Finishing Off A Basement Adds Inexpensive Living Space

If your home is starting to feel crowded and selling it isn’t really practical, consider adding living space. While such a project will be expensive, it will cost a lot less if you have a basement that can be converted to finished space.

Extending the footprint of your home is costly because, in some respects, its like you are building a small new home. You need a foundation, floors, walls, roof and plumbing and electricity.

When finishing off a basement, you have all that to start with. You just have to make sure that it will work or do what you want to do, and that may require some modification. Still, it’s cheaper than starting from scratch.

No water

The first requirement is to make sure the basement is dry. Basements are notoriously leaky, and any moisture issues must be eliminated before you start. If you have found signs of moisture, make sure there is no mold present. The last thing you want to do is install wallboard over mold that will continue to grow unseen and cause health and property damage.

There are other factors that might make a basement unsuitable. If the ceiling is particularly low, for example, it might make the resulting finished space uncomfortable for anyone approaching six feet in height.

At first glance you might consider your basement unsuitable, simply because it’s dark, dirty, and lacks any refinements. But if you can look past that, and imagine new wall coverings, flooring and ceiling, you might begin to see the possibilities. It just takes some imagination.

Permits

Before starting on your basement conversion, be sure to check out permitting requirements in your city or county. Each one is different, but all will have codes that must be met and inspections that must be carried out.

The local governments want to make sure work is done in a correct and safe manner, but they also want to know about any improvements you’ve made to your home. By adding living space, you’ve added to the value of your home, and you can expect that your local government is going to tax that extra value.

Getting down to work

Most basement walls are cement or concrete block, not the most attractive. To add finished walls you’ll put up 2x4 studs on the wall and attach wallboard or paneling. Depending on your climate, you may want to add a layer of insulation between the basement wall and the wallboard, keeping in mind that below grade space stays at a more stable temperature. Insulation may not be necessary.

Before putting up wallboard, of course, you’ll want to decide whether you need additional electrical outlets. Since basements tend to be one large space, you also need to design your space into rooms or wall off your new finished area, but keep the remaining basement unfinished.

Design

The way you design your basement layout can also save money. If you’re adding a bath, position it beneath an upstairs bath, so that it will be easier to tie into the drain and water supply. Likewise, if the current basement has a laundry room, that might be a good place for the new bathroom.

If your home has central air and heat, chances are there is ductwork on the basement ceiling. By tying into the existing ducts, you can add climate control to your new space for almost nothing.

One of the most economical ways to add a ceiling is to install a drop ceiling with a grid and acoustical tiles. Again, you have to have enough headroom to do so.

Turning a dingy basement into an attractive family room will also require good lighting. As you begin to design your space, think about how you will use it and what light sources you will need, remembering there will be little natural light available.

Not every basement is suitable for conversion to living space, but if yours is, it can be an affordable way to add living space and value to your home.