How to Build Your Own Basement

If your basement is an unfinished, damp and shadowy place, consider finishing it by building a basement room that can be used as a game room, a media room or a home office.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lumber
• Drywall
• Paint
• Flooring options

Instructions On Building Your Own Basement

1. Decide what you want to use your basement for--a spare bedroom, a hobby shop, a man’s getaway. Draw your design on paper with the proper measurements. See if you can have a professional look at your drawings.

2. Figure out what you can afford to spend. Make a budget, and work with your plans until they fit within your finances. Remember to allow for any plumber or electrician costs if you have to hire that out.

3. Measure and shop. Buy all the materials you will need to frame the walls, cover the floor and paint. Don’t forget cabinets, fixtures and furniture.

4. Frame your interior walls, and exterior as well if you have decided you need extra insulation. Run any electrical or plumbing as well as ventilation, heating or cooling options.

5. Insulate, drywall and paint. Finish installing your appliances and hooking up your plumbing and electrical.

6. Install a floor covering. You can use a prefab interlocking product, or lay tile or even carpet if desired. Finish off around the walls with quarter round.

7. Decorate. You built your own basement, and this is the fun part. Install all the goodies you have purchased to turn your basement into a hang out spot. Accessories you may include a pool table, big screen tv, or library.

Tips & Warnings

• Ideas for a basement room could include a wet bar, extra seating and a plasma TV for a swanky media room, or a simple carpeted floor and built in toy bins for a kids’ play area.
• Some areas will require a permit for this type of renovation, so check before you build.