Your home has a basement and you have decided to make use of all that extra square footage by converting it into usable living space. Making a den or playroom is easy, but adding a bathroom to a basement can be a daunting challenge. While certain aspects will present challenges, there are none that cannot be overcome.
Instructions
1. Determine what type of bath you need/want in your basement, full, three-quarter or half. These decisions will determine the size of the room as well as the plumbing requirements. Even if you do not need a shower or tub in the basement, you may want to consider including one. It is possible this could help increase your property value and if you change your mind, adding a tub or shower later will require a major remodel.
2. Determine the size of the bathroom. The average size of a bathroom bathtub is 5 feet (60 inches) and in many cases this is also the width of your bathroom. The length of the room can vary from 8 feet up to 12 feet. You to decide what configuration best meets your needs. It is best if you can keep the dimensions at even numbers to make better use of building materials and reduce construction time and cost.
3. Build the basic wood frame. In most areas the building codes require the use of pressure treated lumber for any construction in a basement. Lay out the four walls of your bathroom, having studs at 16 inch centers. You should also have double 2 x 4's on the top of the frame. (The overall height of the wall must equal the height of your basement ceiling. A standard ceiling is 8 feet, but many basements do not have standard ceilings, so be sure to get accurate measurements.) Make certain the walls are square then secure them together with either nails or screws. Carefully raise the walls and put them in place. Once they are square and level, secure them together with nails or screws and secure them to the overhead floor joist with screws or nails.
4. Complete your plumbing and electrical. After deciding on where you need both your electrical outlets and your plumping access, you will need to drill holes in your wall studs. Feed the wire through the holes and connect each outlet, the overhead light, and the light switch. You will also need to drill holes to allow your piping to each of the bathroom fixtures. You will need to check your local codes to determine if you have on option to use Copper or PVC pipe.
5. Install the interior and exterior drywall. Begin at one corner, positioning the drywall on the studs and securing it in place. You can use nails or drywall screws. I would recommend screws for better holding power and less damage to the drywall. Continue around the exterior before installing the drywall on the interior. Lastly, you will install the ceiling pieces. On all interior sections carefully cut out for plumbing and electrical items. After the drywall is installed apply drywall tape and cement. Once the cement has dried give it a good sanding and it is ready to paint.
6. Install bathroom fixtures. Install the tub/shower first before the room becomes crowded. Install the sink next and finally the toilet. In most instances you will need an up-flushing toilet. Your best option is something like the Sani-Plus manufactured by Saniflo. The toilet is electric and pumps the water/waste up to an overhead drain pipe. The convenient thing about the Sani-Plus is that it also has connections for the drains from your sink and shower. This all in one unit is easy to install and eliminates many of the problems you would face with other systems which would require separate drain systems for the sink and shower.
7. Once all of the fixtures are in you can install the doorway and complete the painting. A standard interior door will be fine, but be certain to install a locking doorknob to provide privacy and security for the bathroom. When hanging accessories such as towel rods or hooks, be certain to anchor them into one of the 2 x 4 studs for needed support.
Tags: will need, secure them, bathroom fixtures, drill holes, nails screws, need drill