How to Make Your Basement Deeper
A finished basement allows the homeowner to have livable quarters on the lowest floor of the house. Unfortunately, as you finish off the basement, the height of the room shrinks as a subfloor and flooring are installed and a drop ceiling is put in place to tie the room together. If you wish to reclaim some of this lost place, you can deepen the basement by removing the subfloor. This is a fairly drastic change. The task should only be completed by homeowners with construction experience or professionals. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Circular saw
- Pry bar or chisel
- Hammer or mallet
- Broom
- Industrial vacuum
Instructions
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1
Remove the flooring, if applicable. Depending on the type of flooring, the process will vary. If the floor is carpeted, remove the staples and tack strips. If there is hardwood flooring, use a circular saw and chisel to pry up the floorboards. If you are unsure how to remove the flooring material, consult a professional.
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2
Cut the underlying plywood with a circular saw, starting in a far corner of the basement. Pry up the plywood with a pry bar. Move backward from one end of the floor to the other.
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3
Knock out the sleepers, or floor studs, using a hammer or mallet. Use the saw as necessary to cut the wood. Once the sleepers are removed, remove the perimeter using the same process.
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4
Pull up the builder’s felt or other insulating material to reveal the cement floor of your basement.
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5
Clean up the area with a wet/dry vacuum and broom.
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Tips & Warnings
The steps outlined provide an overview of the process of removing the basement flooring for the purpose of deepening it. Your exact basement situation will vary, meaning the difficulty of the process will vary. If you are hesitant or unsure about the process consult a professional, even if just for advice on how to proceed before ripping up the floor.
Be sure to check for any electrical wiring or piping before cutting into and removing the subfloor. If any such things exist, contact an electrician or plumber to remove or reroute them.
