How to finish a basement? This is a homeowner stuttering and tripping over his words when presented with the task of finishing his basement. And no wonder!

There are actually not many who know how to. Finishing a basement just happens to be the last thing on the minds of householders looking to extend the useable space of his house without burning a hole in their pockets.

So it all boils down to, “how to?” Finishing a basement is actually not that much of a Herculean task when you have your blueprint chalked out. You should plan well in advance what exactly would be the purpose that your finished basement would serve.

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Is it going to be a den for your teenaged son, an entertainment zone, a kitchenette or a wet bar? The type of usage will determine the alterations and modifications that need to be done to the basement.

For instance, lighting concerns are critical to any basement finishing project. This is because basement areas tend to be dark with miniscule windows or worse, none at all. Your basement lighting options include concealed fluorescent lighting in the ceiling and special purpose lighting such as one near the reading area or above the billiard table. Another good option is to invest in lighting fixtures with ballasts to conserve energy.

Again if you are planning to convert your basement into a bathroom or wet bar, then don’t let plumbing problems plague you. And they are a particular concern when your home operates on a private septic system. You may need a pump up waste water system and perimeter drains, along with the exterior and interior walls of the basement being sealed.

Say, the dark and dingy basement of yours is getting a makeover as a study or the media room complete with a PC or a home theater system. In this case, the electrical wirings running through the room need a thorough checking.

However, there are a few things that have to be considered no matter what facelift you plan to give to your basement. Waterproofing is one issue that definitely merits a thought. If you embark on your basement finishing project just after you have moved in to your house, then mere damp proofing the outside walls of the basement with liquid asphalt will do.

Ceiling height is another issue that needs thinking over when you are planning a basement remodeling. Why? How to? Finishing a basement is all about keeping a lookout on the details and not just get swayed by the looks. For instance, dropped ceilings, when unplanned, only serve to decrease the ceiling height. A drywalled ceiling is a better alternative, besides imparting a refined look to the basement.

While you are remodeling your basement, there will be quite a few trouble spots for you to deal with. These typically include the awkward positioning of boilers and other electrical devices and particularly low ceilings. Now before you smash down the fixtures into pieces, it is best to consult an expert and when you do so, remember that a budget suited to a remodeling job will not accommodate a rebuilding job.

So now you know “how to?” Finishing a basement won’t be much of a hassle now.

by Manuel Kupka

When you don’t know how to, finishing a basement should be left to the experts. They will guide you through the various particulars of the job, the lucrative alternatives and provide you invaluable troubleshooting tips.