DIY: FINISHED BASEMENTS
October 15, 2007
My big project for October has been finishing a Lee’s Summit basement. We’re adding a bathroom, bar area, pool table room, home theater, and a flex room which may be used as a home office or guest room. The flex room can’t be called a bedroom due to the limited methods of egress. Egress is a commonly used industry term synonymous for exit. This is a fun project for my crew and I. I know our homeowners are going to be incredibly pleased with the finished product. We’re running about 3 weeks ahead of schedule and should complete the project this week. If you think I’m boasting, perhaps you’re right but we’re mostly ahead of schedule due to the addition of another carpenter to my staff.
I finished the basement in my own home and my family and I have found that we spend the majority of our time there. However, we have a uniquely placed kitchen in the basement which enables us to spend our waking time on the lower level. Our ground level floor has essentially been reduced to sleeping and laundry.
If you’ve ever considered finishing your basement, I plan to share some of the issues within this column. The primary reason people finish basements is because it’s significantly more cost effective than adding to the footprint of your home. To finish your basement you’ll probably spend $25-60 per square foot whereas a home addition can easily run into the $100 per square foot range depending on the finishing materials chosen. Plenty of talented homeowners opt to finish their own basements and while that’s a viable option for some, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone unless they had highly advanced DIY skills and tools.
The drawbacks to finishing a basement are usually moisture related. The first thing to ensure before finishing a basement is that it’s bone dry. Next you’ll need to invest in a battery backup sump pump in case of power outage. Some homeowner insurance policies don’t cover moisture damage to basements so also be cognizant of your coverage options with your insurer.
If you’re going to the expense of finishing a basement, spend a little more to insulate it properly. The insulation will obviously help retain your heat in the winter and the A/C in summer. We’ve found that our basement is routinely more comfortable than any other area of the house in both winter and summer.
Many unfinished basements have been previously stubbed for a future bathroom. This can save thousands in plumbing costs if you elect to add a bathroom to your basement project. Busting up concrete and patching it in tends to get expensive. Venting a basement bathroom to the outdoors is a critical step sometimes overlooked.
An unfinished basement provides access to wiring and plumbing systems to the rest of the house. By finishing your basement, you’re closing off access to these systems. Prior to enclosing it, you’ll want to consider any future projects, outlets, natural gas, or plumbing on your other floors. Additionally, you’ll need to plan for access to any shutoffs or plumbing cleanouts which may be covered by the wall system you’ve selected.
When choosing your flooring, be sure to explain to the salesperson that the product will be going in a basement. Even though you’ve made sure your basement is dry, it will likely experience at least some moisture issues in the future. You’ll want to install something appropriate for a basement, especially the carpet pad.
In this housing market, improving your existing property is usually more prudent than upgrading. A properly finished basement will add value to your home in some cases, even more than you’ve invested.
The best time to finish a basement is during the winter. Contractors who do outdoor work in the fall schedule basements while it’s too cold to work outside. We’re still scheduling a few open slots for this winter so if we can assist you with a basement, kitchen, bathroom, or other home project please call today.
This month’s question comes from Denny of Greenwood: What do you think of those CFL bulbs, Phil?
Answer: CFL’s are Compact Flourescent Light (bulbs) and are available at most home centers and even grocers. I’ve heard them called spiral bulbs. When Energy Star certified, they use up to 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard light bulbs. They also produce 75% less heat and are generally safer to operate in your home. The drawbacks are primarily convenience and surprisingly, environmental. The bulbs will not operate properly on a dimmer switch. They also contain a small amount of mercury so you’ll need to dispose of them properly when burned out and follow government cleanup guidelines in case of breakage. More information can be accessed on the energy star website at: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf