Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [basement-refinishing]

170 questions
46
votes
8 answers

Should I use a subfloor for a finished basement's floor?

We are refinishing our basement and have not yet decided what to do for the floors. Part of the basement will be tile, and we are all set. However, the rec room side is going to be carpet. The basement is dry, and we have never had any water or…
mohlsen
  • 6,221
  • 14
  • 37
  • 44
21
votes
5 answers

What is the best way to incrementally finish an unfinished basement?

my wife and I are in the process of buying our first house. The house has a 750 square foot unfinished basement (cinderblock walls and concrete floor), and is brand new (rather, it will be brand new when it is finished in a week or two). We don't…
Brendon Dugan
  • 467
  • 2
  • 5
  • 9
20
votes
9 answers

What is this pipe coming out of the basement floor?

I’m finishing an old (1930) empty basement and have a random pipe coming out of the floor. ⁠I have no clue what it is or what it went to as it sits alone in the space. ⁠It is metallic (tested with a magnet). ⁠It’s currently capped off and did have…
Aaron
  • 201
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
16
votes
4 answers

Where to start first in finishing my basement

First, I have to mention that I have never done any house improvement and I am close to the 50s of my age I bought a house (my first ever) and it has an unfinished basement. I want to finish it by myself, no one to help, just by myself. I am not in…
asmgx
  • 943
  • 8
  • 18
13
votes
3 answers

Did I Make a Major Framing Mistake?

I am an absolute ameteur trying to frame my basement remodeling project by myself and I've learned a lot since the start of this project, but I am worried the parts I didn't know are going to come back to haunt me now. When I first started this…
senfo
  • 429
  • 4
  • 11
13
votes
4 answers

How do you secure wood framing to a concrete basement floor?

I'm using Pressure treated lumber for the bottom plate in a basement finishing project. What should I use to seperate the wood from the concrete? What are ways to secure the bottom plate to the floor?
Randyaa
  • 376
  • 2
  • 3
  • 12
10
votes
2 answers

Is it more important for your baseboards to have a consistent reveal (height) or for them to be level?

This may seem like a no-brainer but I just wanted to confirm my thought process. I'm finishing our basement and reached the point where I need to install the baseboards. While the slab is relatively level (±3/8" across the whole foundation), I am…
Jason Reed
  • 145
  • 2
  • 7
9
votes
2 answers

How can I level my basement floor, which has a 4-inch dip?

I googled today on how to level a basement floor. Most people recommend using SLC (self leveling concrete)... I don't think I can just use that because of the pitch of my floor (and from what I hear, the price of SLC). The house was built in the…
Chris Klepeis
  • 227
  • 2
  • 3
  • 8
8
votes
4 answers

Basement Bathroom Plumbing - Rough in Backwater Valve

I am trying to figure out how in the world to frame this basement bathroom. As you can see from the image, there is a backwater valve that would end up right in the middle of the room. I know that code requires access to this valve and most…
Steve_KC
  • 81
  • 2
8
votes
1 answer

What are these metal tags attached to my poured concrete basement wall?

What are these metal pieces attached to my basement poured concrete walls? They are about 2x2 with holes and were pressed into some kind of goop. These walls were poured in 1979. Can I remove them?
Peter DeWeese
  • 207
  • 1
  • 8
8
votes
1 answer

What does "new construction only" mean for Recessed Light Housing?

My basement ceiling is not yet covered with drywall. Does this mean I can use recessed light housing for new construction or does that require access from the top as well?
Peter Q
  • 2,213
  • 11
  • 36
  • 40
8
votes
6 answers

How many Tapcons should be used to anchor a baseplate to a concrete floor?

I'm building a non-structural wall in my basement. I'm using Pressure-treated lumber on top of a foam sill gasket to protect from any moisture. How many tapcons should be used per 8-foot length to ensure long lasting stability?
Randyaa
  • 376
  • 2
  • 3
  • 12
8
votes
2 answers

What to do first in a basement? Dricore then frame on top? Or frame and then lay dricore?

My thinking is to use blue wood with a plastic barrier underneath, and then lay dricore up to the finished walls. However, the dricore instructions say that framing should be on top of the sub-floor. This is a 2-y.o. basement with no signs of…
Chris Cudmore
  • 14,029
  • 6
  • 58
  • 89
7
votes
1 answer

What's the best way to level this basement floor?

Goal: Level basement slab in our 1905 Seattle home so I can install laminate flooring. Existing floor: 21' x 25' unreinforced rat slab thickness varies from ~2" at rim to as little as 3/4" near drain towards middle top of pic height varies 2 1/2"…
1905home
  • 229
  • 3
  • 6
7
votes
3 answers

Should I insulate a finished basement if there is only 3 degrees difference?

We are finishing our basement and I'm wondering if it is worth putting in insulation if there is only a 3 degrees temperature difference from my upper floors to my basement. This is during the winter months. The temperature in my basement stands at…
Kevin Roessler
  • 71
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
1
2 3
…
11 12