More and more homeowners want their basement to be a space they can enjoy or have occupied by tenants to supplement their monthly income. Use these steps to form a better understanding of what is needed to complete your basement development.

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Design & Planning

 

First things first you’ll need to make a plan for your project. A solid plan is necessary for your project to run smoothly and will be required for any permits. Deciding the floor plan and what materials you want can be a difficult task. For this Schutte Construction offers 3D imaging for interior & exterior projects. Giving you the ability to virtually walk through your project before a single swing of the hammer. 

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If you’re at the Design & Planning stage Contact Us, we would be happy to help!

 

Framing

 

Now it’s time for the physical work to begin. This step is straight forward, we are constructing the bones of your new basement layout. If your basement exterior walls are bare down to the concrete, you will need to install a water barrier and insulation.

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Plumbing & Electrical

 

When all framing is done, electrical wires go inside the skeleton we’ve just created. All the outlets will be wired and checked for proper installation as well as safety. All the plumbing connections in your basement will be made. Electrical & plumbing work is not cheap and must be completed by a licensed contractor. Schutte Construction has a strong list of electrical & plumbing sub-contractors that operate with the same values and dedication to quality as we do.

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Drywall Installation

 

Time to start hanging the drywall. Big sheets of raw drywall are brought in the basement and cut according to the wall sizes, corners and additional walls. These will get screwed to the 2 by 4 skeleton. All holes are covered, and pieces are joined together to make the wall smooth without any rough connections and missed edges on top and bottom of each wall.

 

Sound and Entertainment

 

Many homeowners are opting to turn their basements into small home theaters with surround sound and/or bars. There’s plenty of options when it comes to what electronics you can install in your basement so let yourself get creative.

 

Flooring

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The most popular option for basement floors would be carpet which is generally the least expensive option. They also offer a softer and warmer feel than harder surfaces. On the other hand, if you want something with more style that will hold up to water and moisture, engineered vinyl plank would be your best option.  

 

Trim Installation and Painting

 

Once the floors in it’s time to install the baseboards and the rest of the trim. You can prime the walls beforehand but don’t paint them. Always caulk the trim to make the gap between the wall and trim seamless. The reason we don't paint the walls before the baseboards go on is because you’ll have to cut along the trim again after the caulking is applied. We also recommend spraying the trim with an airless sprayer for a better much finished. 

 

If you decide to tackle your basement development on your own use these steps as a guide or if you’re looking to have your basement professionally remodeled, Contact Us!