How to Finish a Basement Bonus Room

Making a basement's bonus room into an extra space for hobbies, games or even a bedroom or office is an attractive alternative to using the space for extra storage. Most basements, however, require a fair amount of elbow grease to make them acceptable as living, play or work spaces.

Basement bonus rooms do not often need additional wall partitions, but it is important to check for dampness and prevent water leaks before starting. Also, most basements don't have the best wiring systems. Hire a licensed electrician to install additional wiring if needed (some areas require this by law), particularly if the room will become an entertainment room, TV room or an office.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Measure your basement bonus room and make a floor plan. Make sure to record the room's length and width and include partitions or odd corners, as well as the wall's height. Take measurements, floor plans and any rough sketches of potential ideas for the room to your building supply dealer, who will be able to assist you with suggestions and the latest information on construction materials.

   Consider installing built-in shelving units for storing games, books or equipment. Sketch out ideas for any potential additions to the room and take these sketches to your dealer as well.

2. Frame the basement wall to provide a nailing surface for wall paneling. Nail 2 by 4s along the floor where the floor meets the walls. Also nail 2 by 4s along the ceiling. The floor and ceiling 2 by 4s are the "plates." Nail floor and ceiling plates wherever there are going to be partitions as well, along the tops of doorways and along the tops and bottoms of windowsills.

3. Nail 2 by 4 studs in place between the floor and ceiling plates. Check carefully with a level to make sure the studs are perpendicular to the plates. Space the studs 24 inches apart. Since most wall panels are 4 by 8 feet, with studs spaced 2 feet apart there is no need to cut down the wall panel's width.

   These vertical 2 by 4 studs provide the base for affixing wall surfacing material.

4. Make sure to treat the walls against dampness and repair all leaks and cracks before you apply wall surfacing. Choose some form of wallboard or other wall covering available in 4 by 8 sheets to begin surfacing the wall.

5. Use drywall screws to attach the wallboards to the studs. Check all corners and angles to make sure you have provided yourself with a nailing surface before starting--you may have to add studs.

6. Adding a ceiling often improves the appearance of a basement bonus room as most unfinished basements do not have much of a ceiling. A ceiling of tight-fitting and fire-resistant materials is safer because it will slow the spread of potential basement fires to the floor above and reduce smoke damage. Fire-stop all openings through which fire might find a way to the above ground structure. Look around service pipes and registers, as well as between plates, studs and the foundation.

   Use incombustible materials such as mortar, plaster, concrete, hollow tile or gypsum block for firestopping---anything with fine enough particles to fill voids. Support the firestopping with horizontal wood strips no more than 2-inch thick or with wire mesh.

7. Choose the ceiling surfacing material: gypsum-board (Drywall and Sheetrock are brand names for gypsum-board products), hardboard, plywood or ceiling tiles are available.

   Protect material placed within 2 inches of boiler or furnace or within 1 foot of a smoke pipe. Arrange a loose-fitting metal shield around boiler furnace, or smoke pipe to provide 1--2 inches of air space. Use small blocks of incombustible material between the metal and the wooden joists. It's also okay to suspend metal sheets on wires or hooks fastened to the joists.

   There are special clips available at home improvement stores for securing tiles to the ceiling, but you can also use box nails or staples.

   If you are going to convert the basement into a music room or work with power tools, you may want to use soundproof ceiling materials.

8. Consider the flooring. Paint is an effective option, particularly if the basement has a concrete floor in good shape.

   Most basement floors should be of sturdy materials because play or work rooms undergo considerable foot traffic. Strong tile is a recommended option for basements---particularly since basements can get a bit damp---but for houses in drier climates wood floors will also work.

   Carefully measure the floor. Manufacturers often provide ideas and instructions for floor pattern and designs with the tiles' packaging. Follow the manufacturer's instructions when laying tile.

References

• Audels Do-It-Yourself Encyclopedia, vol. 1, 1968