My husband and I just finished our basement to use as a bar and home theater. We discovered that by finishing a basement, you can add valuable family area to your home. We didnt, however, find this out the easy way.
After a few good yelling matches, one streak of paint on the side of my husband's face, and a high-speed chase up the stairs and into the backyard, I am ready to tell you how to finish a basement without going crazy. Here are a few tips that we discovered during our interesting basement process.
Choose the Right Insulation:
So, we decided it would be a good idea to install insulation in our basement ourselves. 'Quality time', at least that is what my husband called it. What I think he meant was less money. So, we went right to the store and picked up enough rolls of insulation for finishing a basement that was the our size.
You know, that sheet kind that grows like 5,000 percent when you slit the packaging open? We got to work on that, and within a day and a half we were ready to bury each other in it. We had itchy insulation in places on our bodies that we didnt even know we had. The entire basement was polluted with insulation fibers, and I dont even want to discuss the what we experienced cutting it to size.
After a few of days, we realized we were not getting anywhere, so my husband called and had a professional come out. After chuckling at us for a moment, he told us there was a much easier way. He ended up using a type of foam spray insulation, and was done in a few days. We discovered it would work more effectively, because it expanded to fit in all of the nooks and crannies behind the basement walls. Lesson learned.
Check for a Few Important Things:
When youre finishing a basement, there are a few things you want to make sure you dont overlook. I did Well, my husband overlooked it and I just didnt notice him overlooking it.
Make sure you have enough electrical outlets for what youll be using your basement for. You know, finishing a basement to convert it into a bar really needs a good number of outlets. Lesson learned.
Make sure you have enough lighting fixtures. Without them, finishing a basement can be tough, and once you get it done, you may not be able to see properly in the murky dimness of your basement. This can lead to some serious toe-stubbing. Lesson learned.
Walls and Floors:
First of all, there are some wall and floor materials and types that you never want to go with for your basement. Because of the higher moisture content in the air, theyre just not smart ideas. Some of these include:
- Sheetrock
- Carpet
- Hardwood Floors
- OSB board
- Faux Stone Floors
Instead, opt for some type of moisture resistant paneling for the walls, and a nice real stone floor, or staining your existing concrete floors. Finishing a basement can really drive you crazy, but luckily you have learned from my mistakes. Save your basement and your marriage by following the tips and ideas in this article!
Amy G created the Basement Idea website to help others with more fantastic basement ideas and simple ways to finish their basement.
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