My DIY Basement Renovation Project

jmac30

Hello Everyone!

First time poster, just joined. But been lurking for a long time now getting ideas of home improvement. Figured I'd share with you my biggest project I've taken on since moving into my house in 2008.

Still a work in progress. Started in 2010 so it's not been 2 years yet, but approaching quickly. With wife, kids, full time job, etc it's hard to find the time and money to work on it consistently so needless to say, it's been worked on when resources are present.

I personally love seeing builds from the start to finish. I'm not in this trade for a living, but it is a big hobby of mine and love to see things progress to completion. Love pics documenting it as well.

Apologies for this being pic loaded but figured I'd share with any that also share my same interest of progression.

Thanks for looking and feel free to ask questions or give ideas.

Thanks!

BEFORE: Full Basement. Unfortunately, I did not have any say in the placement of the utilities for the house as it was built by the previous owner. Therefore, I had utilities everywhere, furnace behind steps, water softener on one wall, sump/electric on another, etc. Had some fun planning the layout for sure.











PLAN: Only concentrating on the family room side for now as I have two young boys and a never stopping growth of toys!



INSULATION:

jmac30

FRAMING:















WIRING:

Won't bore you with the wiring pics...lol

jmac30

UNFORESEEN RADON MITIGATION:

Not too happy with the work performed at the sump area, I since made that look much better.







WALL INSULATION:

jmac30

DOORS:





DRYWALL:

jmac30

AH....MUD TIME:









And so, that's where I am at now. Have a little more drywall to put up along the steps, then a couple coats of mud and I should be ready to get some dust floating around.

Still much to do afterwards though...drop ceiling, flooring, stair banister, paint, trim, etc, etc. It's getting to where I want to be though!

Beepster

Looking good so far. I am in the middle of my second complete basement remodel. The space gets a lot "smaller" when you put up the drywall, doesn't it?

B

mae-ling

Looking Good.
A few tips for next time, or others reading.

Better if you can to use longer sheets of drywall and install it horizontally.
Better/easier to install doors after drywall.

The posts under the beams are wider then the beam, either run the drywall to the very top or put strips on the beams to make it as wide as the posts. Or perhaps your doing a post cap detail there?

jmac30

Well, I pondered the horizontal vs vertical dilemma for awhile and figured I'd be mudding less seams with the vertical runs, hence the reason I went that way. But, to your point, if the sheets were longer, might be a 'wash' as to the amount of seams.

Curious to why it's better or easier to install the doors after the drywall?

As for the posts, I was thinking about doing a shelf with trim from post to post but now, after I had to do a 6" drop for my drop ceiling after the one post, I might not like that idea/look. Might extend to the ceiling now.

Thanks for your input!

EDIT: Here is the 6" drop now for the drop ceiling I will have to put in b/c of the water pipes.



6" Drop at the Steps coming down as well

mae-ling

You can run the drywall past the openings, score the back side and snap and cut,easy quick, no measuring and marking.

The top sheet can run right over the opening and be cut in place with a drywall saw, roto-zip, and or in combination with a knife.

cube17576

You should have used un-faced fiberglass. The XPS acts as a vapor barrier, and so does the kraft facing. You could have an issue of trapping moisture in the fiberglass.

jmac30

Ah yes, never thought about that...will remember that the next time!

jmac30

Well, hopefully I avoided this issue by leaving the stud walls 1-1/2" off the XPS as I had read in another forum of people doing this. I did this not only for that purpose, but b/c I found out the corner of my block walls were not perfectly square to begin with, so had to come off the XPS to square the stud walls.

jmac30

Update: 7/27/2012

Was able to hang some drywall on the stairway last night and get some mud on it. Need to go pickup a few more sheets of drywall and then I should be complete with hanging. Just need to get 1st and 2nd coats on the newly hung and then sand and touch up spots throughout.

Still a lot to do but I feel I'm making progress again on it!





Sure did close the step area in when I hung that drywall!!! Kind of messed with my mind the first time walking up/down them afterwards.

NewHomeDIYGuy

How tight is the area going down the stairs? I imagine when a railing goes in it might be very snug.. Just wanted to mention to keep in the back of your mind that you'll want to be able to get furniture up and down the stairs, especially if you don't have a walk out/up basement.

jmac30

The steps are, if I remember right, 36" wide and there was already drywall in the area down to the the basement ceiling height so width wise, should have no problem getting anything down it but I'm limited by the door to the basement, unfortunately, it's only 32" wide. I am worried a little on length, but I can get a 4x8 sheet of drywall down there so I think I should be okay with a love seat and recliners. I will put the handrails on after the furniture move for sure. Thanks.