How To Finish A Basement On A Budget – 8 Tips
- Start Small—But With Flair. …
- Keep It Dry. …
- Get Creative With Flooring. …
- Don Your Painting Clothes. …
- Change It Up. …
- Choose Your Ceiling. …
- Clear The Air. …
- Check The Codes.
Likewise, Where do I start when finishing a basement?
10 Things You Must Know: Finishing a Basement
- Know the Code. …
- Consider the Fasteners. …
- Add a Vapor Barrier. …
- Create an Offset Space. …
- Keep Out the Cold and the Warmth In. …
- Drop Ceilings Provide Easy Access. …
- Give Your Lighting a Recess. …
- Add Some Warmth at the Baseboards.
Furthermore, What can I use instead of drywall in my basement?
Consider the options below for alternatives to drywall that looks good and holds up better.
- Wood Planks.
- Plastic Panels.
- Plywood.
- Veneer Plaster.
- Pegboard.
- Lath and Plaster.
- Wahoo Walls.
- Textured Wall Panels.
Secondly, How do you partially finish a basement?
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- Keep the ceiling exposed. This smart basement renovation reveals a key secret to enjoying a partially finished basement : Keep the ceiling open. …
- Ditch the drywall. …
- Capture the power of white. …
- Establish a focal point. …
- Get creative with paint and decor. …
- Install cabinetry. …
- Just do the basics. …
- Dress up with shine.
In what order should I finish my basement?
From insulation and framing to selecting your paint and finishing touches, follow these steps to finish your basement walls.
- Step 1: Install Insulation. …
- Step 2: Frame the Walls. …
- Step 3: Install Utilities. …
- Step 4: Mount Drywall. …
- Step 5: Paint.
What is the best wall covering for a basement?
If installing drywall panels, use moisture- and mildew-resistant drywall. When insulating concrete basement walls (a good idea because concrete basement walls are often cold), use rigid foam board insulation if the insulation will come into direct contact with the concrete wall.
How difficult is it to frame a basement?
Framing basement walls is the first phase of learning how to finish a basement. I do love the smell of lumber dust on a cool fall morning. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it looks, but it’s one of the steeper learning curves. Once you get the basic concepts down it’s just rinse and repeat.
What is the cheapest way to cover a wall?
Here are ten affordable ways to cover your walls that can be done in a short time.
- Foam board.
- Large art prints.
- Starched fabric wall covering.
- Loose fabric wall covering/curtain.
- Tapestry wall hanging.
- Vinyl wall decals.
- Peel and stick wallpaper.
- Mirrors.
Can you sleep in an unfinished basement?
Sleeping in an unfinished basement can harm your health and lead to respiratory problems and cancer due to the lack of natural light and air, and exposure to harmful things like radon gas, molds, dust, and chemicals. Therefore, it’s advised that you do not sleep in an unfinished basement as a rule.
Do I need to seal my basement walls before finishing?
Nothing will ruin a beautiful remodeling job like soaked carpets, moldy drywall and damaged furniture so it is essential that a basement be fully waterproofed before any finishing work begins.
What is the most expensive part of finishing a basement?
Framing an unfinished basement can be very expensive due to both the labor and lumber costs. Surprising to many, the cost of lumber can actually end up being the most expensive part of the project. One way to offset those costs is by using metal studs.
What is the best flooring for basement?
7 Best Basement Flooring Options
- Paint. (Under $10/sq. …
- Epoxy. …
- Tile. …
- Rubber tile or rubber sheets. …
- Vinyl planks or tiles. …
- Sheet vinyl. …
- Engineered wood flooring.
Can you finish a basement without drywall?
As mentioned before, finishing basement walls without drywall will save you time (building and clean-up) and money in most DIY cases. If you go with the tips above, and have avoided using studs for your cellar walls, then you need some kind of wall cover to complete the basement wall remodel.
Should you put plastic on basement walls?
Should I use visqueen or plastic sheeting on the framed basement walls? No you should not, as plastic will prevent moisture from moving through the wall and will lead to mold and damage.
Do basement walls need to breathe?
It behaves as a moisture trap and can also hide structural problems and cracks in the foundation. Bottom line: basement walls need to breathe too. … Once the moisture gets in and stays, mold growth, and eventually rot, are inevitable. So keep wood, drywall, carpet, carpet padding, tack strips, etc.
How much does it cost to finish a 300 sq ft basement?
The average cost to finish a basement is generally between $25 and $50 per square foot, but costs can go as high as $90 per square foot depending on how extensive the renovations are and the materials and labor you choose. For most basements, the average cost works out to around $30,000.
How much should it cost to frame a basement?
Framing: You should expect to spend about $1 per square foot to frame your basement. Drywall: It costs around $1.50 per square foot to hang drywall in your basement. Ceiling: Basic ceiling installation can cost as little as $1-2 per square foot. But, if the project is complex, it can cost around $6 per square foot.
How do you hide a bad wall?
Here are some ways that you can cover up a bad wall without a paintbrush.
- Wallpaper. When it comes to covering walls without paint, wallpaper is often the next thing someone will think of. …
- Literary Paper. …
- Washi Tape. …
- Printed Murals. …
- Photos. …
- Fabric. …
- Faux Stone and Brick Veneer. …
- Wall Decals.
How do I clean the walls in my house?
How to Clean Walls With Paint or Wallpaper Like a Pro
- Gather your supplies. Some good news: Wall cleaning does not require any special wall cleaner. …
- Protect your floor from drips. …
- Dust the walls. …
- Mix water and dish soap. …
- Test a patch on the wall. …
- Gently wash in circular motions. …
- Tackle any stubborn stains. …
- Rinse the walls.
How can I hide bad walls with paint?
The more reflective or glossy the paint sheen, the more noticeable those imperfections will be. Conversely, flat or matte finishes absorb light, helping to hide bumps and bruises. So, paint with a flat finish is the most effective paint for hiding wall imperfections.
Are basements depressing?
“There is often less natural light in basement dwellings, which can lead to feeling depressed,” says Sinclair Kruth. “A lack of natural light can also lead to difficulty sleeping and disrupted sleep-wake cycles, which can lead to feeling fatigued but not able to rest properly.
How do you decorate an unfinished basement?
12 Finishing Touches for Your Unfinished Basement
- Lay Down Foam Mats. 1/13. Most unfinished basements have a poured concrete floor. …
- String Some Lighting. 2/13. …
- Throw Down Area Rugs. 3/13. …
- Install Storage. 4/13. …
- Paint Your Cinder Block. 5/13. …
- Hang Curtains. 6/13. …
- Create an Art Studio. 7/13. …
- Craft a Canopy for Your Ceiling. 8/13.
Can you get sick from sleeping in a basement?
Damp, indoor spaces breed mold.
But more importantly, mold is bad for your family’s health. If you have a moldy basement, you are at risk for sickness that affects your respiratory system. These include coughs, asthma, nose and throat issues, and shortness of breath.
Does finishing a basement reduce radon?
Several years after finishing the basement, you might find that the radon level has increased above the EPA’s action limit (4 pCi/L) and must be reduced to make the house marketable. But once the basement has been finished, you have to get a fan-based radon mitigation system ($1,200 on average).
Is it bad to Drylock basement walls?
DO NOT PAINT YOUR WALLS, even with Drylok or waterproofing paint. … Also, do not attach insulation directly to the foundation walls. It behaves as a moisture trap and can also hide structural problems and cracks in the foundation. Bottom line: basement walls need to breathe too.
Does sealing a basement floor reduce radon?
Sealing the basement floor can help reduce the amount of radon entering the home. But just sealing the cracks would be unlikely to reduce those amounts in the long term. Sealing all cracks and applying non-porous, thick epoxy coatings (over 10 MILS dry film thickness) would be a better step.
