How To Prepare Your Semi-Finished Basement For It's Transformation Into A Home Cinema
If you have big plans to turn your semi-finished basement into a home theater, then you need to get busy before your huge HDTV arrives. You don't want to take the television downstairs and hook it up only to realize the room is too damp and it's just not fit to watch movies in. So, before that happens and you end up disappointed, you should get down there and prep the space. Here is what you need to do,.
Fix Any Water Damage
You need to bring in a crew to handle any water damage that might have occurred in the past. If there was a burst pipe, or a heavy rain that ended up causing a floor, you need to have the area restored. Just because you mopped up the space doesn't mean that it is fine. There could be mold hidden behind the drywall that you are not aware of. This will spread and throw unhealthy toxins into the air. If you've only been down into the basement for a few minutes at a time, you might not have noticed the smell or gotten sick, but prolonged sitting in the area (like you will when you are watching a movie) will be a problem.
The water damage restoration team will come in and tear out the old drywall and clean out any moldy insulation. If there is any water damage to the wood support studs used to frame the wall, these two will be removed. Then the team can replace the drywall and tape it up and have it look like brand new.
Lock Out Future Water With Masonry Paint
In the areas where there is no drywall, you should have masonry paint applied to the concrete block wall. This will help prevent any dampness from entering into the room. This is especially important if you have a basement that is completely, or partially, underground. The dampness that radiates through the concrete block will be a bother while you're sitting watching a movie, and it can also damage the sensitive electronics of your brand new, and expensive HDTV.
Cover Any Exposed Insulation In The Ceiling
A semi-finished basement might have exposed insulation in the ceiling. Many homeowners just leave the pink fluff alone, since it's doing its job as insulation and there is normally no need to cover it.However, if you are going to spend time in the basement sitting around watching movies or television, then you need to cover the insulation. You don't want to hang around breathing in tiny particles that might have gotten into the air. So, cover it up with lightweight ceiling paneling.