Interior finishing of the basement: correct execution of work

Beyond just a cosmetic makeover, interior finishing a basement is an essential first step toward turning an often-overlooked area into a cozy and useful addition to your house. The finishing touches can make a big difference, whether you intend to use the basement as a home office, living space, or just for storage.

Because basements are below ground level, they pose special challenges. It is important to carefully consider elements like insulation, ventilation, and moisture control to make sure the area stays warm, dry, and mold-free. Achieving long-lasting results requires an understanding of these factors prior to beginning the finishing process.

The essential steps for properly finishing the interior of your basement will be walked you through in this article. Everything you need to know to complete the task accurately and quickly will be covered, from selecting the appropriate supplies to putting good strategies into practice.

Rough finishing of the basement

Prior to beginning the decorative finishing of the basement, it must be determined what functions it must fulfill. These tasks need to be followed when finishing and insulating the house’s basement and interior spaces. In any event, waterproofing must be done first in order to provide the room with the best possible defense against moisture and freezing. Thus:

• The walls of the basement floor are most often reinforced concrete foundation blocks or brickwork. The process of waterproofing the basement begins simultaneously with the construction of the foundation of the house.
• The foundation walls are certainly protected from the outside by coating with liquid glass or bitumen. If a solution with additives that increase its resistance to moisture was used for laying blocks or bricks, you can no longer worry about the permeability of the seams.

• The most important thing is to correctly complete the basement floor. The technology of this work, depending on the design of the foundation, can vary. But its essence lies in the high-quality execution of the concrete screed.
• If the foundation of the house is strip, the base of the basement floor will be a sand cushion. To prevent moisture from going from the concrete into the sand during pouring, its surface is covered with overlapping roofing felt, and a reinforcing steel mesh is laid.
  For pouring, it is necessary to use concrete grade M300. It can be purchased at the nearest reinforced concrete plant, or mixed right on site.
• If the foundation slab is used as insulation for the screed, instead of roll material, a penetrating impregnation such as Penetron or Hydrohit is used. Absorbed into concrete, these compounds crystallize its structure, completely preventing moisture from penetrating into its thickness.

• First of all, all corners and joints of the basement are treated. This procedure can be done simultaneously not only on the floor, but also on the ceiling and walls.
  After applying the waterproofing compound to the joints, they are glued with fiberglass insulating tape, and then all surfaces are completely treated.
• Penetrating insulation is absorbed instantly and dries quite quickly. It will take much longer to make a concrete screed, considering that it takes 28 days for concrete to fully gain strength.
  This is the technology – there is no escape.
• So, the screed is ready, and you can start insulating. If, for example, the basement floor will be used as a living room or a study, you can install heated floors.
  Watch videos on this topic, look for articles and photos – they will help you with this issue.

• If the installation of heated floors seems unnecessary to you, then the easiest way is to make a heat-insulating layer of arbolite slabs, penoizol or expanded clay on top of the concrete screed. By the way, expanded clay has the lowest price compared to other insulation materials.
• This allows you to get significant savings, especially if your home is quite large. There is an article on our website that provides detailed instructions on how to insulate the floor of a basement with expanded clay.

• This is what the basement floor may look like before the final finishing. If you consider that daylight practically does not penetrate into the basement from the small basement windows, special attention will need to be paid to the lighting device.

Before beginning insulation and rough finishing, all electrical work needs to be finished. The wires for lights, switches, and sockets also need to be brought outside and insulated. You can now start putting your ideas into practice and consider how to finish the basement floor inside.

Staircase leading to the basement

When someone descends to the basement, their initial impression is formed by the way the space is finished in front of the door, the stairs, and the landing (see Staircase finishing: choosing for yourself). We will begin with the staircase because it is a necessary component of the basement.

• There are at least three types of stairs that can be built for going down to the basement. If the design and area of ​​the house allows, this can be the familiar flight of stairs.
  And then you need to decorate not only the railings and steps of the stairs, but also the areas between the flights, and the walls along them.
• The space of the house does not always allow for such a comfortable descent into the basement. Most often, a bolted or spiral staircase design is used there.
  A mandatory condition for installing a bolted staircase is the presence of a load-bearing wall along which it will be mounted. This is a very durable structure, and with a competent approach to its design, it can serve as the main decoration of the entire interior.

The spiral staircase is the least convenient to climb and descend, but it has the benefit of requiring less room for construction. Regarding the design, the options are essentially endless: they can be decorated with wood, stainless steel, glass, or stone. All of this should be integrated with the room’s overall design.

A basement’s interior finishing is essential to establishing a cozy, useful area that is shielded from moisture and other possible problems. Following the right procedures is essential for success, from making sure that moisture barriers and insulation are in place to selecting the best materials and finishes. Homeowners can turn their basements into dry, comfortable, and safe spaces that increase the value of their properties by carefully carrying out each stage of the project.

Finishing your basement’s interior finish is a satisfying step that increases the usability and value of your house. This project requires careful planning and close attention to detail because the basement environment poses special difficulties with insulation and moisture control.

Whether it’s for living, entertaining, or storage, you can design a long-lasting and cozy area that meets your needs by selecting the appropriate supplies and methods. Never forget to give moisture control top priority in order to avoid problems like mold and mildew, which can compromise your efforts.

In the end, a well-finished basement not only improves the appearance of your house but also increases the amount of space that can be used for living, providing a comfortable haven or a useful space for a variety of uses. When done right, your basement can add value to your house and reflect both your personal taste and practical needs.

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