Everything You Should Know About Basement Finishing

ericahouse December 22, 2022 3 0

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Everybody wishes they had more space. Perhaps you are looking for an entertainment area? Perhaps you want a home gym, or an additional bedroom. You can make a basement more spacious by adding some work to it.

We’ll show you how to finish a basement and what it costs to do.

The Straightforward Guide to Finishing your Basement

Which project do you need help with?

You can break down a basement into three separate projects: walls, floors, and ceilings. To help you get started, Miami Dumpster Rental have divided our tips into three sections.

Prepare Your Space

It would be wonderful if your basement was in perfect condition and ready to go. Even the most beautiful basements require some preparation. This includes work at your local hardware and government stores.

1. Apply for a Permit

A permit is required for the work. Although you can finish your basement with no permit, it could cost you more in the long-term if you decide to sell your house or need to document the work.

Visit the website of your local government to obtain a permit. You can find permit information in the Building Department.

2. Take care of dampness

It is not a good idea to put drywall in a basement without first checking for moisture or high humidity. However, a damp basement can still be finished. It is important to first waterproof your area.

There are many ways to address damp basements, including a sump pump or full basement waterproofing. The severity of the problem will determine the direction you take. Spend $250-600 if the problem is minor. Expect to spend $1,900-$6,400 if it’s a more serious problem that will require professional waterproofing.

3. Choose Your Materials

Plaster or drywall? Drop ceiling or exposed? Laminate or carpet? All these are questions to consider before you start the project. These questions should be considered before you start the project. The materials are where you will spend the majority of your budget.

When making your materials list, the following are key points to remember:

Types of insulation
Material for walls
Ceiling style
Type of flooring
Utility locations
Paint colors
Trim styles

There will be minor issues to think about as the project progresses, but these are the major decisions that can lead to the greatest cost. You should give them enough thought.

4. Get your tools

You will need many tools to finish your basement. Some tools are easy to find and will be familiar to you, like a level or hammer. You can rent a tool from your local tool bank or home improvement store if you don’t have it.

Finishing a Basement Wall

Now you have your permits and tools. It’s now time to get to work.

These steps will help you finish your basement walls, from insulation and framing to choosing your paint and finishing touches.

1. Insulation

Measure the distance from your floor to your ceiling and subtract 1/4 inch. Use a utility knife or a razor to cut your insulation to the desired length.
To ensure that your cut sheet fits, hold it against the wall.
Apply insulation adhesive to the back.
For the recommended time, press the insulation against the wall.
Continue repeating steps 1 through 4 until you have covered all of your walls.
Caulk can be used to fill the gaps between insulation boards, ceilings, floors, corners, and walls.

2. The Walls are Framed

Draw a line four inches from the walls on the floor. You should ensure that the line intersects with any walls at a 90 degree angle.
Measure the wall and cut your 2×4 according to your measurements. This will ensure that you do it twice for each wall. These will be your top- and bottom plates.
For stud placement, mark the plates at 16 inches. The center of the stud is located at the 16-inch mark. It will be hidden by the stud when it is placed over it. To make it visible, extend the line from the top of the plates to the sides.

Place your bottom plate so that it aligns with the line in step 1.
Use your masonry drill to secure the bottom plate. You can start at one end, and then add support nails using your 16-inch marks. As you drill through cement, make sure to wear your protective gear.
Follow the same steps as the bottom plate to install the top plate. However, you will use a nail gun rather than a masonry drill. To attach the topplate to ceiling joists that run parallel to it, add a block board every 16 inches between the closest joists.
Make sure your plates are level. Add shims (a thin piece wood that helps with spacing) to your plates if they are not level.
Take note of the distance between the plates.
Make sure to cut your studs to the right length.
Align the studs with the 16-inch marks. You will need a nail gun to insert your nails at a 45-degree angle on either side of the stud.
These steps can be repeated until all walls are framed.

3. Install Utilities

All electrical, plumbing, and air duct work should be installed inside the walls.

Safety Tip This work should not be attempted to DIY. You will need to hire a professional if you intend on finishing the basement by yourself.

4. Mount Drywall

Decide whether you want your drywall to be hung horizontally or vertically. A horizontal hang will typically leave fewer seams. But, you can choose what works best for your space.
Cut your drywall sections so that they end on a nail.
Mark any drywall that is inaccessible to utilities and take it out.
Use drywall screws to attach drywall to the stud.
Cover any gaps with drywall mud and fill in any cracks.
Use drywall tape to seal the seams.

5. Paint

To smoothen the areas where you have applied drywall mud, make sure you use some sandpaper.
Apply primer to your walls before applying 1-2 coats of paint.

Finishing a Basement Ceiling

You have three options for finishing a basement ceiling. You can either drop-ceiling it or drywall it. Or you can leave it open to give it an industrial look. Each method has its own installation instructions and difficulty level. Drywalling is the most difficult.

Drop-Ceiling Installation

Because it requires an installation kit, this type of ceiling offers the most options. Drop-ceiling allows for easy access to utilities above the structural ceiling. These usually consist of a series interlocking frames and tiles. The installation time will vary depending upon the kit, but the general rule of thumb is:

Installer kit required
Install L-channel frames for walls.
Connect the T-channel frames to floor joists by installing them along with the L-channel frames.
Snap the T-channel cross frames between the full T channels.
Place the tiles inside the frame.

Ceiling with Drywall

Another common type of basement ceiling is drywall. These ceilings can be installed in the same way as basement walls.

For utilities, mark and cut holes in the drywall sheets.
Adhere to the joists from which the sheet of drywall is to be hung. Begin in one corner and work your ways out.
Apply the adhesive to the drywall.
Screw or nail the drywall to the joints every seven inches around walls. Fasteners are available in 12-inch increments for interior joists.
Continue these steps until the ceiling is completely covered in drywall.
Use drywall mud to fill in seams and nail/screw head holes.
Apply drywall paint to the seams.
Once the mud is dry, you can paint.

Open Ceiling

This is the easiest ceiling option. You can give your basement an industrial feel by leaving it open. There are many ways to hide wood beams or piping if you don’t like the look of them when you look up. You can paint the ceiling, which is usually the easiest option. This route is the easiest. Use a sprayer to apply a uniform coating. Avoid dripping or running.

Finishing a Basement Floor

After the ceilings and walls have been completed, it’s time to install the floor. Our recent survey revealed that 57% of basement flooring projects included the installation of laminate or carpet.

No matter what type of flooring you choose, there are steps that must be taken before the job is done.

1. Install subflooring

If your basement was not finished previously, it is likely that your floor is a slab made of cement. A subfloor can be installed to provide warmth, dryness, and comfort.

To create a flat surface, fill any dips that are deeper than 3/16 inches with self-leveling compounds.
Allow the compound to dry. Next, check the dips to make sure they are level. Repeat if necessary.
Attach sheets of polystyrene insulation with adhesive to the cement.
Layer plywood sheets on top of insulation.
Use a concrete drill to install the plywood.