Tuesday, December 24, 2013

How To Finish A Basement Without Too Many Headaches

By Leanne Goff


Learning how to finish a basement can involve some study and time. However, this type of job can be undertaken successfully if you have a reasonable amount of skill and intelligence. Here are a few helpful tips and ideas to keep you from getting frustrated.

Any successful project starts with carefully thought out plans. Make sure and plan every small detail that you want. Remember that you will probably need to obtain a building permit and this should not be overlooked. It is a little inconvenient but building ordinances are in place to protect you and your family. Permit fees are not expensive.

Walk into the area and bring a tape measure and helper with you. Also, bring a notebook and pencil so you can write down all of the measurements. Remember to measure ceiling heights in every section you plan to finish. Nothing is more important than taking accurate measurements for your project. In fact, it is best to go over and measure everything twice to insure accuracy. This will help you avoid many common mistakes.

No matter what type of space you are adding you need to consider the best type of floors, walls, and ceilings. Any building materials that you choose for basements should be moisture resistant. Underground is subject to higher levels of humidity and this can affect certain kinds of materials like wood and wall board.

Framework materials are an important consideration. For instance you need to decide upon standard 2 X 4 wall studs or ones made from metal. If you want wood, make sure you use wood that will resist rot and insects. In fact, when you select metal studs, you will not have to worry about these things but they can be harder to work with.

When you construct your walls, make it easy on yourself. Lay the plates on the floor and then attach the studs. You then can stand the framing up and attach it to your ceiling and floor. Ceilings are very easy but you will need to decide the best method for attaching floor plate to concrete. If you want the easiest method, rent a nailing gun and materials. However, you may also use lag bolts but you will need equipment to drill into your concrete.

Make a diagram of all the electrical circuits you are going to need. Remember that you should not do your own wiring if you are inexperienced with matters of electricity. Basements need extra protection and should be placed on ground fault circuits. This can be done with GFCI outlets, but it is easier when you install a good GFCI breaker in the panel. This will protect you and your family from shocks and electrical fires.

If you are confused about how to finish a basement, hire professional help. To save money on construction, ask about framing and work like plumbing and electrical. This way, you can finish the rest and be assured all the basics are taken care of. However, you may wish to have the entire job done by professionals for best results. You can contact a dependable home improvement service for a free estimate and a written guarantee, so there is no risk involved.




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