Basement remodeling

[Mr Twigbert]

The wife was kind enough to plan out my vacation for this summer.. She wants me to take off about 4 weeks of work and finish our basement..

Is there anyone who is skilled in such a task and looking to make some extra cash? I'm looking for someone who can show me how to frame off the concrete walls and start off the project.. I'll have to build some new walls, frame in a door way or two and frame around some water pipes.. From there I'll need some help w/ electrical and maybe hanging doors.. I'm able to do some of the work but I'm not skilled at all.. I can use a saw and the basic tools but I have no ideal about how to frame and the general lay out of studs or even where to put the electrical boxes.. I've remodeled bathrooms and kitchens but it mostly consisted of replacing sinks, toilets, vanaties, flooring and painting..

I don't have a ton of money to pay someone but I'm willing to pay what I can for someone to just get me started in the basics of the project.. Maybe for 8 hours of work to get me started and I can work from there.. Then, when I fugg things up I'll need someone to come back for another 8 hours to tell me how to fix it.. :chair:

The plan is to start it around June 1st.. I know its a ways out but I want to have a game plan seeing its a pretty big project..

[Want_Notch]

I can help you with the electrical. Just pm me when it gets closer.

[88Nightmare]

I can help ya out around my work schedule. I started to finish off my basement. So far I built one room 11x20, and started to do the rest of the basement. I did the framing, the electrical, and had assistance with the drywall. And then I had 1-800 empire do the carpeting. Im no licensed professional, but I could definitely lend a hand

[UnderPSI]

You can stop by and check out mine if you want. I am refinishing right now. I just had my fifth knee surgery so I am taking a few weeks off. But you can stop over to get some ideas or advice if you want. I am in Waukesha, kinda by All Pro Motorsports. Give me a call if you are interested.

~Brad 262-751-9439

[Mr Twigbert]

Thats awsome guys.. Thanks..

I have no water problems but would you guys suggest I paint that 'Dry Lock' stuff on the walls before I start?

[STANMAN]

Why don't you move out of the ghetto 1st. I mean I would like to leave the kevlar at home when I come over and use your driveway to wash my car:thumbsup:rolf


You know if you just need an extra set of hands, or supervision, I am there buddy.

[88Nightmare]

Thats awsome guys.. Thanks..

I have no water problems but would you guys suggest I paint that 'Dry Lock' stuff on the walls before I start?

absolutely. Even if you dont have water problems, cement blocks are still naturually a pourus material, moisture and water vapor seeps in over time no matter what. Painting drylock on the walls is just cheap simple insurance. If you plan on insulating down there, over time as more and more moisture seeps in, it will start to rot the fiberglass insulation. What I did was painted the drylock on the walls, and then I hung sheeted plastic on the walls, and then put the studs over that. Rotting insulation FTL

[jbiscuit]

I did mine last winter as well....I Dry Locked all the outter walls (cement block), then hung the plastic sheets and then used styrofoam sheet insulation on top of that. It was easy to use and adhere to the block. My basement is nice and dry.

Make sure you take in to account ducting etc...you'll want heat down there so make sure your furnace can handle the additional square footage. And another tip would be to plan out in advance where you'd like to place electronics etc so you can plan accordingly. I have an LCD mounted in the corner so I put an outlet up high as well as cable connections and RCA jacks to connect to my receiver etc as well. I also wired in ceiling speakers so I didn't waste floor space with speaker towers since my basement is small (colonial house)

Doing the stud/wall layout is the easiest. I HATE sheetrocking with a passion, especially the ceiling. Your arms will want to fall off after hanging 10-12 sheets above your head.

[BoosTT]

hiring someone to do the drywall mudding is the best money you can spend as well... If you did it your self its the equilivant to working for $3.00/. Pros do it super fast, perfect, and very cheep.

[88Nightmare]

my friends dad helped with my drywall, holy crap watchin that guy work. He hung the 4x8 sheets 1/2" thick on the ceiling by himself. Im like dude you want a hand, hes like naw I got it go get me a soda lol. He hung all the rock in this 11x20 room in maybe an hour or two, and had the first coat of mud on the first day, came back another day did some sanding and got the second coat of mud on, came back another day and did some touch ups to make sure it was perfect, and then sprayed a texture for me. He is always looking for side jobs and I would be MORE then happy to refer you to this guy, his work is amazing!

[jbiscuit]

I'd say hire this guy if he does good work and if its reasonable to do the sheetrock. I'm not sure I'd do another ceiling on my own again. Its not worth it. PLUS it took me and my dad twice as long to do it!

[UnderPSI]

hiring someone to do the drywall mudding is the best money you can spend as well... If you did it your self its the equilivant to working for $3.00/. Pros do it super fast, perfect, and very cheep.

^^^^^^^^^What he said!

[DirtyMax]

I did mine last winter as well....I Dry Locked all the outter walls (cement block), then hung the plastic sheets and then used styrofoam sheet insulation on top of that. It was easy to use and adhere to the block. My basement is nice and dry.


J- what did you adhere the foam sheets to the block with?

Thanks!:thumbsup

[UnderPSI]

They make construction adhesive type stuff for that. Usually right by the foam insulation its self. Otherwise you can use drywall adhesive.

[nismodave]

I can help you with the electrical. Just pm me when it gets closer.

http://www.kiddeft.com/utcfs/ws-385/Assets/199%20Electrical%20Panel.jpg$ASSET

[Yooformula]

I agree with everything they said. I drywalled 2 wall and it was a pain in the ass! I found that a baseboard electric heater worked best for my basement and any rooms have a door on them to keep the rooms warm. my basement is bone dry so I rarely use my dehumidifier and didnt need to dryloc the walls. I have heard that they prevent the walls from breathing so might not be a good idea to paint the entire wall if you have no issues already.

[UnderPSI]

I didn't drylock either. My opinion, water proofing goes on the outside of the walls. I wouldn't want to trap the water in the block and then have it freeze. I didn't use plastic either, I called the city to see what code was and they said it wasn't needed nor did they reccomend it.

Make sure you put insulation on both hot and cold water pipes in the ceilng to prevent condensation drips. Also I would use thicker drywall than 1/2". Prevents saging and provides better sound insulation to the upstairs.

[awsomeears]

I would recommend putting in drop ceiling and not to Dry wall it :thumbsup its such a pain in the ass to locate or access the ceiling of your basement, if you were to sell the house its a Turn off also.

When your all studded up I can add a few heat runs and cold air return so that your basement will be heated.

This is something I can do in a day :thumbsup

I'll PM you my info and #

[Lash]

x2 on the drop ceiling. You'll thank yourself later.

[Yooformula]

ouch. drywalling the ceiling in a older home is a fuggin mess and not worth it. one of the bedrooms in my basement has a drywall ceiling and I had to small it up to find pipes, wires and ductwork. Drop ceiling is soooo much easier.

[awsomeears]

ouch. drying the ceiling in a older home is a fuggin mess and not worth it. one of the bedrooms in my basement has a drywall ceiling and I had to small it up to find pipes, wires and ductwork. Drop ceiling is soooo much easier.


Exactly what a mess :durr on the plus side I usually find drugs and porno's hidden :rolf:rolf:rolf:rolf

[88Nightmare]

I drywalled my ceiling, only because of there is nothing extremely important on this side of the basement. There is a shut off valve for the outside hose, but I made a little trap door for easy access to it.

[jbiscuit]

J- what did you adhere the foam sheets to the block with?

Thanks!:thumbsup

yea like Brad said, there is construction adhesive out there....otherwise any sort of Liquid Nails in a tube will work. You just need it to cooperate with you so you can hang the drywall over it.

I also agree to think ahead when you might have to cover up water pipes etc that run through the basement but I would let it deter you from doing a drywall ceiling either. Just plan ahead is all.

here are a few snapshots of mine:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8630/basement1cl9.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1568/basement2wc3.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2530/basement3dy9.jpg

[Yooformula]

damm J, that looks awesome! did you do the work yourself or was it done when you bought the house?

[UnderPSI]

I am doing a 50/50 mix of drywall and drop. Drywall just looks so much more like living space and less like basement. I can get in wall and in-celing speakers at cost too if you need them.

[jbiscuit]

damm J, that looks awesome! did you do the work yourself or was it done when you bought the house?

I did it ALL myself. My dad helped with the electrical and the sheetrock. The basement was KIND OF finished when I bought the house but it was one of the most hack jobs I have ever seen. I tore everything down to the studs and started alllllll over. The cabinets weren't there, neither were the large columns on either side of the cabinets etc that house my water and gas meter (the oak doors open, I just have to add the hardware yet), it had peelNstick tile on the floor. It was awful. I did the carpeting, bought unfinished Oak cabinets and finished those, etc etc.

[UnderPSI]

Another suggestion to anyone finishing a basement is to add an Egress Window. That way your basement is legaly finished, space counts as sq.ft. when you sell, and you are a lot safer in case of a fire. Digging the hole is the hardest part, but that isn't too bad if you use a loader.

Some pics of mine in progress...

Egress.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/underpsidisplays/basement8.jpg

Inside
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/underpsidisplays/Christmas2007024.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/underpsidisplays/Christmas2007015.jpg

[UnderPSI]

first one is a little blurry

The tape outline on the floor is where the bar is going to go.

[jbiscuit]

looks awesome Brad!

[Yooformula]

looks good so far, great job!

[88Nightmare]

brad, with the one room I finished off in my basement, the window in that room is on the side of the house RIGHT where the driveway is, so I literally have no room for an egress window like that. So do I need one egress window per room in the basement or would one egress window in the basement cover it?

[jbiscuit]

you "technically" don't need any. Its just if you want the basement/lower level to count as square footage on paper.

[88Nightmare]

ok, so what if I want it to count....... 1 egress window per room or one for the whole basement?

[jbiscuit]

brad will have to chime in on that if he knows. The codes can be funny sometimes with stuff like that

[UnderPSI]

To inhabit the space by code you need to means of escape in the event of a fire. So all you need is one in your basment if it is a rec room. You also need one per bedroom. There is a minimum size requirement also for the width and hight of the window opening when the window is open. The City has all the proper codes. I just had them fax them to me. You get a whole ton of extra light down there too. It's great, I just wish I hadn't waited so long. More peace of mind when you are down there too.

[Heat Seeker WS6]

Get yer speakers & A/V gear through Brad & I'll help you wire it all up. Whatever he cant get you, Ill help fill in the gaps. Oh yeah- speaker wires go in 'before' walls go up :goof

[UnderPSI]

Oh yeah- speaker wires go in 'before' walls go up :goof


and back boxes :thumbsup

[Heat Seeker WS6]

and back boxes :thumbsup
You bet!

I have the super homey hookup on those & all the trimming stuff :banana1:


Prewire FTMFW!!! :banana:banana

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k213/Heat_Seeker_WS6/album%202/P1010042.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k213/Heat_Seeker_WS6/album%202/P1010055.jpg


:stare:stare:headbang
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k213/Heat_Seeker_WS6/album%202/P1010052.jpg