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How to Finish A Basement in 5 Easy Steps

Finishing your basement is not as difficult as you might think. There are a few simple steps to go through, and then you have the perfect place to create an extension of your home.

You’re already seeing a new home theater down there aren’t you? Well, stay with me a bit and learn how to finish a basement before you get to the really cool things you can do with it. 

Here are the 5 steps that will walk you through how to finish a basement. 

1. Waterproofing – You will need to waterproof your basement first. This is because cement is porous. Porous means that there is air in the cement. The air goes through the cement via tiny holes in the cement. 

Cement soaks up water and dampness through a ‘wicking’ process. The water and dampness damages the integrity of the cement. When you seal your cement, water and dampness are no longer able to soak into the cement and damage it. 

This is a major step in learning how to finish a basement. It is necessary if you want to protect your basement and whatever you choose to turn it into. 

2. Address your lighting. Most of the time there is poor lighting in basements. Depending upon what you want to do with your basement, there may be a need to enhance the lighting of your basement. 

Hey, if you’re a photographer, the dungeon-style room would be great for developing pictures, otherwise, you might need to add new fixtures and wires. When adding new wires, you should consult a certified electrician. 

Even if you already know how to finish a basement, you should seek help with the wiring. You want your new basement to be shocking, but not literally! 

Another option you have is creating more natural light in your basement. If parts of your basement extend aboveground, you can add windows, or make existing windows larger. 

3. Insulate your basement well. If your basement is not already insulated, this is a must. Good insulation is important in keeping the dampness out. It’s also good for a number of other things. For example, your heating and cooling bills. 

Without proper insulation, you will lose a lot of money through cool air and warm air loss. Your systems will work harder to heat and cool your basement. Make sure that you have an adequate amount of insulation. 

4. Think about your floors. When you’re learning how to finish your basement, an important thing to think about is your floors. You may want different types of flooring depending upon what your awesome plan is for your finished basement. 

Indoor/Outdoor carpet is a great selection for a basement. It goes the extra step to keep the dampness out, and it’s really easy to clean and take care of. 

5. Finish your walls. You will need to cover your insulation or OSB board with something to protect it, and to look great. Sheetrock is okay, but an even better idea is some kind of paneling. 

If there is any dampness left, sheetrock will soak it up. You could go ahead with the sheetrock and coat it with some kind of sealer if you prefer. Great job! 

I told you it wasn’t hard to learn how to finish a basement! Now you are ready to make your basement the coolest thing on the block. Good luck with your project.