Finishing a Basement: My Home Improvement-Project Story

First, I am not an expert in any type of home repair, but I think I have some good hints for anyone who is about to start any major project. We purchased our house more than a year ago with the understanding that we would finish the basement to give us more room for our growing family. Buying the house meant we had to do some repairs and build some new walls, but I was not much help as I was very pregnant. We had a deadline, and for most things, we meet those deadlines. So when my husband decided it was time to start the basement, I was ready to go. We brought books, discussed our options, had our friends lined up to help out, but we were not really prepared for the project itself. This project started Easter weekend, and I am happy to say it is almost done!

First bit of advice: You need to make sure you have a real plan, written with pictures, would be better since this will help you get your budget down. Go room to room; discuss your options and your visions. You must really talk about what want from the space you are about to work on. Is this space going to be more bedroom space, play space, or just storage? I would highly suggest going through it a few times, with the different people who might be helping you with the project. It is amazing how many ideas will come out after the project starts if you don’t talk it through ahead of time. One of our major time consuming decisions was putting in a bathroom. After we had already put in the ceiling we decided that we really needed a bathroom since we would be downstairs so much. When we decided on this at least two of the people helping told us they knew we would need a bathroom. Now going through the plan numerous times may seem like a waste of time, but as you talk things out and think about your vision, you will notice that not everyone has that vision.

Now you have your diagram with your rooms and your written plan, you need to go back and walk through and get a budget. As you know everything takes twice as long and cost three times as much. For me, when you are doing your self, that means it really takes four times as long and cost six times as much as you thought. When you go through the rooms, budget from top to bottom and back again. Think about everything that you will need fixtures, paint, screws, tape, wood, and flooring. You can put into categories, of need right now, need half way though, need to finish and need eventually, but make sure it is all there. Make sure you also include any permits, taxes and garbage disposal in your budget if they will apply. The budget is probably one of the most frustrating parts of the project, but by doing the budget, you will also have a plan on how the progress will develop. It is important to know that you have to put up the ceiling before the walls, and have to do the electric before you do the ceiling. Now, understand even with the budget in place, you will be hit by surprise costs, but they should be a lot less and more understandable when they do arise. While working on the budget, you are also working on a plan. It is important to figure out how you can make the most of your space quickly. If you are going to be finishing the project in the summer, then the heaters are not as important as getting them in to finish the project in the winter, but you will want to make sure the heaters are part of the budget and the plan.

I want to stress that it is important that you are part of the plan and the budget so you understand just what is happening with your space. You would not let a contractor come into your home and just do what ever they felt like it, and you should not let this happen to any project in your home. You also need to make sure you have the final say. If it is not important that your basement have high plush carpet, then don’t let it happen.

So now you have your plan, you have your budget and you ready to start the project, don’t be surprised when it starts with a bang and then fizzles. After working on the project for a while it seems that things will slow to a point where it seems it is at a standstill, be prepared for it. This is the time to pull out the plan and the budget and review with everyone where you are at and what you need to do next. Reviewing this plan seems to help everyone get back on track; unfortunately I did not have the plan from the beginning so things stalled for a long time. Everyone likes to see the end of the project and as that gets closer; they will again pick up speed like they did at the start of the project. If there is any way to make one space finished quicker then the others, this also seems to help everyone see what can be accomplished.

Remember, undertaking any project is a big deal, if it is finishing the basement, building a shed, putting up a wall in the garage or redesigning a closet, they should all be approached the same way. The bigger the project them more time that will need to be dedicated to it, but the reward will be greater as well. Having a detailed plan that you can follow will help easy the stress, control the budget and move the project along to a happy conclusion. If you can keep all your project plans in one notebook it would help you see quickly what you have done, what you are doing and how planning helps. Good Luck and enjoy!