remodel my basement

not a priority any longer. case closed.

We love to entertain but the basement looks like a poor attempt at a 70’s party pad with fake wood paneling and a terrible drop ceiling.

started out with just a empty box foundation with stairs coming down the middle.

now we have a big family room with an entertainment center corner, a bar (currently dry, but plans to make it a wet bar), beer tap behind the bar, poker table, blackjack table, craps table, “home office” corner, laundry room (soon to contain a 2nd bath), craft area for my wife, unfinished storage, and a furnace room.

lots of before and after basement photos here

now, we finally have a place to relax at night and we can entertain guests with ease.

Worth doing, looks great, lots of complements, only took a few months.

Learning how a building permit from town hall is required. It’s said that a permit is valid for 6 months since issued. However I plan to do it in a DIY manner, which may last for more than one year. I am wondering if I should start doing something and then apply for the permit at a certain point.

I work for a flooring company so I got a roll of nice carpet for 2 bucks a yard and the tile for the bathroom was free. A friend of mine is going to install the carpet for $100 and I will install the tile. As of right now I bought the vanity (cheapo $80) and the fixtures so I’m ready for the tear out of the bathroom. The whole remodel should cost less then $500.

I’m going to set a new goal just with the bathroom. The rest of the basement is done now, including putting everything away.

The carpet has been installed now; all the walls have been painted and all that’s left is the trim. We’ve moved out the old, cruddy furniture, and with luck, it will be freecycled. We’re slowly moving the better furniture back into the rooms where it was taken out.

Total cost is going to be frightening. I’m guessing that it’ll be, including the plumbing and new furniture, about $17 K.

Only thing left now is to re-do the bathroom.

Someone’s coming to paint on Thursday; next week the new carpet’s going in.

it took 6 years to find someone that could help me… but I finally got it done. I love my basement now!! (and it’s practically soundproof so it makes a great rehearsal space for the band that practices down there now)