# DIY Basement Renovation Project: Adding Bedroom and Bath. **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [July 1, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287 "2010-07-01T11:31:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nytalonTSi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nytalontsi/32/5399_2.png) [@nytalonTSi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nytalonTSi)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/21 "2010-07-01T22:25:42Z")
It’s looking good. I like the idea of a bedroom in the basement. That’s where i currently live and love it lol, got the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, office and living room. It’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Plus it’s so quiet!! ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/22 "2010-07-02T04:11:49Z")
> [@travisn](#): > > yea, yea. sure, sure. [http://www.nyspeed.com/showthread.php?81264-DIY-Walk-in-Cooler-(not-really-auto-related...)/page2](http://www.nyspeed.com/showthread.php?81264-DIY-Walk-in-Cooler-%28not-really-auto-related...%29/page2) We lost the house that I was in the process of buying, so now we have had to start all over and I am fucking picky so this is taking quite some time. I have until october to make my decision because I have a baby coming in December and I do not want to be moving, construction, etc… with a newborn. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/23 "2010-07-02T05:14:58Z")
> [@JustinH](#): > > The only thing I would recommend looking into is having the basement tested for radon before you move in down there. > > If you do have radon, it can be fixed pretty easy by digging a hole in the concrete, and running PVC pipe into a radon fan, and out of the house. I think its manditory for all home purchases now by the inspector. I know mine was tested and the results came back extremely low. ---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:13 AM ---------- > [@tpgsr](#): > > No, but it is a really good thing to do. Aluminum will not rot or rust and it does not hold moisture like wood. just an fyi, it’s galvanized steel, not aluminum. ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/24 "2010-07-02T05:34:14Z")
Great work. How noisy is the sewage pump? ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/25 "2010-07-02T05:48:01Z")
> [@LUKE\_L](#): > > Great work. > > How noisy is the sewage pump? can’t hear it. the only thing i hear is the backflow valve closing. ---
**Author:** ![SilverGT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SilverGT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SilverGT)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/26 "2010-07-02T06:06:24Z")
Furnance Room Question: Did that room have to have a vented door? I remember reading some where that the furnance room will need to have adequate air flow to keep it from building up carbon dioxide. Or is this on just older furnance and not the High Efficency ones? ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/27 "2010-07-02T06:09:53Z")
> [@SilverGT](#): > > Furnance Room Question: Did that room have to have a vented door? I remember reading some where that the furnance room will need to have adequate air flow to keep it from building up carbon dioxide. Or is this on just older furnance and not the High Efficency ones? good question. it was something i considered, but chalked it up to “i’ll just add a louvered panel if i need to, but right now i need to get back to drywalling” ---
**Author:** ![SilverGT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SilverGT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SilverGT)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/28 "2010-07-02T06:15:14Z")
i would just put a louvered door just to be save or even on one of the wall so it can draw air from the bedroom or hallway etc. pictures cant load at work so i cant see how big ur furnance/utility room is so i cant really tell if the room is big enough to not need one. You dont want yourself or family to not wake up one morning but let me know what you find out. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/29 "2010-07-02T06:23:08Z")
The utility room is about 10’x15’ ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/30 "2010-07-02T06:27:09Z")
Aluminum studs? What? Specially made for $20 a piece? LOL Those studs are steel dood. I used wood in my basement because it is dry as a bone. I don’t even have a sump pump(I do have drain tile of course but…). It is so dry in my basement the pile of unused studs now looks like a pile of bananas. lol Nice work Lafengas. Nother edit: My buddy used steel AND he used a treated “baseboard” all the way around so if his sump pump failed the dry wall wouldn’t get wet unless he got 6" of water. In other words the dry wall is about 6" from the floor. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/31 "2010-07-02T06:36:33Z")
> [@Blue Eyed Devil](#): > > Aluminum studs? What? Specially made for $20 a piece? LOL > Those studs are steel dood. you know i know this right? (Post #23) FYI for those looking, i picked up the steel studs from Buffalo Gypsum over near walden/union. The studs were $2.87/ea versus wood studs which are $3+ each. Home Depot carries them, but they are more expensive there. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/32 "2010-07-02T06:41:00Z")
^ I assumed you did.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/33 "2010-07-02T07:14:00Z")
Great thread! Remodeling my basement is the last project one my list at my house, thanks for the tips on where to get the metal studs, as well as solid documetation. Question: is it ‘legal’ to have a bedroom in a basement without an escape window? ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/34 "2010-07-02T08:34:34Z")
I don’t think you can list it as a an extra bedroom without egress directly in the room, door or window. My house has a finished basement with a huge room perfect as a bedroom but it wasn’t listed as such. ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/35 "2010-07-02T08:53:33Z")
> [@LAFENGAS](#): > > you know i know this right? (Post #23) FYI for those looking, i picked up the steel studs from Buffalo Gypsum over near walden/union. The studs were $2.87/ea versus wood studs which are $3+ each. Home Depot carries them, but they are more expensive there. Thanks for that info. > [@Mike93](#): > > Great thread! Remodeling my basement is the last project one my list at my house, thanks for the tips on where to get the metal studs, as well as solid documetation. > > Question: is it ‘legal’ to have a bedroom in a basement without an escape window? It is against Fire code. You are not supposed to make a space “liveable” without 2 exit points in case of a fire. But, it is not illegal to build a “non-lveable” room in your basement. You must disclose when you sell then home that it is not “liveable” and it won’t add to your house as an extra bedroom. But the “Master Bath” can be in the basement next to a large living room. I think I have that right. Please correct me if I am wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/36 "2010-07-02T09:14:55Z")
Yeah, you don’t want to count that space for taxes anyway but when selling pictures and realtors help.😉 The only bad part may be if people search online for a minimum sq/ft house. But again realtors and pictures help sell. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/37 "2010-07-02T09:45:58Z")
correct, its not a “bedroom” as stated, just a finished basement. The window is hinged on the top and allows for access out (as opposed to having a glass block window) and I will be lowering the window well for easier egress in case of an emergency. I really wanted to add a 2nd window, but couldn’t find a way to do it quietly so the HOA wouldn’t discover it. haha. ---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ---------- > [@LUKE\_L](#): > > Thanks for that info. no problem. It’s also highly recommended to use a chop saw with a grinding wheel/waffer wheel to cut the studs. Takes 2secs and they cut square. Tin snips only got used for special needs like coping. ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/38 "2010-07-02T09:47:13Z")
> [@tpgsr](#): > > We lost the house that I was in the process of buying, so now we have had to start all over and I am fucking picky so this is taking quite some time. I have until october to make my decision because I have a baby coming in December and I do not want to be moving, construction, etc… with a newborn. I hear ya on the picky part. i am looking for a triplex with 2-3 car garage next summer. ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 10:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/39 "2010-07-02T10:03:52Z")
Mike, if you are going to make a bedroom in your basement you should consider doing this as well: > [@LAFENGAS](#): > > …lowering the window well for easier egress in case of an emergency. Then it is no questions asked. Or, less questions asked. > [@LAFENGAS](#): > > no problem. It’s also highly recommended to use a chop saw with a grinding wheel/waffer wheel to cut the studs. Takes 2secs and they cut square. Tin snips only got used for special needs like coping. Thank you yet again for the useful tip. ---
**Author:** ![MaximaSE98](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/maximase98/32/7600_2.png) [@MaximaSE98](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MaximaSE98)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 10:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287/40 "2010-07-02T10:21:42Z")
looking good Josh…i am in the process of buying too and finishing the basement is on the list of projects [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-basement-renovation-project-adding-bedroom-and-bath/157287.md?page=3)