Tips for Finishing a Basement With Your Spouse

My husband and I just completed our basement to use as a bar and home theater. We discovered that by finishing a basement, you can add another living space to your home. However, the experience was not so simple.nnAfter 3 good yelling matches, one streak of paint on the side of my husband's face, and a high-speed chase up the stairs and into the backyard, I am ready to tell you how to finish a basement without going crazy. Here are some tips that we learned throughout our entertaining basement ordeal.nnIt’s all about the Insulation:nnSo, we decided it would be fun to install insulation in our basement ourselves. 'Quality time', that’s what my husband said. What I think he meant was ‘less money.’ So, we went right out and purchased enough rolls of insulation for finishing a basement that was the size of ours.nnYou know, that sheet kind that expands like 5,000 percent when you slit the package open? We got to work on that, and within a day and a half we were about to bury each other in it. nnWe had itchy insulation in places on our bodies that we didn’t even realize we had. The entire basement was polluted with insulation fibers, and I don’t even want to talk about the process of cutting it to size.nnAfter a few of days, we decided we were not getting anywhere, so my husband called and had a professional come out. After chuckling at us for a moment, he told us there was a much easier way. nnHe ended up using a type of foam spray insulation, and was done in a few days. We learned that it would work more effectively, because it expanded to fit in all of the nooks and crannies behind the basement walls. Lesson learned.nnCheck for a Few Important Things:nnWhen you’re finishing a basement, there is some things you want to make sure you don’t overlook. I did… Well, my husband overlooked it and I just did not notice him overlooking it.nnDouble check to be sure you have enough electrical outlets for what you will be using your basement for. You know, finishing a basement to convert it into a bar really requires a good number of outlets. Lesson learned.nnMake sure you have plenty of lighting fixtures. Without them, finishing a basement can be tough, and once you get it done, you may not be able to see properly in the murky dimness of your basement. This can lead to some serious toe-stubbing. Lesson learned.nnWalls and Floors:nnFirst of all, there are some wall and floor materials and types that you never want to go with for your basement. Because of the higher moisture content in the air, they’re just not smart ideas. Some of these include:nn- Sheetrockn- Carpetn- Hardwood Floorsn- OSB boardn- Faux Stone FloorsnnInstead, opt for some type of moisture resistant paneling for the walls, and a nice real stone floor, or staining your existing concrete floors. nnFinishing a basement can really drive you crazy, but luckily you have learned from my mistakes. Save your basement and your marriage by following the tips and ideas in this article!