Section#2: Basement Finishing Options & Best Practices

“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.”

~ John Ruskin, English draftsman, painter and philanthropist

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The information coming up in this section shows the main details that go into a basement finished optimally following current best practices.  It’s this business of best practices that matter most when it comes to getting a great finished basement space. Best practices are really what this course is all about. Many people can finish a basement, but few understand how to do it to avoid long-term trouble. Familiarize yourself with all the recommended approaches for the key parts of your basement – walls, floors, ceilings, windows,  soundproofing, waterproofing, etc. – then make decisions about which approach you’ll take for each part of your basement as you plan it.

Think of these best practice concepts as building blocks for the work. As you design your space and build it later on, choose and combine the different approaches that make the most sense for your situation and budget. As you’ll see, the thing that separates most “best practices” for basements from ordinary above-ground building choices is resistance to moisture and the ability to dry out in the event of an unforeseen leak. Learning and understanding basement best practices before you get busy is one of the most important parts of this course. This week’s material isn’t so much  “how-to”as it is “what to do” and why.

Click below to hear an audio message about best practices when it comes to finishing basements.

 

The basement finishing best practices you’ll learn include:

  • Perimeter basement wall finishing systems
  • Interior partition walls
  • Levelling uneven floors
  • Subfloors
  • Finished floors
  • Ceilings
  • Boxing in beams and ducts
  • Windows & outside entrances
  • Mechanical ventilation/heating & cooling
  • Waterproofing/moisture-proofing
  • Power, lighting & plumbing
  • Tearing out an old basement safely and efficiently

 

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