Free Basement Finishing Tips

Home Improvement Shows

• Some home improvement TV shows such as "Hometime" provide detailed instructions on their websites for finishing a basement. The "Hometime" site even includes information on installing a basement steam shower and a whirlpool tub. These home improvement sites often give step-by-step instructions, and they note when do-it-yourselfers may need the help of professionals to meet building codes. The HGTV website has many finishing tips from interior designers, including before-and-after pictures of remodeled basements.

Home Improvement Magazines

• "The Family Handyman" and other home improvement magazine sites include tips on insulating and installing carpet in a basement. One advantage of these sites is that they often rate projects so you will know what you're up against in advance. For example, "The Family Handyman" basement projects include estimates on how long the projects will take, how complex they are, as well as how much they're expected to cost.

Company Websites

• Owens Corning and other companies that sell basement-finishing products provide videos and other information on their websites concerning how their products work. That includes details on how to use them to control moisture and mildew, which are common problems in basements. Even though these sites are intended to help sell specific items, they can be a good place to start if you're not sure what materials you want to use for a basement-finishing project. You can always shop around for products similar to the ones advertised on these sites if you want to compare prices and product performance.

Department of Energy

• The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has created a 20-page overview on basement insulation that includes cost comparisons. The report examines three ways to insulate basement walls and the effectiveness of each method.