Finishing a Basement

Finishing a basement yourself cuts down on costs and allows you to do it at a time when you are ready. The series of basic steps to finishing a basement includes fitting plasterboard to ceiling and walls, installing plumbing, extra sockets and any fittings you need.

Ideas for Finishing a Basement

Finishing off a basement depends on how you intend to use it. You will usually need extra electrical outlets and lights and it is a good idea to put these in, along with any plumbing and heating pipes before finishing a basement ceiling or walls with sheetrock or plasterboard panels.

Possible basement uses include as an office, extra bedrooms, a utility room, storage and as a games area with pool table.

Bear in mind that any plumbing will require that the waste water is pumped back up to the main floor of the house, before allowing gravity to carry it away to public drains and sewers.

Finishing a basement ideas could include extra insulation, carpets, a shower room, washer plumbing, a small kitchen and TV point. A lot depends on whether you intend to use partition walls to divide your basement space.

Finishing a Basement Floor

You will need to fit extra insulation. There are various ways you can do this. The simplest is to attach 3×4 timbers to the floor and put an appropriate insulating material between them, so there are no gaps. You then screw boards to your timbers and you have a floor you can cover with laminate or timber flooring panels, vinyl, ceramic tiles or carpet.

Finishing a Basement Ceiling

Follow a similar procedure to the floor. 3×4 Timbers, extra insulation between them and cover the timbers with sheetrock or plasterboard sheets. These can be skimmed with plaster in a few hours.

Finishing Basement Walls

More insulation and 3×4 timbers with sheetrock or plasterboard sheets nailed to them. Skim the sheets, or find a plasterer if you want a professional job.

Dividing Your Basement

Plasterers are used to doing the studding themselves, screwing in the 3×4 timbers. It is easier to decide what you want done then hand the job off to a local plasterer. He will put stud partitions up where you decide. These are double sheetrock or plasterboard walls that are then skimmed with wet plaster before an electrician attaches switches and sockets.

It is worth dividing the basement up into rooms at least 10ft x 12 ft for maximum flexibility. You might want to change your basement uses in the future and it is easier to do if it is already sub-divided.