11 Tips for How to Finish a Basement From Floor to Ceiling (2023)

FAQs

What should you not forget when finishing a basement? ›

What is the minimum height for a basement ceiling? Local codes for basement finishing vary, however, according to the International Residential Code (IRC), a basement living space must have a clear floor-to-ceiling height of at least 7 feet (6 feet for bathrooms).

One of the fastest and most economical ways to finish a basement ceiling is to paint everything. A monochromatic ceiling disguises all the pipes and ductwork — it's a technique often used in urban spaces that are converted to coffee houses and shops.

A super easy DIY option for your basement ceiling is glue-on tiles. Typically made of polystyrene or fiberboard, these tiles come in a variety of colors, sizes, and styles, and are also paintable. You'll need to install a foundation, like plywood, to glue them to. But after that, it's as simple as glue and stick.

Building to Code

The International Residential Code (IRC) says a basement living space must have a clear, floor-to-ceiling height of at least 7 feet (6 feet for bathrooms).

Habitable space, hallways and portions of basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm).

Foam board insulation comes in rigid sheets made of polystyrene or polyisocyanurate, and you can use it in both basement ceilings and walls. It's relatively inexpensive and easy to install —especially when installed before framing the walls—so it's a great option for DIYers on a budget.

If you have extensive DIY experience and can do the job safely, it may be worth finishing the basement yourself. But if you have a packed schedule that leaves you with little time to break out the tools and hardware, hiring a pro is the way to go. It's also safer to hire a contractor to manage the project.

What can I use instead of drywall on ceiling? ›

Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard is an alternative to drywall for ceilings. An eight-foot length of Wall&CeilingBoard weighs in at under eight pounds, which means it can be installed by just one person.

An average custom finished basement project usually ranges anywhere from 12-16 weeks. The plans for your specific basement remodel could be reflected in the timeline.

Average Basement Remodeling Length

An average of 1000 square feet basement takes around four weeks to finish. To get a better sense of your basement remodeling length, we will put down each step of the remodeling project, along with the time frame for each phase of the project.

An unfinished basement rarely has insulation, drywall, or finished flooring, but it may have plumbing. Transforming a completely unfinished basement by adding these features is the most costly type of basement finishing project.

Attach wood furring strips, Z-shape channels, or 2x4 studs to flat, dry masonry walls, then add insulation and cover the strips or studs with drywall. Such treatments give basement walls a smooth, even surface that accepts finish materials such as paint, wallpaper, or paneling.

Hazards commonly found in basements include toxic chemicals, pests, mold, indoor air quality issues (such as dangerous gases) and fire hazards that can affect all rooms of the home.

Drywall Thickness

Therefore, the choice is left to the construction needs. For basement walls, you can stick with the standard half-inch drywall thickness. You can go with ⅝ inch thick drywall panels to cover the ceiling.

Best Insulation for a Basement Ceiling: Closed-Cell Spray Foam. The best tip to keep in mind when it comes to basement insulation is moisture control. To this end, a material such as closed-cell spray foam, which helps provide a water vapor barrier.

Can you finish a basement with 6 ft ceilings? ›

To get a construction permit to finish a basement, the ceiling must be at least 6'8”. If it is shorter than this minimum requirement, then you have to raise the ceiling before finishing the basement. A finished basement can dramatically increase the livable space of a home.

According to the National Building Code (NBC), the standard ceiling height is ninety-six inches, or eight feet; for suspended ceilings; the minimum height is ninety inches, or seven and a half feet. But nine- and ten-foot ceilings are now common, not only in living rooms and kitchens, but also in bedrooms.

Having a lower ceiling height does not mean you cannot finish your basement. You may just need to be a little creative to create a design that works best for your specific space. While you create the design of your basement keeps the ceiling height in mind for every space.

“Benching” is the term used to describe a concrete bench which is constructed over top of a stable excavation slope when a basement floor is being lowered without extending the foundation wall footings to a lower level. Thus leaving the existing footings as is and undisturbed.

Most people choose either eight or nine feet but there is no wrong way to do it. What is this? If the ceilings are a minimum of eight feet, you won't have many problems because this is a standard ceiling height. After this, have some fun designing the interior of your home.

High ceilings can increase a home's value by five to 25 percent. In fact, raising the height of a ceiling added an average of $4,000 to home values, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders. That said, high ceilings remain more common in high-end homes than in low- to mid-range homes.

Insulation in the basement ceiling helps keep your home more energy-efficient and can even reduce noise levels. In addition to insulation, the best way to keep your home comfortable is through careful maintenance of your heating and cooling systems.

Depending on where you live and the part of your home you're insulating (walls, crawlspace, attic, etc.), you'll need a different R-Value. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are R-13 to R-23, while R-30, R-38 and R-49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces.

Most climates require a vapor barrier to cover ceiling insulation, but not all insulation requires a vapor barrier. It's always important to refer to your state's building codes.

In the US, finishing a basement will give you a return of 70 to 75% of your investment. That means if you spend $10,000 on improvements, the value of your property will increase by about $7,000. Although you may not recoup 100 percent of your expenses, that's a good return on investment for most home sellers.

Is it a good time to finish a basement? ›

The truth is that the winter months are the best time to put time and effort into a basement renovation. A winter basement remodel transforms unused space into additional bedrooms, bathrooms, and common rooms to gather with the family.

Drylok is an indoor waterproofing paint, and while that has been mentioned several times, it is a crucial detail. Waterproofing your basement from the inside may be cheap, but it is by far the least effective way of waterproofing your basement, and this is because it never stops the source of the water.

Plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) are expedient and low-cost solutions for garage walls. They can be attached over studs quickly with framing screws and, unlike drywall, wood doesn't require any taping, mud, or sanding.

Skim coating is likely the cheapest option for covering popcorn ceilings. A skim coat acts like a primer to give the ceiling a fresh, smooth surface for a new coat of paint.

The main difference between a partially finished basement and a finished and unfinished basement is that it is entirely unmodified. You may find furniture, gym equipment or recreational appliances in a partially finished basement.

Generally speaking, building up tends to be less expensive than a basement. That said, not too long ago, lumber was at an all-time high and basements were the better option. Check with your builder and they can advise you on the pros, cons, and cost of each.

While a finished basement is considered living space where your property value is concerned, it's only in rare instances that this living space is counted towards the square footage. Even if your basement is not an exception to the rule, a finished basement is an asset to your property value.

Fall seems to be one of the best seasons to work on your finished basement. With fall comes amazing, cooler weather and rarely do you need to worry about, rain, snow, or extreme heat. Contractors are usually very busy in the summer months and tend to slow down during the fall.

What makes a basement count as finished? ›

A basement is finished when the entire level is complete and similar to the upstairs living areas. It generally includes an electrical system, heat, finished floors, an accessible entrance/stairway, level ceilings, and finished walls.

In the US, finishing a basement will give you a return of 70 to 75% of your investment. That means if you spend $10,000 on improvements, the value of your property will increase by about $7,000. Although you may not recoup 100 percent of your expenses, that's a good return on investment for most home sellers.

Adding a bathroom to your basement makes it livable space, which increases the overall market value of your home. A bathroom in your basement can also be a huge selling point for buyers if you are ever looking to sell. When a basement is unfinished with no bathroom, buyers look at the basement as wasted space.

Because basement bedrooms are not accounted for in the gross living area space, they are valued separately as an additional line item on an appraisal. As such, you can expect the value of a basement bedroom to be in the range of 50%-70% of the value of a traditional above ground bedroom.

They call it a “Yankee basement” or, well, sometimes a “root cellar,” where basically you take the interior perimeter of the foundation wall, move in about 2½, 3 feet and then dig down there. So you leave this sort of berm of soil to support the foundation that's under the footing.

Carpeting is one of the best flooring materials to use in basements. Besides making cold basements feel warmer and more welcoming, carpeting actually can dry out quickly, even when flooded. Like any other basement flooring, vigilance is crucial to maintaining the product over the long-term.

What makes a basement living space? ›

Basements and usable square footage

It's not usable, so don't include it in square footage. To be considered “living area,” a home's rooms must meet certain criteria — including the basement. Height clearances, whether it's heated, and the presence of windows: all of these make a space livable.

The appraised value of finished basement space is generally 50% to 60% of the value of the main level square footage. To maximize the cost/value ratio, the market experts recommend keeping the basement budget below 10% of the existing home's value. Staying between 5-10% is a good plan.