’re planning to finish your basement in the coming months, Zeeland Lumber & Supply has all the materials you need. From top cabinet brands in a range of styles and finishes to countertops and more, stop into your local Zeeland Lumber & Supply store.