I don’t claim to know it all when it comes to finishing out a basement, but there are a few steps that everyone has to do when finishing out a basement and that is what we are talking about today - how to do a basement finish practically and without spending a fortune. Let’s jump into the steps for finishing out a basement!
Framework
First and foremost, you will want to begin with the framework. I highly recommend getting a professional's opinion on this because unless you have experience with engineering, framework, and loads, you might do more harm than good, trying to take the project on yourself. For example, if you need to open up a wall, would you be 100% certain that it’s not a load-bearing necessity for structural support? If you have any small sliver of doubt in your mind, use a professional for this part of your basement finish. Trust me - it will be very worth it! Framing out closets and other rooms is not very hard, but if you do not know anything about structural engineering, you better just sit back and relax.
Plumbing
After you have your framework done, you can begin doing plumbing work, because you will know where you need water (ie. bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, etc.). Plumbing work has the potential to become tricky depending on what you need, but if the plumbing work is pretty straightforward, a lot of people can do it easily with a little help from handy dandy YouTube! If you need to install pumps for toilets, or if you have to Sauter metal piping, this is where it gets a bit trickier. Or, if you are not a handy person and need a little assistance, once again, it’s better to sit back and let the professionals get to work. One thing that I will say is that if you are not certain of your ability to run piping without leaks, don’t do it. Water damage is definitely not something that you want to mess around with because it has the potential to really ruin a house - or even the health of the people who are living in that house. A great example of that is my friend, Alex. She recently moved into a new home, not knowing that there was extensive mold under her shower tiles. She started experiencing full-body hives every single day. They just started demo-ing the shower, because she expected mold, and they found huge amounts of really toxic black mold all over the tiles, down beneath the concrete pad, and all along the waterproofing. While she still has hives (not all of the mold is out yet), she already feels so much better. This goes to show that mold 100% can affect someone and it should be avoided at all costs.
Electrical
Before you finish your drywall, you’ll need to run electrical to all of your rooms. A lot of basements already have electrical installed, so this may or may not be something that you need to do.
HVAC
This is a good one and it’s something that you 100% need to hire out yourself. HVAC is one of the most expensive parts of a basement finish, but it’s very worth it. If you are re-doing your basement, you might as well make it comfortable, so add that HVAC in as soon as you can!
Final touches
Last but not least, work on your final touches like tile, countertops, paint, and window finishing. If you need a company that makes countertops Amazon easy, check out Click Countertops. They should be your go-to for quartzite countertops and more because they have the experience AND great reviews. They have more than 20 years of experience in the industry and their mission is to save you time, money, and headaches.
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