What Makes a Basement Finished?

Floors

• Most unfinished basements have concrete floors; some older homes even have dirt floors in their basements. A finished basement has the concrete covered by one means or another, usually either paint, tile, wood or carpet. A durable floor paint is the fastest and easiest way to finish a basement floor. If the floor is very rough or in poor condition, however, the results may not be satisfactory. If the floor is smooth and flat, tiling is an easy and attractive way to finish it. Pine or hardwood flooring is a more expensive method that gives a very finished look. Carpeting is another option, though it should be avoided in basements that are damp or experience periodic water leakage.

Walls

• Finishing a basement generally involves insulating the walls to improve the energy efficiency of the entire home, and covering the insulation with some form of finished wall surface. The most common finished wall is drywall that is painted. Walls can also be finished with wood paneling that can be either stained or painted.

Ceilings

• A finished ceiling is a major visual improvement in many basements because of the profusion of pipes, vents, and wires that snake through the floor joists overhead. Ceilings can be drywall attached to the bottom of the joists, or a pre-manufactured lowered ceiling that is installed beneath the joists. If the headroom in your basement is already marginal, a lowered ceiling may not be an option. Another option is to simply paint the joists and the underside of the floor above white, thus increasing the brightness of the basement and giving it a cleaner feel.

Fixtures

• Finished basements should have sufficient electrical outlets to make them useful. They may also be fitted with plumbing in order to install a bathroom, kitchen, or bar. Recessed lighting in the ceilings will provide illumination without the lights getting in the way.

Extras

• Many basements are finished to be used as rec rooms, dens or offices. Any of these could be usefully outfitted with a built-in television or computer monitor, a small bar fridge or a stereo system with speakers built into the walls or ceiling.