We're finishing our basement this year. We'll use this page to keep visitors updated with our progress.
What's completed:
- Pressure-washed foundation walls
- Applied polyurethane caulk to seams between foundation walls and floor
- Applied UGL Drylok to foundation walls (to keep out moisture and radon)
- Re-routed waste pipe from laundry room floor drain to go directly to basement floor drain (previously dropped on basement floor about 6' from drain)
- Soffit built around small beam on south end
- Soffit built around heating/a.c. ducts and water pipes
- Soffit built around large beam and drain lines through middle of basement
- Framed half bath
- Framed bar area
- Framed closet
- Water supply lines run to half bath
- Closet flange for toilet and drain line for sink installed (thanks Paul!)
- Built soffit above fireplace to hide gas line
- Framed game room
- Framed media room.
- Plumber replaced main water shutoff valve and system drain valve to fit more compact area
- Re-framed chase around water shutoff
- Electrical wiring run, additional circuit breakers installed
- Recessed lighting, outlet/switch boxes and fan box installed
- HVAC tech installed 4 heat vents, cold air return, 2 combustion air vents for furnace room, and vented the bath fan.
- Built platform below fireplace.
- Built "half wall" behind toilet in bathroom.
- Re-worked framing around water line (again) -- had to replace a badly warped board, plus changed my plans a little in that area to allow for speaker placement.
- Install fireplace
- Run gas line to fireplace
- Electrician relocated one wall sconce and one outlet (due to my changing the framing around the water line).
- Installed "whole house" surge suppressor
- Speaker wire run from amplifier location to all remote speaker locations
- Run cable television lines
- Run telephone line
- Rough-in inspection
- Drywall company selected, bid accepted (rock, tape & mud, ceiling spray)
- Drywall final measuring completed
- Gas line pressure test (finally passed 11/12 after repairs to Prieb work)
- Built access panel to fill pass through behind stereo location.
- Emptied everything out of all rooms except furnace room
- Insulated
- Drywall delivered (88 4'x8' sheets)
- Drywall hung (11/29)
- Taped and mudded (12/2-5)
- Ceiling spray and wall texture applied (12/7)
- Accepted a bid from a cabinet maker for our media room and bar area (12/11)
- Primed (thanks to our friend John Fetto for the use of his Wagner sprayer... sorry we broke it)
- Painting (game room, bath, and media room all done)
- Vanity cabinet installed in half bath (lavatory/countertop on order)
- Laminate floor installed in game room
- Completed electrical installation (switches, outlets, mini lights, doorbell chime)
- Installation of access panels and vents
- Completed low voltage wiring hookup (stereo speakers, phone, cable TV)
- Hung doors
- Wallpapered in bath (thanks to our friend Sue Drake!)
- Install laminate floor in bath
- Cased and trimmed egress window
- Pool table set up (1/17/05)
- Build and install cabinetry (all complete 1/18/05)
- Completed fireplace installation (ignition, fan kit, decorative front) and test (1/19/05)
- Add base moulding to laminate floor
- Completed installation of "hockey puck" lights in media room (above bookshelves), plus dimmer (1/28/05)
- Stained bar cabinetry (1/29/05)
- Stained media room cabinetry (1/30/05)
- Selected and ordered furniture (sofa, loveseat, chair, ottoman)
- Cabinetry spray-lacquered (2/5/05)
- Carpet measured and ordered (2/14/05)
- Tile for fireplace surround ordered (scheduled to be in by 2/24/05)
- Purchased toilet
- Attach lavatory (countertop) and side splash to bath vanity
- Installed vents under outside faucet locations (to prevent freezing)
- Toilet and faucet installed in bath (2/21/05)
- Installed tile around fireplace (2/26/05)
- Added quarter-round to laminate floor (finished 2/27/05)
- Added decorative trim around fireplace (2/28/05)
- Grouted fireplace tile (2/28/05)
- Primed and painted doors
- Re-did casing and trim on egress window (3/4/05)
- Carpet installed (3/3/05)
- Furniture delivered 3/3/05: unfortunately the couch would not fit through the basement door (due to low ceiling clearance) and we had to send the furniture back. :(
- Base moulding in media room
- Installed door knobs
- Final inspection passed (3/4/05)
- The original builder came out to look at the ceiling height in the stairwell and made some recommendations. They think we can raise it up safely by 4-6".
- Connected TV and electronics in media room
- Moved our library of DVD's, VHS, and CD's into media room
- Bought light to hang over pool table
- Primed and painted egress window trim (Sheila)
- Increased ceiling clearance at foot of stairs by 5" to allow furniture to fit in (fingers crossed)
- Hooked up VCR/DVD in game room
- Mounted wall speakers in game room
- Installed light over pool table
- Furniture delivered (3/10/05)
What's in progress:
- Touch-up painting as needed
- Decorate
- Enjoy!
What's still to come:
- Drywall, tape, and mud modified ceiling at bottom of stairs
- Clean up my disaster of a furnace room and turn it into a workshop