There's 4 things you can do before you finishing your basement that will save you money and won't cost you any money. 1. Why 2. Needs vs Wants 3. Budget 4. Floorplan.
Great advice Coach Bill!! Following this process helped me when I started to finish my own basement, his advice has been excellent! Definitely worth a watch for any DIY’er
I would add one thing ... #5 Wait n "Sea" ... ie wait to check for water issues. I waited over several years and checked for water seepage and humidity. Once I saw there were no issues, I finished the basement ... and still put in wall vents, adequate spacing, ran humidifiers, and consistently checked for mold just in case. Also used a drop ceiling with those fancy looking plastic "ceiling tiles" instead of the finished sheet rock ceiling.
If the basement has water when it rains, can it be sealed to be finished? Because I'm looking at a house and it rained yesterday and the basement is wet. Is it possible?
There are a number of methods to prevent water damage in the future or manage moisture. It all starts with having a proper assessment done by a company that specializes in basement waterproofing in your area.
I really appreciate this! This is the video I've been looking for. Can't wait to watch the rest of your videos. I was feeling very overwhelmed and this process seemed impossible for us. Thanks so much!
@@basementcoach omg this is the greatest help and I finally got into my house in which my basement isn't finished so I'm eager to start a project and see how this goes 💪💪 can I shoot you a email ??
Glad you it helped. It's been a crazy summer with the kids home and lots of other changes. Come September I'll be turning our more videos. Thanks for the kind words.
Bill, thanks for the channel. Just found it and I have watched almost all of the content already. I am having a new house built and will be finishing the basement. It comes with a plumbing rough in for a full bath. The basement is 29 x 20 ft. I plan to do most of the work myself and sub out some of the bigger stuff like drywall. I hate doing drywall. So my plan is to cut it into two spaces. 1. Man cave 2. Workshop. I asked the builder to put in a 60 A sub panel (that was a guesstimate on my part) to basically run the workshop. Thinking was 1 circuit for table saw, one circuit for dust collection, another circuit for receptacles and lights. I figured i would not be using the table saw and my router station at the same time so they can occupy the same circuit, same with my joined etc. I never considered a subfloor but am now after watching your content. Any advice you have would be appreciated and keep up the content. I know it takes extra time to do it but I just wanted you to know it is appreciated.
Hi Tim...or Timothy. Thanks for the incouragement. It's much appreciated. And I am super jealous you are building a mancave AND a workshop. You'll be glad you did the subfloor. My brain isn't big enough for electrical. I found a great electrician and trust him with all my questions. He speaks slowly and uses pictures for me. But seriously, as long as your electrician knows what your plan is he should be able to come up with something that works for your workshop AND mancave.
@@basementcoach I find all aspects fascinating. Really would like a good design video. And translation of that design into a physical structure. I also was recently wondering the purpose of strapping a basement ceiling with engineer floor joists. I see it done sometimes and other times not. How come?
It’s really going to depend on what the scope of work is and where you’re located. The basic cost reference I point people to is flooring. Here in Ontario,decent LVP flooring is $4/sq ft. Right there you’re at over $1000 plus tax on materials. No markup or labour. $15k sounds tight.
@basementcoach Mikey Day is a cast member on Saturday Night Live. You could pass for his brother! I just found your channel and I’m learning so much already. Thank you!
It’s up to you. In probably more than half the basements we did we left it and framed in front. Your return on upgrading it isn’t amazing unless you want to upgrade it for comfort. At which point, you’d want to pair your upgraded wall insulation with a subfloor as well.
I bought a house with a finished basement but unfortunately, whoever did it, did not consider moisture. I found mold growing behind the drywall. Alot of the diy basement videos don't say if it was newer foundation and it gets so confusing. I have an older house so I think this is a definate consideration if one is thinking about finishing their basement.
For sure. Is there a specific aspect you're looking for or just something general? Meaning, is there something you're particularly worried about or experiencing?
No problem yet, just trying to plan for the future build. I’ve seen a lot of different ways to insulate, vapor barrier, wood/aluminum framing. I live in Maryland with 3 concrete block walls and 1 completed exposed wood frame wall (I live on a hill)
I'm considering finishing our basement. it has all plumbing and electrical ready so not much there. do i need a permit for a basement? i don't like the fact i would need to pay even more annual tax for the house which is already very high.
I always lean towards getting it even though it could impact your property taxes. I know where I live it impacts property taxes but I don’t know by how much since it’s never been part of my scope as a contractor. I guess that means I should do some homework. Cheers!
Budget is a chicken and egg thing. If you have no idea what it costs to do the ideal basement, you have no idea how much money you need, or what you should aim to save up for.
It took me years to understand I wasn’t asking clients the right questions. I learned to ask them where they were in their process when we would first speak. We’re they trying to figure out what to budget or where they at the stage where their budget was set and they were looking to hire the right contractor? And most people were very upfront and happy to be honest with me. But that took almost 10 years for me to learn that. Prior to that, it was a lot of trips to basements, 2 hour visits plus an additional 8-10 hours to make a sketch, circulate it to my trades and get a proper quote together. And in the overwhelming majority of the cases where I didn’t have the confidence to discuss budgeting in the first place it lead to the client receiving the quote and me never getting a response even though I knew our pricing was in line with other contractors who do similar quality work and service. So maybe, I’ll need to word it better the next time. Thanks for watching and the comment.
"you're buying a new Toyota Corolla" ...lol. Yes. if you're doing a basement you should plan on spending at $15-$50 grand. At least. The more extravagant the higher the cost. Plumber, Electrician, HVAC, Carpenter/Framer, Drywall/handyman, Painter, Carpet....each of those will cost between 3 and 6 grand (in most areas). No one is going to do it for "free" and if they agree to do it for far less, they're not going to be A- very good B-insured C-not motivated to get the job done right or in a timely fashion. The more of those jobs you can do and will do yourself just saves you that much...but you'll still need to budget for the rest. You're improving the space of your home for your own use and the use of those after you. Do it right. Spend the money, especially if you're young (under 35) as this house will pay for itself over time.
It's kind of crazy what were seeing in cost increases. It's not a Corolla anymore. I plan to update that somewhere in this series. The whole point of making the channel is taking the 17 years of stuff that's in my head and putting it out there so people can use it. What's the point of keeping it to myself? How does the saying go, "Cheap work isn't good and good work isn't cheap"? Thanks for the comment by the way.
@@basementcoach The point of knowledge is to be able to apply it and pass it along to your children. Just as all knowledge should be treated. Knowledge and history needs to be incorporated into both the cost as well as the presentation when bidding on a job you want to do (and one that wants done). I'm not sure if its correct but I have this weird "my knowledge is only for others" vibe off you. I hope that's not the case, but it's the image you're giving off.
@@colfrankslade this is a fun little side project I'm doing that takes me back to my career before being in the trades. I run a renovation business not connected to this RUclips channel and I'm not trying to make a living off this. This is just stuff I've learned over the years that can help your average DIY'er and I'm having fun doing it. Cheers
@@basementcoach I don't watch television but I do wander around youtube to unwind and find myself checking out DIY'er channels more often than not. I've seen a few of your videos and think you have a good voice and demeanor in your explanations. I hope you do more of them as you never know when and whom you might be helping out. Even the slightest variance in how people explain , or detail given...can be all a person is hung up on in their own remodels or understanding and I believe it's all valuable. Cheers to you as well.
Samesies. I have 2 boys. Every time I finish a room one of them takes it over. I’ve got one room left to finish…it’s getting a door with a lock that has a code.
I'm sorry that you feel that way. Is there something specific you were looking for in terms of a task or technique that would be more helpful? Just wondering if there's something I could help with that this didn't cover. If not, totally cool.
Chalk on the cement floor was what our designer used to help us make a plan. It was easy for me to visualize walls when lines were drawn.
That’s very smart and simple. I like it.
Great advice Coach Bill!! Following this process helped me when I started to finish my own basement, his advice has been excellent! Definitely worth a watch for any DIY’er
Fantastic!
wow! Great advice and what I was looking for in a video. Thanks!
Thanks for the compliment! Really appreciate it Pradeep!
Great content. Thank you for putting this together.
Thanks. If there is something you can’t find let me know and I will try to help.
Thank you, Basement coach, for a well-explained strategy in updating my old basement!
It’s somewhere to start. Old basements get no respect I tell ya.
I would add one thing ... #5 Wait n "Sea" ... ie wait to check for water issues. I waited over several years and checked for water seepage and humidity. Once I saw there were no issues, I finished the basement ... and still put in wall vents, adequate spacing, ran humidifiers, and consistently checked for mold just in case. Also used a drop ceiling with those fancy looking plastic "ceiling tiles" instead of the finished sheet rock ceiling.
If the basement has water when it rains, can it be sealed to be finished? Because I'm looking at a house and it rained yesterday and the basement is wet. Is it possible?
There are a number of methods to prevent water damage in the future or manage moisture. It all starts with having a proper assessment done by a company that specializes in basement waterproofing in your area.
I really appreciate this! This is the video I've been looking for. Can't wait to watch the rest of your videos. I was feeling very overwhelmed and this process seemed impossible for us. Thanks so much!
This message are the best for me. Don't hesitate to reach and ask a question. You can even shoot me an email at basementcoach@gmail.com. Cheers
@@basementcoach omg this is the greatest help and I finally got into my house in which my basement isn't finished so I'm eager to start a project and see how this goes 💪💪 can I shoot you a email ??
@@ktevans2209 Sure. Let me know how I can help!
Super helpful, thanks!
Glad you it helped. It's been a crazy summer with the kids home and lots of other changes. Come September I'll be turning our more videos. Thanks for the kind words.
Very helpful and informative video.
Thanks.
I appreciate the kind words.
Great video very informative
Glad I can help. Working on some new stuff now. Hopefully, I can get it done soon.
Bill, thanks for the channel. Just found it and I have watched almost all of the content already. I am having a new house built and will be finishing the basement. It comes with a plumbing rough in for a full bath. The basement is 29 x 20 ft. I plan to do most of the work myself and sub out some of the bigger stuff like drywall. I hate doing drywall. So my plan is to cut it into two spaces. 1. Man cave 2. Workshop. I asked the builder to put in a 60 A sub panel (that was a guesstimate on my part) to basically run the workshop. Thinking was 1 circuit for table saw, one circuit for dust collection, another circuit for receptacles and lights. I figured i would not be using the table saw and my router station at the same time so they can occupy the same circuit, same with my joined etc. I never considered a subfloor but am now after watching your content. Any advice you have would be appreciated and keep up the content. I know it takes extra time to do it but I just wanted you to know it is appreciated.
Hi Tim...or Timothy. Thanks for the incouragement. It's much appreciated. And I am super jealous you are building a mancave AND a workshop. You'll be glad you did the subfloor. My brain isn't big enough for electrical. I found a great electrician and trust him with all my questions. He speaks slowly and uses pictures for me. But seriously, as long as your electrician knows what your plan is he should be able to come up with something that works for your workshop AND mancave.
Excellent. Please keep videos coming :)
I'm just working on the next one. Is there a particular topic or subject you're more interested in?
@@basementcoach I find all aspects fascinating. Really would like a good design video. And translation of that design into a physical structure. I also was recently wondering the purpose of strapping a basement ceiling with engineer floor joists. I see it done sometimes and other times not. How come?
Great channel
I appreciate you.
I'm doing a half basement. 280+ square feet gain. Will cost less than $15k, that includes labor and this guy is an expert.
It’s really going to depend on what the scope of work is and where you’re located.
The basic cost reference I point people to is flooring. Here in Ontario,decent LVP flooring is $4/sq ft. Right there you’re at over $1000 plus tax on materials. No markup or labour.
$15k sounds tight.
@@basementcoach The final flooring will cost me about $2.99-3.49/sq ft.
Great advice from Mikey Days brother!
This Mikey Days sounds like a smart guy.
@basementcoach Mikey Day is a cast member on Saturday Night Live. You could pass for his brother! I just found your channel and I’m learning so much already. Thank you!
Very useful video for a beginner like me
Thank you sir. I’m glad I could help.
Love the Simon Sinek reference!
Sometimes, I’m clever…sometimes.
Do I take out the basement insulation wrap that was put by the builder?
It’s up to you. In probably more than half the basements we did we left it and framed in front. Your return on upgrading it isn’t amazing unless you want to upgrade it for comfort. At which point, you’d want to pair your upgraded wall insulation with a subfloor as well.
I bought a house with a finished basement but unfortunately, whoever did it, did not consider moisture. I found mold growing behind the drywall. Alot of the diy basement videos don't say if it was newer foundation and it gets so confusing. I have an older house so I think this is a definate consideration if one is thinking about finishing their basement.
That’s a good point. There additional factors to consider aside from age of the house. Hmmmm, this might be another topic to consider.
Have you got it water proof? There is a process that can be made
Could you talk mold/humidity control?
For sure. Is there a specific aspect you're looking for or just something general? Meaning, is there something you're particularly worried about or experiencing?
No problem yet, just trying to plan for the future build. I’ve seen a lot of different ways to insulate, vapor barrier, wood/aluminum framing. I live in Maryland with 3 concrete block walls and 1 completed exposed wood frame wall (I live on a hill)
I'm considering finishing our basement. it has all plumbing and electrical ready so not much there. do i need a permit for a basement? i don't like the fact i would need to pay even more annual tax for the house which is already very high.
I always lean towards getting it even though it could impact your property taxes. I know where I live it impacts property taxes but I don’t know by how much since it’s never been part of my scope as a contractor.
I guess that means I should do some homework. Cheers!
@@basementcoach The main question is if there is no permit, can it cause trouble with potential buyers in the future....?
That's probably a question for a real estate agent as opposed to a semi-retired contractor.
@@Sean-Aviation It depends on the are and city rules and who doing the work. It not a cut and dry thing.
Would love to chat about this with you
Anything in particular you want to know about? Why don’t we start with an email and go from there. Mine is basementcoach@gmail.com. Cool?
Budget is a chicken and egg thing. If you have no idea what it costs to do the ideal basement, you have no idea how much money you need, or what you should aim to save up for.
It took me years to understand I wasn’t asking clients the right questions. I learned to ask them where they were in their process when we would first speak.
We’re they trying to figure out what to budget or where they at the stage where their budget was set and they were looking to hire the right contractor?
And most people were very upfront and happy to be honest with me. But that took almost 10 years for me to learn that.
Prior to that, it was a lot of trips to basements, 2 hour visits plus an additional 8-10 hours to make a sketch, circulate it to my trades and get a proper quote together.
And in the overwhelming majority of the cases where I didn’t have the confidence to discuss budgeting in the first place it lead to the client receiving the quote and me never getting a response even though I knew our pricing was in line with other contractors who do similar quality work and service.
So maybe, I’ll need to word it better the next time. Thanks for watching and the comment.
"you're buying a new Toyota Corolla" ...lol.
Yes. if you're doing a basement you should plan on spending at $15-$50 grand.
At least. The more extravagant the higher the cost.
Plumber, Electrician, HVAC, Carpenter/Framer, Drywall/handyman, Painter, Carpet....each of those
will cost between 3 and 6 grand (in most areas).
No one is going to do it for "free" and if they agree to do it for far less, they're not going to be A- very good B-insured C-not motivated to get
the job done right or in a timely fashion.
The more of those jobs you can do and will do yourself just saves you that much...but you'll still need to budget for the rest.
You're improving the space of your home for your own use and the use of those after you. Do it right.
Spend the money, especially if you're young (under 35) as this house will pay for itself over time.
It's kind of crazy what were seeing in cost increases. It's not a Corolla anymore. I plan to update that somewhere in this series. The whole point of making the channel is taking the 17 years of stuff that's in my head and putting it out there so people can use it. What's the point of keeping it to myself?
How does the saying go, "Cheap work isn't good and good work isn't cheap"?
Thanks for the comment by the way.
@@basementcoach The point of knowledge is to be able to apply it and pass it along to your children. Just as all knowledge should be treated.
Knowledge and history needs to be incorporated into both the cost as well as the presentation when bidding on a job you want to do (and one that wants done).
I'm not sure if its correct but I have this weird "my knowledge is only for others" vibe off you. I hope that's not the case, but it's the image you're giving off.
@@colfrankslade this is a fun little side project I'm doing that takes me back to my career before being in the trades.
I run a renovation business not connected to this RUclips channel and I'm not trying to make a living off this.
This is just stuff I've learned over the years that can help your average DIY'er and I'm having fun doing it. Cheers
@@basementcoach I don't watch television but I do wander around youtube to unwind and find myself checking out DIY'er channels more often than not.
I've seen a few of your videos and think you have a good voice and demeanor in your explanations.
I hope you do more of them as you never know when and whom you might be helping out.
Even the slightest variance in how people explain , or detail given...can be all a person is hung up on in their own remodels or understanding and I believe it's all valuable.
Cheers to you as well.
Why do i want to do it. Man cave to get away from screaming kids so i don't kill myself
Samesies. I have 2 boys. Every time I finish a room one of them takes it over. I’ve got one room left to finish…it’s getting a door with a lock that has a code.
@@basementcoach lol awesome!
Total waste of my time, it s like a wedding planner giving advice on why of the marriage rather than the details of the ceremony
I'm sorry that you feel that way. Is there something specific you were looking for in terms of a task or technique that would be more helpful? Just wondering if there's something I could help with that this didn't cover. If not, totally cool.
talk to much
It's true. I do.
worst video i have ever seen
Seriously dude… get to the actual finishing. Nonone needs so e dude in a baseball cap to lecture about beingnan adult with the financials. Goodbye!