by JoAnn Powell

Created on: January 16, 2008   Last Updated: November 28, 2011

Remodeling your basement is an excellent way to add extra living space, plus extra value, to your home. By planning carefully before you begin, you can maximize the space and get the most for your money. When planning, consider a bathroom and wet bar area if the plumbing is available. This will add extra value and make entertaining in this room easier and more enjoyable. A small refrigerator, and microwave and coffee maker are good to include. A full bath is a great value, but a half bath will also add value. If the plumbing is already there, or you can add it, do so.

The first step is to make sure the basement is, and remains, dry. Water seepage will completely undo all your hard work, so it is very important that you don't miss this first step. There are many products sold in your local hardware stores that you just paint on the walls to keep your basement dry and leak free. It's well worth the time and effort.

There are certain elements in the basement that you can't move or change, so plan around them. Beams, support columns, furnace, water heater, and any existing plumbing can be incorporated into your plan by building around them. Build a separate room for the furnace and water heater. Box in beams and columns and then drywall around them. Do the same with plumbing pipes, but remember to leave a way to access this plumbing in the future, either by adding a small hinged door, or a removable piece of drywall that can be latched in place.

The duct work for the heating system will be running through the floor joists. You can add a couple of heat ducts from the existing system to the new space to direct the heat where you want it in the room.

Frame the walls with 2 x 4s, with a header and footer, the studs being 16 inches on center. Attach these to the walls in the basement, and also to the floor.

Next it's time for the wiring. This is something that should definitely be done by a certified electrician. Electrical outlets should be plentiful, to allow you free use of the space for whatever you choose later. Also, the wall switches should be the wired so that they can be operated from two different locations, one being near the entrance from the first floor. You don't want to come upstairs only to have forgotten to turn off one of the lights and have to go all the way back down to do it. We learned this the hard way when we did our basement, and changing out those switches is now at the top of my "To Do" list. This is also the time to install the wiring for

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