How to Turn a Basement Into a Media Room or Playroom

Say good-bye to that dingy cellar and hello to a home theater or rec
room. Being dark, cool and isolated from the rest of the house is now
a benefit, so noisy movies and video games won't disturb the peace
of slumbering or working residents above.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Read 89 Organize the Basement. Those waterproofing steps apply here, too.

2. Do any needed structural work on your foundation, taking care of drainage or flooding issues as well as earthquake retrofitting, before you finish your basement.

3. Install a vapor barrier, sufficient insulation and electrical wiring (including speaker wire for side- and rear-channel speakers) before you finish your basement walls. Place a bank of six or eight grounded electrical outlets where the entertainment center will go, even if you don't intend to use one immediately.

4. Consider other features such as a ventilation or HVAC system; an intercom; a DSL, T-1 or cable hookup; and soundproofing during the planning stages.

5. Insulate the floor of the main level of the house (the basement's ceiling). This will keep both stories warmer and muffle the sound from the entertainment center. Add soundproofing if desired.

6. Build raised platforms for seating, if your basement will be a home theater and if your ceiling is high enough. Build the platforms strong enough to support chairs and couches.

7. Hang blackout blinds on any basement windows, if you'll use the area for a home theater.

8. Look into indoor-outdoor carpeting or laminate flooring, such as Pergo (pergo.com) or Wilsonart (wilsonart.com). Both are good choices in many basements because they're tough, waterresistant, and easy even for novices to install. Carpeting is warmer on the feet but harder to keep clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with building officials to see if you're required to have direct egress (exit) from the basement to the outside in case of fire.
• Take photos of your walls after you've installed wiring but before you've hung wallboard or paneling. They will be helpful later if you need to modify the wiring.
• Consult your local government and follow all building codes when you remodel your basement.
• Pay particular attention to water issues. Nothing beats mold when it comes to spoiling your enjoyment of your new surround-sound media room.

[TonyD_how]

on 3/4/2007 WARNING! Vapor barriers (step 2) are NOT recomended for basement living areas! In fact, the opposite is needed. The walls must freely allow moisture to ESCAPE from the foundation walls. A vapor barrier traps moisture behind the wall and MOLD IS INEVITABLE. Instead, build your finish walls at least 8 inches away from the masonry wall and put vents every 6 feet near the ceiling AND near the floor.