Steps to Renovating a Basement

Planning

• The planning stage should begin with a trip to the local building code enforcement agency. Talk to them about what is required or needed to meet local codes. Some building agencies post project requirements online for easy access and printing. A layout plan on graph paper will help you decide how you want to use the space and also with obtaining the necessary permits for construction. Include detailed measurements and take into account wall thicknesses. The building department will want to see your layout plan along with plan details on how you plan to accomplish the work, including any subcontractors you plan to hire.

Layout

• Get started by transferring your plan layout to the floor using chalk lines. Walls are represented by two parallel lines, typically 4 1/2 inches apart. Bathroom or kitchen walls that contain plumbing may be 6 1/2 or 8 1/2 inches thick. The layout will also have to include any additions to the plumbing in the floor for a toilet, shower, tub drain, laundry room or kitchen area.

Floor Plumbing

• Adding floor plumbing is often described as the most difficult process in renovating a basement. The concrete floor has to be opened up and new drains added for tubs, toilets, showers and sinks. The floor is typically cut with a saw or broken up with a jack hammer. The pipes are added below the concrete and routed to a main sewer line or an ejector pit. An inspection is required before you proceed further. After passing inspection, the floor is repaired with new concrete.

Walls

• Building the wall frames using 2 x 4 lumber or steel wall studs goes fairly quickly. Wall frames attach to the concrete floor and ceiling joists to prevent movement but should never be wedged into place. Standard framing uses studs spaced 16 or 24 inches apart between a top and bottom plate.

Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC

• Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and insulation come next. Install the plumbing first, the HVAC next and then the electrical, and schedule your tradesmen accordingly. You can do the work yourself if you know how and the building department approves. You need another inspection at this point and, once the work passes, you can proceed. Plumbing fixtures such as tubs and showers are added at this step.

Finishing

• Insulation is added before you cover the walls and ceilings. If you plan to use drywall on the ceiling, install it there first, then on the walls. Finish the drywall and clean the entire basement space, then add your doors, flooring, cabinets and trim. Toilets and sinks are added at this point. You'll need a final inspection and approval now.