If you’ve ever played with Lincoln logs or Legos as a child, you’ll recall that building from the outside-in was the best way to construct a house.  With basement remodeling, you can apply the same timeless methodology in your project.  Start with the frames. The frame includes top and bottom plates, studs, and floor joists. For our basement, we’ll use metal frames to solidify the structure  of the basement.

Metal frames has some advantages. The frames don’t warp, and they even have convenient holes to slide wires and cables.  We’ll outline the walls ands rooms in our project with these metal studs.

With roughly 100 2×3 metal studs and 25 top and bottom plates, we’re ready attach the studs to the top and bottom plates.

Before you lay the top and bottom plates, make sure that you check your plan layout. Lay the bottom plate according to the height specifications based on the plan.  With the studs cut, based on the height specifications, you can place the studs inside the bottom plate.  In most cases, the direction of the open side of the stud does not matter, unless the stud is hugging the corner wall.  If so, make sure that the flat side hugs the corners. 

To connect the studs to the top and bottom plates,  use a drill or impact drill to screw the studs tightly.  Connect the screws on the top and bottom for both sides by drilling the screws between the two small bumps found on each plates.  These two bumps represent the distance of 16 inches relative to the next set of bumps.  This distance is crucial to maintaining a uniformed structure throughout the  basement frame.  

Once the frames are set, erect the frames up against the wall.  In our case, we used a Hilti concrete gun to bolt the bottom studs to the concrete every 16 inches.   This will ground your bottom plates to the concrete, solidifying the frame set.

Using your blueprints or plans, keep erecting frames until you reach a corner.  For corners, you’ll need to prop the studs perpendicular so that the flat sides are facing out.  By doing so, the dry walls have a flat surface to corner.

We’ll continue with advance techniques for framing next time, with more basement remodel pictures.

If you’d like more advice and information, contact Brian at brian@phillydiy.com

In these tough times everyone looks to save where they can. It’s very easy to save this winter with a few easy tips designed to make even the most inexperienced into thinking green and saving their hard-earned cash. Use less energy through not only reducing waste, but also through optimizing efficiencies with existing equipment! See my money saving tips below to begin spending smarter for utilities:

HEATING:
• The single-most cost-cutting measure is to replace your dial thermostat with a programmable digital model. These are widely available and relatively inexpensive (retails for approximately $20 at your local hardware store etc.). BENEFITS: through programmable times and temperatures you can enjoy a savings of about 10% per year by turning your thermostat down 10 – 15% when you are sleeping or out of the house.
• Clean your furnaces and boilers. Change filters and remove excess dust and dirt from the flute. Also, bleed radiators until all air is removed from the system.
• Check all windows for cracks and drafts. Repair any cracks with caulk (silicone outside, standard, paint-able caulk inside). If extremely drafty (and replacing the window is not in the budget) apply standard window film to keep drafts to a minimum.
• Check doors for drafts. If drafty apply weatherstripping (available at any hardware store, etc. for approximately $10) and make sure seal is snug after application for maximum benefit.
• Direct airflow into most used rooms while decreasing the flow in rooms seldom used.

LIGHTING:

• As summer comes to an end, we see less sunlight and more darkness. Our lights are used more inside our homes and thus our lighting costs increase substantially. To lower these costs we can do many little things that cost very little but make a huge impact. Aside from keeping lights turned off in rooms unoccupied, energy saving bulbs are a wonderful addition to any cost-cutting or environmentally conscious consumer. These hard working bulbs last up to 10 years and can reduce energy expenditures by up to 20%. *One note about these bulbs* When turning them on they warm up to their brightest state. Unlike traditional bulbs, they take a moment to achieve the brightest possible state.

WATER:

• Invest in an inexpensive shower-head that restricts water-flow but increases pressure – no lack of water-pressure with these heads.
• Wrap the hot water heater with a (fiberglass reinforced, water heater wrap available in home-improvement stores for approximately $30). When your traditional hot water heater need replacing, invest in an instant hot water heater that will drastically reduce residual hot water heating costs as water will be heated “as needed”. These can be moderately priced but will pay for themselves within one year through the energy savings achieved.
• Do not leave the water running when doing dishes. Use an energy-saving dishwasher when possible but otherwise, fill up a dishpan of hot, soapy water and rinse dishes with cool water.

APPLIANCES:

• Washing machines should be run with a FULL LOAD ONLY. When it needs replacing, move to a highly efficient, energy-saving model.

CEILING FANS:
• Not all ceiling fans are created equal. An economy ceiling fan will move minimal air while higher quality ceiling fans will prove to be a wise investment. A high quality ceiling fan will have a blade pitch of 13 degree or greater.
• When utilizing good quality ceiling fans, they can be of great value to you during the winter months. Reverse the blades to circulate heat (which will naturally rise to the ceiling) and push it down to the living spaces. They can reduce heating bills by approximately 10 % per season.

Very few plans without a well thought out delivery can be succesful.  Like most pojects, the plan is the foundation of any project and without it, you’ll be at the mercy to the unknown.  Take some time to think about what you want first.  Once you have an idea of the floor plan, start measuring the walls, including the rooms

The Planning Sheet

A great place to write the floor plan is through a grid sheet. You can easily find grid sheets at your local office supply store or even online.   A common unit of measurement is 1 grid = 1 square foot.  Measure the floor plan by feet and determine the square footages with the measurement.   The square footage is especially important to gauge the amount of flooring that you need (e.g. carpeting, laminate, or hard wood).

Remember, walls also have dimensions.  With design, you need to give the walls dimensions such as thickness.  Finished walls typically have 4.5 inches in thickness.  Structural add ons such as doors and windows may also affect the measurements as well. 

The plan should also contain media points like telephone jacks, fiber optic cable, cable tv, switches, and power outlets.  It’s a general rule in the U.S. that the outlets need to space out around 6 feet.  If you have the final picture, consider where the furniture will be placed.  This will give you an idea of where the cable and telephone jacks need to go.

Bedrooms

For planning bedrooms, you’ll need to make sure that it has an egress window if there’s no functional window.  Fire safety requirements demand these windows are available inc case of emergencies.  Egress windows may require a good contractor since it may not simple to place. 

Bathrooms

In some cases, home owners want to make their basements more like a fully functional floor.  An enhancement could be a full or half bathroom.  Consider carefully the dimensions of the bathroom.  Moreover, placing the bathroom near a sewage and water pipes can have its benefits.

Posts

In most basements, the posts support the floor joists.  You’ll often see the metal post that emerges from the concrete floor to the top of the basement ceiling.  Although the post has a clear function, the post could look rather dull for the end product or decor.  If you don’t want to leave them  bare, consider other options such as premade encasings.  These are cylinder-like sheets that conveniently wrap around poles.  Other options include

With a good plan, you’ll make life much easier for your remodeling project. You’ll be able to create a step-by-step process that gets you to your final vision of your remodeled basement.

For more information or help, contact brian@phillydiy.com.

Recently the DIY network had a question and answer side bar that posed an interesting question: What is the average cost of a basement remodel?

Answer: $40,000.

Now that’s a pretty steep number. In fact, $40,000 could be a nice down payment for a house. How can the average family or household afford a grand project?

The solution is pretty simple. If you have someone in the family (that’s you), or even a team, you can easily trim those expenses quite dramatically by doing it yourself. The convention wisdom of always hiring an expert in big projects can be thrown out the window. Who needs the consumate professional if the same job can be done by an average person?

If you’re a determined and diligent individual, you can undoubtly turn a barren, stone-cold basement into a warm, stylish retreat where you can sit and watch your favorite movies on a home entertainment system.

For the next few months, we at PhillyDIY.com will go to a house in the philly suburbs and transform a cold concrete basement into a livable, multi-room floor with a full bath.

We’re so confident that we will save money on this project that we will do this in less than $10,000! The owner of this house has no experience in house remodeling or in any home improvement project. Anyone with effort can build this and we’ll show you how. Brian Hastings will only impart consulting knowledge to the house owner and show how to build the basement from frame to finish.

More to follow!

Home improvement costs can weigh down the average household budget. It’s important when it comes to self-starting improvement projects focus on money first. Even for the most seasoned home improvement experts, unexpected events could throw the budget ceiling out the window. Before you set out on your quest to remodel the kitchen or create the entertainment room of your dreams, plan out every detail of the project inventory.

This can easily be done with an Microsoft Excel application or even a piece of paper. Write out all of the materials that’s needed and find estimates on prices. Even if you don’t know what the cost are, you can go online or spend some time at Home Depot to get a sense of the cost. When you have the prices, you can categorize them into groups such as framing material, design, or electrical materials. Now, you may go over the budget that you’ve set from the start. That’s fine. In fact, many self starters go over budget. The key here is to prioritize. Take some time to figure out the overall goal of the project. Is it to create a new design? Is it to provide space? Is it for entertainment? Once you define your preference, you can itemize what’s the most important components and materials. And then budget or cut unnecessary items. By doing so, the budget can be more in line with your goals.

What’s budgeting without finding great savings and coupons? You’d be surprised that almost every single national chain has some secret savings or coupons for their loyal customers. For instance, Lowe’s moving coupon allowed people to save 10% on all of their purchases. These specials are not advertised in newspapers or on any major media outlet. They’re available if you join their mailing list or sign up online. Often you’ll find the best deals when you’re in their private club or email list. Just go to the store’s website and you might find a link for the special promotions. Remember, it’s not always the best to look for the cheapest material. In the construction industry, materials that are the most expensive are expensive for a good reason. If you’re set on the cheap materials, double check on the materials and ask for advice. Budgeting is crucial for a successful home improvement project. The first step is determining how much you’re willing to spend and then get a grasp of the materials needed for the construction.

Hello.  My name is Brian Hastings.  I have worked in construction and home repair for the past 20 years in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.  My father owned his own company, as my brother does now and I have for many years.  My entire life has been repairing, adding, modifying existing structures or creating entirely new ones for my customers.  I have a passion for restoring and refinishing wood to its natural finish and am able to envision the redesign of a room within minutes of speaking to a customer.  It is always my intent to maximize the available space while being cost conscious.  Quality materials do not have to cost a fortune and a good remodeler knows that. 

In this difficult economic times, home projects do not have to be forgone.  With phillydiy.com, I can assist you throughout the project through email, live chat, via telephone or even in person if necessary until the project is finished.  This leaves the majority of the costs for a home remodel in your pocket, while I assist you for technical advice, planning, budget concerns, materials or anything else that may come up!

On phillydiy.com, you will find links from quality suppliers that I have dealt with in the past and could be a great resource to you during your project.  These suppliers are all reputable companies that provide the best materials and the lowest price.  I pride myself in impressing my customers through high quality workmanship and superior quality materials.  The same is true for the suppliers on phillydiy.com.