If you have a basement you love, you’ve already experienced the joy of the “finishing” of your basement. The dirt and grime that accumulates over time has a way of making the work, and the effort to tackle it, that much more enjoyable.
I have a basement and it was a PITA to finish. I was so annoyed with how much dirt and grime I was left with that I started to think I was not a real human being. That is until I did my research and realized that everyone who has a basement has a different level of finishing. Some are quite messy and can take long periods of time, while others, like me, are much more efficient and easy to clean.
It’s important to think about how you want your work space to look even before you start the process. What do you want the finished product to look like? It’s easy to think that finishing a basement is going to be a quick job but it’s not. You’re working on the final step of the process. You have to make sure that your project is well planned and has a clear direction before you start.
I have a friend who just finished a basement for his new house. He made sure the contractor had an up-to-date checklist that had things like, “All the studs, floor, wall, ceiling, and ceiling joists are in the proper location” and “I will have a competent contractor who knows all the ins and outs of his job.” You can do this for your own basement too.
The important thing is to have a solid plan and to have a clear direction, so don’t just start building.
Building a construction project is a good way to get a good start. Before you get started, decide on the direction you want to go in. Do you want to finish all the rooms, or just a few of them? If you want to finish all the rooms, then decide how you want to finish them. You can do this by reading the contractor’s written plans and using them as a guide.
If you’re going to do everything yourself, the first thing to remember is that you don’t actually own the space. It’s the property owner’s responsibility to properly maintain the space and get it ready for the homeowner. You want to consider all the factors a property owner would have to consider, such as the size of the space, the type of materials used, and how frequently you expect to use it.
As the last thing to put in place, you want to make sure all your walls, floors, and ceilings are properly sealed. If anything, you want to make sure that the walls are sealed against moisture, but you should also make sure the floor is sealed against moisture as well for better water resistance.
It’s all about the proper sealing of the walls. Any moisture that will escape from the walls will affect the floor, and vice versa, and that will put you at risk for mold and other infestations. In the video you will see a sealer in action, but you will have to be careful of other sealers. A good sealer will seal against moisture, which will protect your floors from mold and other infestations.
Again, this is a DIY video, but it’s the first time I’ve done a full basement basement finishing project. The video is a little technical, but I hope it helps some of the home improvement/renovation enthusiasts out there. It might be a little overwhelming, but it’s definitely worth it.