Basement Finishing Project

[SAMI]

With a massive list of things that Jacey and I would like to do with tax returns and savings, finishing the basement has won out. I'm stoked to have a usable basement, as it will double our comfortable living space. The basement already has one room that is 95% finished, and pipes in place for what looks like a 1/2 bath. We will add one more bedroom, a laundry room with tons of cabinets and storage, a huge family/TV room, reading nook with a wood burning stove, and a closet or two.

We'll be adding 4-5 walls, several outlets and light switches, fixing some insulation, looking at making the 1/2 bath a 3/4 bath, and everything that goes along with finishing a basement... lots of drywall..

I'll add photos of what it looks like now to create the base for update photos as we get going closer to June. I'll be using this thread to ask a lot of questions and get help from those of you who know more about this than me. I'll add that we are having my brother in law heading up the project, as he's done many a basements and other projects; including helping us build our dance studio. As of now we are not planning to hire out any of the work. That may change down the road as we get into the thick of the work.

Here's version 1.2 of the basement floorplan

 

[Herzog]

Very cool. We finished our basement just over 2 years ago and it was the best thing we've done to our home. We spend pretty much most of our time in the basement now because of the layout and the ability for the kids to have a lot more room to play.

It's really not too bad. I think the worst part is mudding/sanding by far. I actually really enjoyed most of the other work.

 

[DevinB]

When you get to the drywall, you'll hire out the work. Drywall SUCKS.

 

[SAMI]

First question..

What needs to be done with this setup to make it a 3/4 bath? I want to add a shower in here, but it seems odd with the way the sewage is laid out. Would I be able to put the shower where I assume the sink is laid out, put the toilet where it is currently laid out, then add a sink further down past the sewer pipes?

I'm realising that these photos suck to show what I'm talking about. For reference, the smaller capped pipe on the far right I assume is for a sink, and is 18"s away from the wall at it's furthest point, and about 2' from the next wall, which connects to the stairway - if that makes sense.

 

[chadschoon]

Man I'm a plumber and I can't seem to make out what's going on there. Is the pipe with the rubber cap coming through the floor a 4" pipe? (4 1/2" outside diameter) if so I'd say that's your toilet. As for the pipes coming through the floor and connecting to eachother is a mistary to me. They just look like vents with how they are tied together. If it was a lav the vents would have to tie in above the flood level rim, which does not look like the case if it is a sink, also they should have left a santee in the line if it was for a sink. The pipe on the right coming through the floor with a cap is another mistary. What size is that one?

 

[SAMI]

Man I'm a plumber and I can't seem to make out what's going on there. Is the pipe with the rubber cap coming through the floor a 4" pipe? (4 1/2" outside diameter) if so I'd say that's your toilet. As for the pipes coming through the floor and connecting to eachother is a mistary to me. They just look like vents with how they are tied together. If it was a lav the vents would have to tie in above the flood level rim, which does not look like the case if it is a sink, also they should have left a santee in the line if it was for a sink. The pipe on the right coming through the floor with a cap is another mistary. What size is that one?

I thought it looked different, and I'm no plumber. Yes, the one on the left is 4.5" which why I figured it'd be the toilet. The capped pipe to the right is about 3" dia. That is the one that I assumed would be for sink drainage. I also figured the pipes coming up inbetween the two capped, are for ventalation. But looking at the whole system, it just seemd so odd to me. Schoon, maybe you oughta come over and take a peek at it.. I'll buy you a soda of your choice.

 

[chadschoon]

Maybe I can swing by and check it out when I get a sec

It's quite possible you already have a 3/4 bath and that other pipe is a shower that just needs a drain. If you cut the cap off you should be able to see down and if it has a p-trap on it (if you can see dump some water down it and see if it holds water). If that's the case it's a shower and you just have an odd layout. That's my guess, and I'm almost positive

 

[SAMI]

That'd be cool if it is a 3/4, albeit with an odd layout.. If the smaller capped pipe is the shower, then were would the sink drain? is that a simple add-on to exsisting pipes?

 

[chadschoon]

Yes it is most likely supposed to come off one of the pipes that tie together

 

[Spork]

Just had my basement sheetrocked if you need contractor I can send you his info.

 

[SAMI]

So I measured things out this morning and it looks like it will be a cozy 3/4 bath, but a 3/4 nonetheless. Check out my updated floorplan to see how it would layout.

Assuming I use a 23" door for the bathroom, there is 32"s left for the counter; which should be plenty of room to work with. My original worry was that there wouldn't be enough room to swing a door open and have a counter.

 

[Cascadia]

You could always do a pocket door instead of a standard swing door. Unless you like a regular door better. They don't make a 23" door. You will be able to get a 22" door though, which is called a 1' 10" and looks like you want a left hand swing if you don't go with a pocket door. Also, I think the door going into the laundry room should be a left hand swing instead of a right hand like you have. Unless it is like that for a reason.

 

[Jeepj667]

A problem we ran into, if you wall off your furnace and water heater you need to have a fresh air vent in there. They told us we need a 8" diameter fresh air vent for ours. Even though it ran for 80+ years without one.

 

[SAMI]

We have a massive fresh air vent.