Steps to Finishing a Concrete Basement

Remove Moisture

• Before beginning your project, verify that your basement is dry enough to prevent moisture from damaging the work that you do. If the only issue is a mild humidity problem, a dehumidifier may be enough to remove the moisture. However, if moisture is seeping up from the concrete floor, you may need to take additional measures. Check your rain gutters to make sure that the downspout runoff is directed away from your home's foundation. Inspect the ground around the foundation as well to ensure that it slopes down and away from the house. If it does not, bring in dirt to create an appropriate slope.

Add Insulation

• An unfinished basement is usually cold. To make it comfortable enough to serve as a functional room, insulation is necessary. Sheets of extruded polystyrene foam insulation are an effective option and are usually glued to the rim joists and foundation walls. Use an adhesive that is designed for foam insulation, because traditional construction adhesive is typically not durable enough. To apply the insulation around objects, use a utility knife to cut into the sheets as deep as the blade will go and then snap the insulation as you would drywall. In tight crevices, use small pieces of foam to fill in the gaps.

Frame Walls

• Building the walls in place is usually the easiest way to go. Begin by installing the bottom plate first, follow with the top plate and fill in the rest with wall studs. Use 2-by-4s to frame the wall, because they provide adequate space for your insulation and any plumbing or electrical wiring that you might need. Anchor the bottom plate to the floor, and attach the top plate to the ceiling joists above. Before nailing the wall in place, be sure to plumb the walls, since masonry walls often lean in or out. Place nails at every other stud space and as close as possible to each door stud.

Install Flooring

• Before installing any type of flooring in your basement, place a vapor barrier over the concrete. The barrier prevents moisture from damaging the subflooring and eventually damaging the actual flooring. If your concrete floor has serious moisture issues, use a high-density, dimpled polyethylene sheet to serve as the barrier. For concrete that has only slight moisture issues, a 6-millimeter plastic sheet is usually sufficient. Once the vapor barrier is in place, add a layer of plywood on top to serve as your subflooring and secure it with concrete screws. You can install any type of flooring that you like over the subfloor. Wood, laminate, tile and carpet are all attractive options.

Decorate

• Once the bones of your finished basement are in place, you can decorate. Choose paint or wallpaper to finish off the walls and install overhead lighting fixtures to brighten the space. Add wall hangings and artwork, and set up your furniture to maximize the available space. Personalize the space to make it as warm and inviting as possible.