Lets talk basement finishing...

[ExtraSlow]

Yeah, don't pay for anything more than materials until job is complete and you are satisfied.

[ExtraSlow]

My basement advice is to spend extra on the floor. Get the fancy subfloor, get the best underlay and carpet. Get infloor heat. If that means you have to delay your home theatre or something else, then do it.

[88CRX]

Metal studs out... I hate that shit too but was thinking of those sweet, sweet cost savings. If there aren't any, they gone!

Not considering any sub floors or fancy carpets. Kid(s) will destroy it so we'll do something fancy in 10 years when it makes more sense. Will look at underlay options though.

[suntan]

Curiously my current house's basement floor never gets cold (the old house's was very cold in the winter). I got the best carpet underlay available at the time and that was sufficient to keep it warm. But a heated floor for the bathroom is an absolute necessity.

Also, use solid wood baseboards and trim. Do not use anything else.

Seal up all the ducts with mastic.

Put in frost free silcocks.

If you want NG to the garage or backyard, now's the time.

[schurchill39]

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If you want NG to the garage or backyard, now's the time.

To add to this, if you were ever thinking of adding a sub panel to your garage for EV chargers, welders, lifts, tools etc now would be the time to either run the 6/3 wire (if you can find any without going bankrupt) or at least conduit so you can fish it later. HD is selling it for $24/m which is insane but I am sure you could find it for around $14-17/m on a cash sale. I'm searching for a better deal than HD and can report back on what I found if thats something that interests you.

[nismodrifter]

Spray foam all the things. You will use your basement slot more as it's nice and cozy in winter, and super cool in summer.

[suntan]

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To add to this, if you were ever thinking of adding a sub panel to your garage for EV chargers, welders, lifts, tools etc now would be the time to either run the 6/3 wire (if you can find any without going bankrupt) or at least conduit so you can fish it later. HD is selling it for $24/m which is insane but I am sure you could find it for around $14-17/m on a cash sale. I'm searching for a better deal than HD and can report back on what I found if thats something that interests you.

+1, great idea.

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Spray foam all the things. You will use your basement slot more as it's nice and cozy in winter, and super cool in summer.

I got quotes to spray foam my basement. $20K.

[bjstare]

@schurchill39 is on to something with the conduit. A couple runs with fishes in them.

[ThePenIsMightier]

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Spray foam all the things. You will use your basement slot more as it's nice and cozy in winter, and super cool in summer.

x2
My quote was $2,300 and EnurgyEffishunceeAlberta paid for about $600 of that. No-brainer.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

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To add to this, if you were ever thinking of adding a sub panel to your garage for EV chargers, welders, lifts, tools etc now would be the time to either run the 6/3 wire (if you can find any without going bankrupt) or at least conduit so you can fish it later. HD is selling it for $24/m which is insane but I am sure you could find it for around $14-17/m on a cash sale. I'm searching for a better deal than HD and can report back on what I found if thats something that interests you.

I'd suggest running a pair of conduits - a larger 1" conduit for the 6AWG THHN/THWN conductors and a parallel 3/4" for Ethernet and the like. That's assuming detached garage.

[ExtraSlow]

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Not considering any sub floors or fancy carpets. Kid(s) will destroy it so we'll do something fancy in 10 years when it makes more sense. Will look at underlay options though.

you aren't going back and doing the subfloor later. DriCore tiles are kind of expesnive, but you can do basically the same thing with those rolls of material and thin OSB. I heartily recommend doing this and it's my one regret with my basement.
Spray foam sounds smart too. And obviously run conduits / pipes and cables for everything.

[jabjab]

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My basement advice is to spend extra on the floor. Get the fancy subfloor, get the best underlay and carpet. Get infloor heat. If that means you have to delay your home theatre or something else, then do it.

yes! infloor heat is key. Good suggestion

[nismodrifter]

Yes. In floor heat essential if having any tiled areas. Do not skip on this.

Best underlay and carpet also a great one. I really enjoy my basement as a result. Cushy. With a small kid you will be spending a ton of time indoors during winters. Making it as soft and comfortable as possible will make you (and wife + child) very happy.

[suntan]

Look into Mohawk SmartStrand for carpet. I put it in 12 years ago and it still looks brand new. And it's super mega soft.

[jutes]

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Metal studs out... I hate that shit too but was thinking of those sweet, sweet cost savings. If there aren't any, they gone!

Not considering any sub floors or fancy carpets. Kid(s) will destroy it so we'll do something fancy in 10 years when it makes more sense. Will look at underlay options though.

I used DMX on a heated basement floor on my build years ago. This was for laminate flooring though, don't think you can put carpet overtop.

[DonJuan]

I'm in on this thread for all the suggestions. Gonna be doing my basement similar to OP's. Except maybe a lil more ballin.

[suntan]

Gotta have a sex dungeon then.

[ExtraSlow]

You don't want cold floors in your sex dungeon, take it from me . . . .

[ThePenIsMightier]

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Yes. In floor heat essential if having any tiled areas. Do not skip on this.

Best underlay and carpet also a great one. I really enjoy my basement as a result. Cushy. With a small kid you will be spending a ton of time indoors during winters. Making it as soft and comfortable as possible will make you (and wife + child) very happy.

Me and Nismo are lined up today!
I have ragrets for not doing the heated floor in the bathroom and for not choosing better underlay/insulation for the rest of the laminate floor.

[88CRX]

I have zero desire to ever use the dungeon bathroom... its strictly for the in-laws. I wasn't planning on heated floors, change my mind.