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How to finish finishing my basement on the cheap (but doing it right)

5 years ago

We moved into our colonial style home in southern CT 6 years ago. 600 sf basement was essentially finished (tile floor, wood paneling with I think wood frame and 'regular' pink rolls of insulation, and drop ceiling).

Prior owner had a mouse problem so the ceiling tiles had to go.

So right now it's got a tile floor that we need to clean/sanitize (as it is now we have 'basement shoes' whenever we walk down there), wood paneling that has to go in favor of drywall, and either new tiles needed on existing ceiling grids or drywall instead.

Instead of redoing the walls, what are your thoughts on simply painting the bare concrete walls (after removing the paneling and whatever is behind it)? Will it get too cold and we really should have insulation and sheetrock?

For the ceiling, what is approx cost difference between new tiles (and possibly fixing some of the track) and sheetrock (including taping/painting)? And do either provide better noise insulation than the other?

The floor should be good to go, though we'd love to have a faux wood floor of some type rather than the tile, but for now the tile will stay.

Thanks.

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Comment (1)

PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
If you want to finish the basement you have to apply for the permit and meet all basic building, electrical, plumbing (if you have a bathroom) and fire code requirements for a habitable basement.

If you just want paint the foundation walls, throw down some carpeting, etc you don't need anything. As the heating goes, you can tap into existing ducts (if you have a forced hot air system) that will give you some heat down there just make sure your furnace can handle additional heating space...or you can add electric baseboard heat and if you want to add some outlets or lights you will also need a permit to make sure it's done right... Just keep in mind using electric baseboard, you have to calculate the area and make sure you install the right size baseboard to handle the area or if baseboards undersized they will run constantly and you end up with a huge bill.

That said, basements are usually comfortable in the winter and cool in the summer so most people who don't mind just having foundation walls painted don't usually add any heating down there. But you should have some sort of an air exchange, if you go by code you have to have a window opening area to be equal to 4% of the floor area that is the requirement or you have to provide mechanical ventilation system capable of providing 0.35 air exchanges per hour.

Good luck
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