There are unlimited uses for a basement. With the proper planning and design you can create a basement that is more fantastic than you ever dreamed. Of course there are the costs of a basement remodel which can sometimes deter people from finishing their basement. This is where many people decide on the do it yourself (DIY) method to save some money. As long as you have a clear set budget of what you can afford then you have a good starting place for hiring a professional contractor. Most basement contractors will give free estimates and will usually offer advice on what will work for your space. This is always a good place to start gathering information and details on how the space will be put together and give you good ideas on what you may want to include in your basement.

The first question to ask yourself is who the space is for. Is it for a kid’s playroom? An entertainment area for the parents? An in-law suite? or add a basement bathroom Figure out who the space is for and from there you can start to figure out the layout and how the rooms will flow together. Most basements are cut up and have mechanical’s and things you will have to move or design around. Your basement contractor can help with this or you can always hire a basement design expert (like us are Quickstart Construction) if you really need help.

When hanging drywall board on a wall, a number of different layouts are possible. These layouts vary according to the condition of the wall, size of the room, room’s function–and sometimes just on the whim on the person hanging the drywall.

However, when fastening drywall, there is one basic layout that any home renovator should consider before all other layouts. With this layout, the drywall is fastened vertically on the wall.
How Wall Studs Are Arranged

Wall studs, the two-by-fours that run vertically within interior walls, are positioned horizontally every sixteen inches on-center.

So, in our illustration, this 16-foot wide wall has 11 studs (not counting the two end studs).
Drywall sheets are 48″ wide. It is by no accident that 48″ divided by three equals 16″.

So, positioned vertically, each sheet of drywall board will completely span two studs. Also, the two vertical edges of each sheet will touch two more studs.

These edge studs are important: drywall seams must fall on the centers of the studs. So, the edges of two sheets of drywall will share one stud. Each edge must have a solid resting place. No edge should have a hollow space under it.

Finally, note that the drywall breaks over the middle of the door opening–not at the corners. Corner breaks present two problems. First, the opening and closing of doors (and windows) will eventually pry apart the drywall seam. Secondly, bulges resulting from the finishing of the drywall will interfere with the installation of door trim.

About five years ago we did a major renovation to our house and the architect suggested we use spray foam for insulation. There were many benefits; it was a green technology, it provided a vapor barrier, it added some rigidity to the structure, it filled every nook and it could get wet without growing mold. The down side: In those days a truck showed up at your house with 55 gallon drums of chemicals and a very loud machine used to mix the foam and to power the sprayers. They did a great job, they were pros, but I was not about to call them for my newest project, a small basement room makeover.

Step in “Foam it Green” from sprayfoamdirect.com, which has a DIY version of the big truck. For $330 I got two small canisters connected to hoses which meet and mix at a spray gun. The kit also came with extra nozzles, safety equipment (gloves, glasses etc) and instructions. Note: It’s important to read these even though it is against every guy’s better judgement. With things like temperature of the foam and spray force, you don’t want to waste the product or the applicators.

The process went well and after a minute of spraying I got pretty good at it. (You can see the finished product in this picture.) After the foam cured — about four minutes — I added a second layer, where needed. The best part: I’ve insulated the whole room and I’m not itching!
Next up: Drywall.