Finish Your Basement
Do you have an unfinished basement that you wish you could make better use out of? Let’s face it, using your basement as a second attic is a serious waste of good space that you could be putting to better use and getting more enjoyment out of. Don’t you think it’s time you gave your basement a makeover?
The first step to finishing your basement is putting up dry wall. Installing dry wall is not as difficult as it sounds. Below is a list of the materials and tools you will need in order to complete the project:
- Drywall
- Furring strips (thin wood strips that connect the drywall to concrete)
- Insulation
- Vapor barrier
- Drywall compound and tape
- Staple gun
- Putty knife
- Utility knife
- Level
- Shim
- Drill (cordless drill is best)
- Screw driver
- 1¼ inch dry wall screws
All of the above materials can be purchased from your local hardware or home improvement centre, as can the tools. However, you can also purchase tools such as the cordless drill at many online stores. In fact, many SKIL® cordless drills also have the ability to act as screw drivers. This is a handy power tool that will serve many purposes aside from your basement finishing project.
Once you have all the items you need, it’s time to get to work by following these steps:
Step 1 – Prepare your basement – Remove all furniture and unmentionables from your basement so you have an open area you can fully inspect. What you are looking for is moisture. Check the walls, are they moist? Is water standing in any part of the basement? If you have a water problem, call a professional and have them fix the problem before you begin your project. Even though this is a minor set back that will cost you more money than you anticipated, it is worth it to save you from future problems.
Step 2 – Drywall approximations – Estimate how much dry wall and furring strips you will need. A good rule of thumb is you will need one dry wall and four furring strips for every four feet of wall.
Step 3 – Screw in the furring strips – Secure the furring strips to the wall by screwing them in. Make sure you leave a space of ½ an inch between the floor and bottom strip, so there will be no damage should water seep in. Use your level to make sure the strips are even and drill holes with a masonry bit into the wall. Holes should be 16 inches apart. You will then want to drive in concrete screws with the drill.
Step 4 – Make sure furring strips are level – A flat plane must be created in order for the drywall to be effectively installed. Therefore, a shim may be required to make furring strips level. It’s a good idea to use shims to ensure that all strips are level.
Step 5 – Insulation and vapor barrier – Insulation should be placed in between the strips. Cut the insulation with a utility knife so that it fits the size and insert it between the furring strips. Once the insulation is in, staple the vapor to it. The vapor barrier will help reduce the chance of moisture penetrating into the insulation. Thus, try not to punch unnecessary holes into the vapor as the more holes, the more chance moisture penetration will occur.
Step 6 – Cutting drywall – Use the edge of a furring strip to mark the cut line on the face of the drywall. Your utility knife will be fine for cutting the drywall.
Step 7 – Connect drywall to strips – Secure the drywall to the furring strips by using the 1 ¼ inch drywall screws. Just make sure you don’t screw too deeps as this could lead to breaking the face paper surface.
Step 8 – Finishing touches – Apply drywall compound with the putty knife to fill in the cracks that may be present between the sheets of dry wall. You will want to create a layer that is three inches wide. Place drywall tape over the compound, and then apply an additional light layer of drywall compound over the tape. You will also need to use the compound to fill in the screw holes.
Let this dry for one to two days and then scrape off any lumps or ridges. Apply a final light layer of compound and let it dry. Then you can sand the wall so it’s smooth, and then it’s all ready to paint! |
