Finishing a Basement – Not As Easy As It Looks
Amy G My husband and I recently completed our basement to use as a home theater. We discovered that by finishing a basement, you can add valuable family space to your home. However, the journey was not so easy. After 3 fun yelling matches, one streak of paint on the side of his 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. It's all about the Insulation: So, we decided it would be a good idea to install insulation in our basement together. 'Quality time', at least that is what my husband called it. What I think he meant was ‘less money.' So, we went right out 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 package 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 didn't even realize we had. The entire basement was covered with insulation fibers, and I don't even want to talk about the what we went through cutting it to size. After a few of days, we decided we were not making any progress, so my husband called and had a professional come out. After laughing at us a bit, 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 learned that 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 Some Important Things: When you're finishing a basement, there is a few elements you want to make sure you do not overlook. I did . . . Well, my husband overlooked it and I just didn't notice him overlooking it. Double check to be sure you have enough electrical outlets for what you'll be using your basement for. You know, finishing a basement to convert it into a bar really requires a good number of outlets. Lesson learned. Make sure you have plenty of 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, they're 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! About the Author
Amy G created Basement Ideas to provide others with fantastic basement tips and ideas. Amy G may be contacted at http://www.basementidea.net. Click here to view more articles by Amy G. Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com
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