How to Finish a Basement

by Holly Richards-Purpura | July 15, 2024

Basement finishing can transform your space into a functional part of your home. Whether you want to expand the number of rooms, create the perfect entertainment space, or hide unsightly sheetrock and frames—finishing is an absolute must for maximizing your usable space and boosting your home’s market value. Here’s everything you need to know about how to finish a basement.

Time to Complete: Four to eight weeks

Cost Range: $7,500 – $50,000

Difficulty: Challenging. Only attempt if you have experience finishing basements.

Preparing to Finish a Basement

A lot of prep work can go into a basement before it’s ready to be finished, so follow these steps to ensure you’re off to a solid start.

Acquire a Permit

In most places, a permit will be needed before you finish your basement. Failure to acquire a permit can result in hefty fines and make it challenging to sell your home. To get a permit to finish your basement, go to your local building department’s website or give them a call to obtain the necessary steps for getting a building permit.

Repair Your Basement

Nothing sends your hard work down the drain faster than water damage or foundation problems in your basement. Make sure that you waterproof your basement to avoid water and humidity issues that can quickly destroy drywall and insulation. Common methods for waterproofing basements include:

• Applying a waterproof coating
• Installing a sump pump
• Leveling the perimeters of your home
• Resealing entry points like windows and doors
• Sealing cracks and holes
• Using a dehumidifier

It’s not advised to cut costs at the waterproofing stage. Shoddy work can result in flooding or mold growth, so invest in a full basement waterproofing system before continuing.

Plan the Layout

Knowing exactly what you want in a finished basement can save you money and confusion if you change your mind down the line. Map the layout of your finished basement to get a good idea of how it will look. If you’re unsure, you can consider working with an interior designer for a professionally finished basement layout .

Choose the Right Materials

Wear Your Safety Gear

Lastly, no basement finishing prep work is complete without personal protective equipment (PPE). You’ll need to use the following safety gear to protect yourself from injuries while using tools and handling materials and debris:

• Dust mask
• Earplugs
• Heavy-duty pants
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Long-sleeve shirt

How to Finish a Basement Wall

With all the prep work out of the way, it’s time to finally finish your basement. Follow these steps to finish your basement walls.

1.    Install the Insulation

The most common types of insulation for basement walls include rigid foam boards, fiberglass, and spray foam. Foam board insulation is a popular option because it’s cost-friendly and easy to DIY. Meanwhile, fiberglass is less sturdy, and spray foam can quickly become a trial and error to successfully install, making it best left for the pros. Here’s how to install foam board insulation:

2.    Frame the Walls

Now it’s time to frame your basement walls using two-by-fours, wall joists, bottom plates, top plates, and shims. To frame the walls, do the following:

• Use a measuring tape and marker to mark a line on the ground four inches from the walls of your basement. This is where the frame will align at a 90-degree angle.
• Cut the two-by-fours to size using a saw.
• Repeat this step to have two pieces for the top and bottom plates.
• Measure the plates and mark every 16 inches to know where to place the studs. The stud goes in the center.
• Line up the bottom plate with the mark from step one.
• Use a masonry drill and nails to fasten the bottom plates.
• Repeat these steps for the top plates.
• Check periodically for a flat installation by using a level. You may need to add shims to level the plates by placing the thin pieces of wood between the top plate and the wall joists.
• Measure any spaces between the plates.
• Use those measurements to cut the studs with a saw.
• Align the studs in the centers of the 16-inch markers.
• Use a nail gun to install the studs with nails on each side. Insert the nails at a 45-degree angle.
• Continue this process until you’ve framed each wall.

3.    Install Your Utilities

If you plan on having utilities in your basement—such as HVAC, plumbing, or electrical wiring—you’ll want to have those professionally installed before mounting the drywall. Since most utilities require permits and advanced-level skills, hire a licensed contractor to do this step.

4.    Hang the Drywall

5.    Paint Your Basement Walls

TIP: Exposed pipes can freeze and burst in cold temperatures. Insulate pipes in your walls before installing them to prevent moisture issues.

How to Finish a Basement Floor

While you can leave your basement floor alone and pull off a modern, industrial concrete floor, many homeowners enjoy adding new flooring to their basements for aesthetics, comfort, and warmth. Use these steps to learn how to install basement flooring.

1.    Place New Subflooring

Subflooring goes on top of the concrete and underneath your actual flooring material to provide comfort, warmth, noise cancellation, and dryness. There are four types of subflooring techniques, including floating plywood, rigid foam, sleeper system, and premade subfloor systems. The one you choose will depend on your budget, skill level, layout, and personal preferences. Here are the general steps for installing subflooring.

• Clean your foundation by sweeping, mopping, and waiting for it to dry.
• Check that the floor is level and use shims, self-leveling compounds, or sanding to level uneven surfaces.
• Once level, attach the subflooring to the concrete using adhesive.
• Secure using concrete screws and a masonry drill.

TIP: Polyurethane injections are the quickest and most permanent way to level a concrete floor.

2.    Select a Flooring Material

There are countless flooring materials to choose from, allowing you to really customize your basement flooring to your style and personality. For affordable, water-resistant flooring, consider vinyl flooring or tile. For low-cost, soft-to-the-touch flooring, carpet may be a good option. If you’re looking for style, comfort, and insulation and don’t mind splurging a little, then engineered wood is another great option.

3.    Install the Flooring

Your installation method for basement flooring depends on the material you choose, so follow the instructions that come with your material of choice, or work with an experienced flooring company near you to install the flooring.

TIP: Leave room for your subflooring before you plan your ceiling height.

How to Finish a Basement Ceiling

You have three options for finishing your basement’s ceiling, including drop-ceiling, drywall, or an open ceiling. Though you can leave your ceiling open for an industrial look, if you’re looking to fully finish your basement, we break down these installation methods below.

Drop-Ceiling Installation

Drop ceilings come with an installation kit to make the process straightforward, but the installation can be challenging. The instructions may vary depending on the kit, but here’s a general idea of how to install a drop ceiling in your basement.

• Choose a drop-ceiling kit.
• Measure your ceiling layout to determine the size of your panels and the height you plan on installing them.
• Leave four to six inches of space above the ceiling for fixtures.
• Cut the border panels using a utility knife.
• Use a stud finder to identify studs.
• Use tin snips to cut the wall angles to the wall lengths.
• Install the wall angles by nailing or screwing the L-shaped rails to the studs. These rails support the tiles and runners.
• Repeat this step by placing the next section flush against the installed section.
• Measure and cut the main runners using tin snips so they fit the length of your basement perpendicular to the joists.
• Run strings across the ceiling every four feet.
• Screw eyelet screws into every third joist.
• Place eight- to ten-inch pieces of 16-gauge wires into each eyelet, bending each piece and twisting to secure it.
• Feed the end of the wire through the slots on the main runner, bending the pieces upwards and twisting to secure them.
• Double-check that each joist is level as you go, adjusting the wire as needed.
• Install secondary runners perpendicular to the main runners by inserting them into the designated slots. Do this every two feet.
• Install the ceiling panels starting from the center and working toward the edges.
• Use a utility knife to custom-cut tiles and make room for fixtures and utilities.

Drywall Ceiling Installation

Drywall ceiling installations follow a similar process to installing drywall for basement walls. Here’s what you need to know to install this type of basement ceiling.

• Measure the drywall sheets to fit your ceiling.
• Cut out spaces for utilities.
• Put adhesive on any joists that will be in contact with the drywall.
• Push the drywall against the adhesive.
• Use nails or screws to secure the drywall to the joists. You’ll want to do this every seven inches for walls.
• Install fasteners to interior joists every 12 inches.
• Apply drywall mud to seams and nails or screw heads.
• Wait 24 hours for the mud to dry.
• Sand the drywall.
• Paint the ceiling.

Tip: Leave at least seven feet between the floor and ceiling for plenty of head space.

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.

_{The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of this information. We are not liable for any discrepancies in costs or specifications, nor for any indirect or consequential loss or damages arising from the use of this information. Always consult a professional for an accurate assessment and quote before proceeding with any home repair projects.}