When finishing a basement where do you start

Are you thinking about refinishing your basement? This comprehensive guide includes floor plans, wall finishes, and décor ideas for your basement. The lowest floor of your house definitely has a lot of promise, even if it’s now chilly concrete and stuffed with boxes of off-season duds. Treat it like any of the above-ground rooms, and it might well become the most popular hangout space in the house—for a lot less money than adding on.

This guide is a good place to start for basement remodeling Houston.

When it comes to finishing a basement, where do you begin?

Here’s our best advise for transforming this unused room into a place you’ll want to spend time in.

Keep in mind that you should plan your layout first

To entice people in, place the main gathering area in a location that receives the most natural light.

Bedrooms must have a window for egress, hence they must be on the perimeter

To avoid glare and create a home-theater atmosphere, place the TV viewing zone in a darker area. Keep food and beverages in a place where you can get to them without having to cross in front of the TV.

What to Look for and Fix Before You Begin

Tape 2-foot squares of plastic sheeting to the floor and walls to check for moisture. Wait a few weeks and see what happens. Your foundation isn’t sealed if moisture collects beneath it. Your basement has to be dehumidified if droplets collect on the surface. Inspect floor joists, rim and header joists, the sill plate, and wood-framed windows using an awl for rot and insect damage. Climb a ladder until you’re nearly eye level with the underside of the floor joists to check for sagging. Check for any out-of-line items by looking across them (perpendicular to their direction). Check your fuel-burning equipment and your home’s ventilation system with a professional to guarantee there is no carbon monoxide buildup below grade.

Important Factors to Consider in Your Plans

• Will You Require More Space?

Many codes require a clearance of 7 to 712 feet. You might be possible to dig out and lower the concrete floor if you don’t have that height, but it’s a complicated and expensive job. Inquire with your contractor about the possibility of relocating ducts and pipes to fix the problem.

• Sump pumps should be doubled

It’s recommended to have both a battery backup for your main pump and a backup pump in case the first one fails due to a power outage. If your home is connected to a municipal water supply, consider purchasing a water-powered backup pump that is powered by the supply line’s pressure.

• Waterproofing on a Budget

Minor leaks may not necessitate the services of a professional. Most moisture problems can be solved with a few easy adjustments. Install diverters to direct gutter water away from the foundation by at least 10 feet. Soil should be slanted away from the foundation. Concrete-patching compound can be used to fill in minor fractures or gaps around pipes. Hydraulic cement, which expands as it cures, can be used to fill wider cracks both inside and out. Any cracks larger than a pencil should be inspected by a structural engineer. Before enclosing pipes in a box, insulate them. Slip foam insulation sleeves over hot-water pipes to prevent heat loss and cold-water pipes to prevent condensation from leaking on the inside of the drywall or ceiling while they’re exposed. But still, if your budget allows, I recommend contacting basement waterproofing professionals. Only they can give you a guarantee for quality work.

• Allow plenty of room around mechanicals.

“Make sure a genuine human being can squeeze around mechanicals for upkeep,” says Southern Belt Construction LLC HVAC Specialist Cleofis Foote, whether you’re moving equipment or boxing it in. Allow for a clearance of 2 to 3 feet.

• Rather of allowing mold to thrive, conventional drywall should be avoided.

Fix any moisture issues first, then finish the basement walls with our expert advice. Mold can grow on the paper layer, and the gypsum core can disintegrate, therefore it doesn’t belong below grade. Try Georgia-DensArmor Pacific’s Plus High-Performance Interior Panels or USG’s Sheetrock Brand Mold Tough Gypsum Panels. On a conventional lab test for mold resistance, both received the highest marks.

Insulated Stud Walls

Best for: Budget-conscious DIYers

How it’s done is as follows: It’s the tried-and-true old way of doing things: Over the foundation walls, a vapor barrier and rigid-foam insulation are installed, followed by a stud frame and drywall.

Interlocking Panel Systems are a type of interlocking panel system.

Best for: Do-it-yourselfers who want to save time and space.

How it’s done is as follows: Insulation panels with notches are glued, clipped, or screwed together and glued, clipped, or screwed to foundation walls. Then, to create a thinner wall, drywall is bonded to integrated strips. Wiring chases and drainage channels on the backside of InSoFast panels save time and effort.