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SaraFace · Oct 25, 2007, 03:21 PM

Ok, so my mom just bought a new house and she has the master bedroom upstairs, and my brother has the attic. At one point in time someone used to live down in the basement, but it looks really bad. That's going to be where I stay, so I need help with all of this. Honestly, I am only 14, but I can get help. I just need help with knowing what I am talking about. My mom cannot get down there because she is in a wheelchair, and my brother just has no clue! So I need to ask a few questions and hopefully someone will answer them soon! I really want a new ceiling down there because I get freaked out by dangling wires. Can I even do that? Another, I need plumbing! And also, I need it pained and I need carpet. Now its all concrete down there so I really need your help! SO PLEASE HELP ME SOON!

peter030205 · Oct 26, 2007, 07:38 AM

Hi Sara,

For plumbing you're going to have to call in a plumber, depending on the current conditions he's going to have to go through the floor to run drain lines for a bathroom. You maybe lucky and already have a stubbed in location for plumbing and be able to avoid this.

The ceiling is really no big deal. You can go with a suspended ceiling, this is what you probably have at your school. It has the drop in panels and lighting built into it. Now, if there is currently lighting that will be good, otherwise you'll need an electrician to install some. You could just use lamps, but in a basement it'll be pretty gloomy.

Painting is the easiest part of the project. The people at Home Depot, or Loew's can give you any pointers and help in picking out the right paint for you.

Depending on the size of the space you're looking to carpet this can be a do-it yourself job, or maybe a pro job.

You'll need to make a list of everything you want/need down there, and then figure out a budget. It won't be cheap (especially the plumbing). But good luck!

glavine · Oct 26, 2007, 08:19 PM

OK lets start small first, do you really need a bathroom yet? You have one upstairs right? Lets start with what just a bedroom, start small then expand as you learn, if you try and do this all at the same time I promise you'll get stressed out and not finish anything

so as for carpet, try calling some carpet stores in your area and ask for remniants, these are pieces of carpet cut from bigger rolls that are cheaper, save you some money.
you have a concrete floor so you'll have to use carpet tacks with nails that go into concrete,
if you can't do this, just get some padding and cut the carpet tight to the walls , you'll need a razor knife to cut it with by the way.
as for a ceiling , a drop ceilng would work best, if money is an issue, do you have any rolls of painters plastic? It want look all that great but it will serve the purpose of covering the wires and keeping the insulation fibers from falling on you while you sleep, good for the lungs.
you can get it at Lowe's, in different sizes , theyllhave some big enough for what you need. May try and get one that's a 20 x 100 roll, and cut what you need.
you can use staples or roofing nails to tack it up there.

that's cool you wannt to take this on yourself, keep us posted, ill try and answer your questions in more detail as you get started