The Complete Guide to Finishing Basements

837 Pages·2013·46.25 MB·English

by  Black & Decker

The Complete Guide to
FINISHING BASEMENTS
Updated 2nd Edition
Projects and Practical Solutions for Converting Basements into Livable
Space
Contents
The Complete Guide to Finishing Basements
Introduction
REMODELING BASICS
Evaluating & Planning
Basement Possibilities
Evaluating Your Basement
Remodeling Codes & Practices
Planning Your Project
Improving Basement Environments
Controlling Moisture
Controlling Pests
Insulating Basements
Improving Heating & Cooling
Upgrading Ventilation
Adding Electrical Circuits
Basement Stairs
Stairways
Renovating Stairs
Stairlifts
Floors
Preparing Basement Floors
Creating Decorative Concrete Finishes
Installing Radiant Floors
Laying Tile Floors
Installing Laminate Plank Floors
Laying Resilient Tile Floors
Installing Rubber Roll Floors
Walls & Ceilings
Wall & Ceiling Options
Framing Furred-Out Walls
Building Partition Walls
Framing Walls with Steel Studs
Framing Soffits
Installing Drywall
Finishing Drywall
Installing a Suspended Ceiling
Installing an Acoustic Tile Ceiling
Windows, Doors & Trim
Installing an Egress Window
Replacing Basement Windows
Trimming Basement Windows
Installing Prehung Interior Doors
Installing Pocket Doors
Installing Bifold Doors
Installing Walkout Patio Doors
Installing Molding
BASEMENT ROOMS
Basement Room Projects
An Efficiency Apartment
Bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchen
Family Room
Home Theater
Laundry Center
Wine Cellar
Home Office
Conversion Charts
Resources & Photo Credits
Index

Introduction
T
he modern basement is a far cry from the musty, low-ceilinged root cellars
carved out beneath the average home around the turn of the last century. Our
need for more space in our homes has led home designers, builders, and
homeowners to exploit every possible square foot of usable space. This effort
has focused attention squarely on the basement. No longer just functional areas
to serve as utility rooms and workshops, today’s basements are being converted
to family rooms, home theaters, and guest bedrooms. As Baby Boomers age and
circumstances lead us to cluster multiple generations under the same roof, larger
basements have also become ideal locations for efficiency or “in-law”
apartments.
In the last half-century there has been an explosion in new-home
construction. Following World War II, contractors erected houses with
unprecedented speed so that they could keep up with demand. New home starts
continued on a breakneck pace all through the 1990s and into the 2000s— in
fact, the pressure to build more houses faster was so great that many builders
chose to forego the time-consuming task of finishing the basement whenever
they could. As a result, hundreds of thousands of homes were constructed with
just a few stubouts, a mechanical room and bare concrete walls for a basement.
This was a benefit for the homebuyers too, because it shaved several thousand
dollars off the construction price in a market where costs continually soared.
Being by nature ambitious, homeowners everywhere vowed to take on the
challenge of finishing those basements themselves.
If you are among the homeowners whose basement is an empty space with a
few plumbing stubouts and little else but potential, this book is for you. In it,
you’ll find answers to all of the questions you have undoubtedly formed as
you’ve dreamed about the many options that await you below grade. If you own
an older house with a basement that was finished a few decades ago, but is badly
in need of an update, you will find essential information in the pages of The
Complete Guide to Finishing Basements. From design, to planning, through
execution, we show you in vivid detail the steps you’ll need to take to expand
your living space in beautiful new ways.
When you’re remodeling, just about everything changes once you get below
ground. Most of the unique challenges found in basement building are related to
water and moisture issues. But other factors come into play as well: access,
ventilation, and acceptable clearances chief among them. All of the information
in this book takes into account the specific demands of basement remodeling, so
you can be confident in using it for guidance.
The information here was developed with the understanding that creating a
comfortable new living space in your basement is a rewarding way to expand on
the potential of your house while adding value.
REMODELING BASICS