Full Basement Renovation in 7.5 minutes

Full Basement Renovation in seven and a half minutes.
I performed all the work myself with the exception of hanging the doors and the drywall. I did the drywall in my last house and it just took me forever and it wasn't work that I enjoyed doing, so in the interest of time and mess I contracted that out. My drywall guys are fast, better, and need to sand a lot less that I would have to, resulting in a lot less dust to be tracked into the rest of the house.
I have dedicated videos detailing each part that you see in this video, please check out my other videos for that content.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments section bellow and I will do my best to get back to you.
By using these links I may earn an affiliate commission, which helps support the channel.
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[@faizansaleem465]

I love your videos man, I'm trying to build my basement from scratch and you have best design I've came across on the internet for the space I've. Keep posting these video.

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks, let me know if there is anything in specific you want covered, and I can see if I can help you out. Glad you are enjoying the content.

[@joncarson1765]

I wish you lived in Alaska, your work is amazing!

[@omaryusofi4403]

Very relaxing to watch! You make it look easy thanks for the upload 🙌🏻

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was somewhere around 6 months of work, it always looks easy when you are finished.

[@firstname8084]

Extremely pleasurable video to watch and amazing renovation. Definitely deserves millions of views

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank you, much appreciated. I could only dream of a million views.

[@Dreemwever]

OUTSTANDING Job! Can tell you take extra steps to create a Functional Comfortable Space! Enjoy the conversion for years....

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks for the comment and for watching!

[@AD-bv7jr]

Most amazing part is it only took 7.5 minutes!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks for watching, lots of how to videos on my channel for all the individual parts of this project!

[@aaliyahrye4336]

I will be doing my basement from scratch and have no idea what to do first. Im glad I've watched this video. This pretty much covered the subfloor,cabinetry,baseboard and stuff. The plumbing is still my biggest challenge.

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

It is a big project to take on but good fun. Plumbing is not that hard, especially with things like Pex and shark bite fittings etc, that have come on the market in the last little while. A lot easier that copper.

[@aaliyahrye4336]

Thank you for telling me that. Appreciate it.

[@tiajones8768]

Did an awesome job. Unbelievable. Bravo!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank You!

[@Lovelyy.Jessica]

Wow it looks amazing, great job !

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank you

[@JamesofJesus]

Truly great work as a contractor myself. You can also cut a cube of sponge to clean dap super quick. Just rinse it and keep flying. I know the gear to that work ain't cheap..keep rocking! God bless you from Alberta

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Great Tip, thanks!

[@maydanlex]

Love your work… and the background tunes 👍

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks @maydanlex !

[@JB4C89]

Beautiful!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks you!

[@brendathosath3983]

Beautiful and inspirational!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank you so much!

[@platinumheritage2320]

Nice video, skill, concept, music and use of space!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank you!

[@richardlee8904]

Crazy skills

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank you!

[@yblicensedsaleagent6402]

Awesome ❤

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks!

[@emlouvaugnlitl7428]

Love watching your dog help lol

[@alexparson4472]

You are my Hero

[@MrKcTofu20]

Impressive!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks for watching!

[@AustinCoulson]

Great work! What was the 2 part glue you were using on the base boards? It looked like a liquid glue and a spray activator?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks, The glue is called instant bond I got it at Home depot. It works great and makes trim work 10X easier. www.homedepot.com/p/Instantbond-100-400-ml-Clear-World-s-Fastest-Instant-Adhesive-and-Cyanoacrylate-Glue-and-Activator-Spray-100-400/203082931 Your channel has sure grown since the Crown Vic Build. That's Amazing. That video you did showing how much you made through the course of that build and after really got me motivated to start this channel!

[@jimmydiego1]

Obsessed

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks!

[@brandonschultz1852]

Great closet setup. Where did you get the in the wall boxes used for shelving?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

I built them, here is the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5_RfoaHrKaXqtk

[@TR-vh1fi]

I wish I have the option to like this video more than once

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank you for the very kind words

[@richardlee8904]

Man he got skills!!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thanks!

[@CyclingYYC]

@@ResearchDesignBuild how did you learn to do all this? What's your career and background?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

@@CyclingYYC I'm an Engineer. But in school they didn't really teach the hands on part. So that I learnt just through doing. Trying out smaller projects and then taking those skills and applying to larger projects. For instance I wanted to make concrete countertops several years ago but had never so much as mixed concrete before. So I did a bunch of research, then picked a small project, in this case a couple small flower pots. I made those and they turned out really well. I used all scrap material for the forms and a couple bags of concrete from Home Depot. So all in all it cost me a couple weekends, and $30 in materials. But I learnt a lot in the process and gave me enough courage to try and make concrete countertops. They turned out great.

[@ngahuynh5778]

❤❤❤❤

[@supremeservices3575]

Nice video Before I install the subfloor, do I have to level the concrete floor with self- leveling cement? We have uneven concrete basement floor

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

There are shim kits the you can use to level out the panels as you put them down. However you should try to get your floor relatively flat, so if there are some big dips then perhaps look at using some self leveler. But trying to level the entire basement could be a very expensive proposition as the self leveler isn't inexpensive.

[@hayyanah1980]

I am planning to do it myself our basement and yours seem straigh forward. But I have an issue of design or structure of where should be the room or powder room will be placed.

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

The biggest issue you will have with adding a washroom or powder room in the basement will be the plumbing. If your basement is already roughed in for plumbing then the designer of the house already had a plan on where to put the bathroom and that will be the easiest place. Look for a 4 or 5 inch black pipe that is sticking out of the concrete that is capped off. That would be the rough in for the toilet. If you don't have that, then you have a big project ahead of you. That involves cutting the concrete and putting in a new drain line for both the toilet, sink, and shower. That is a big and messy job. If this is your first DIY job, then I would suggest you bring in a plumber to help with this portion of the job. But in terms of location the closer you can be to drain pipes that already exist the better as this means less concrete to cut and remove in order to place the new drain pipes.

[@lizbethperez303]

Love your work. Starting a basement project soon. What is the sqft of your basement?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Right around 900 I believe. Enjoy the project, very rewarding once it is completed.

[@dr.eugenejohnymdfnlp]

Absolutely great job!!! The same person working in this video, does he work in Pennsylvania?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank you for the kind words. Unfortunately this is just a hobby for me and I'm not exactly close to Pennsylvania. Thanks for Watching!

[@jessicapaulin1260]

Amazing work and beautiful results. How high is the ceiling in your basement? I’m 5’6” and the ceiling seems to be about two inches above my head. Do you think it’s too low of a ceiling and I should just work with that? I’m discouraged to finish my basement bc of the ceiling height. Your thoughts? I don’t want to spend more than 10-12k. Right now my basement is completely unfinished but there is plumbing in place for a small bathroom 👍 so that’s a huge plus. It’s just the low ceiling that bothers me. Love how your bsmt looks and the functionality of it 🙌

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

The ceilings are 9 feet in my basement. If your ceilings are as low as you think they will be then will be even lower when you put up the drywall for the finished ceiling. It is possible but even the doors will have to be cut down as normal height doors will not fit. Your shower head will be low in the shower, etc. Resale value will be pretty tough. Best thing to do would be to go look at some houses that are for sale in your area that have a finished basement and probably have the same basement ceiling height and see how you like it.

[@testing24dfas]

Very informative. Do you offer renovation services in GTA?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Currently I'm just doing this as a hobby for my own house. I appreciate the positive feedback though.

[@kriskris8737]

have you done any water proofing ? how you did basement walls before framing ?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

I did not do any interior water proofing. This is a new home so there the foundation was waterproofed on the exterior and there is weeping tile going to a sump pit and pump around the foundation to keep water out as well. As I didn't finish the basement at the time of home construction I needed to frame the exterior walls of the basement just for the purposes of insulation and vapor barrier as it was a requirement to pass final inspection.

[@DavidFrancis2015]

Hey when are you coming to my house!!?? Very Nice!

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Thank You!

[@JoePalos91]

What do you have behind the vapor barrier and insulation? Wouldn't that just trap moisture?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

So the idea with a vapor barrier is that you have one side that can breath with the outside air and humidity and then another on the other side of the vapor barrier. So the insulation and concrete foundation all breath together and there is a 1inch or so gap between the insulation and the concrete that allows for some air movement. Any moisture can come and go through the concrete foundation. And we are talking about changes in humidity, not actual flow of water. This is built to the building code up in Canada and this is pretty standard coast to coast from what I have seen.

[@nondeka09]

Awesome work! About how much did it cost?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Probably around 10K. It is easy to increase or decrease that number. Plumbing fixtures, you can spend $50 or $5000. Same for lighting.

[@MikeandSamonPC]

Where did you get the cabinets?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

The Cabinets are from Ikea and then I re-painted the doors in a high gloss 2 stage automotive paint. The counters were made from scratch and the bar counter I also painted with automotive 2 stage paint.

[@koolpath22]

Which is better foam barricade or hard plastic?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

It really depends on what you need for your climate and basement. If you live in a cold area and have a dry basement then the insulated panels are better. If you are in a warmer area where the insulation isn't going to be as big of a deal, or you have a damp basement then the hard plastic backed ones might be the better choice and also save you a little money too.

[@tylerargetsinger5960]

Curious why did you use those little squares instead of just using full sheets?…

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

You can't buy full sheets with the insulation attached. You could do full sheets of 1inch think foam and then do 3/4 OSB tongue and groove on top with very similar results. The 2X2 squares are just really easy to work with and move around. They are also very easy to level and shim as required if your floor isn't perfectly flat. I'm not sure how it would go trying to level a 4x8 sheet of foam and then a 4x8 sheet of OSB.

[@tylerargetsinger5960]

@@ResearchDesignBuild true! never thought of that! Thanks for the build!

[@haroldcreates2742]

How long did the basement take you?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

It took roughly 9 months. But there were lots of longer breaks where a few weeks would go by with no work being done. 6 months I think is a good timeline to plan for.

[@blancamadrigal26]

How much would you say this costed?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

This project was probably around the $20,000 CAD in terms of material and the 2 contractors that I brought in (one for drywall and mudding, and the other for carpet installation). That is for almost 900 square feet of living space including a full bathroom, wet bar, 2 bedrooms and a living room. Now that number can be changed, up or down for your own project by a large margin. Plumbing fixtures, door handles, lights... Those are all things that will add or subtract from that price. You can get a $1200 tap for your sink, or a $80 tap for your sink for example. The heated floor in the bathroom adds a fair bit to the cost, probably in the area of $400. Flooring also ranges wildly in price. The best thing to do it to layout your space. And then go look at pricing for the bit ticket items you will need. Flooring, tile, carpet, hardwood, etc. Then price out plumbing fixtures and lights. For any work you are not going to do yourself get at least 3 quotes for the work. Contractors will again vary greatly in terms of the price they give you.

[@josianedossa2192]

How much will this cost if I want the model?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Which model?

[@MrCastiel]

What colour is on the wall?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Repose Grey by Sherwin Williams

[@niakaproductions2020ukus]

9th April 10004 (recorded)

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

How is this helpful? Thanks for watching though

[@JasonEllingsworth]

the way the walls were done is not at all good. Should be rigid foam insulation loosely glued to the block as your vapor barrier, with your chase wall framed on top of the sub floor in front. I suspect you will constantly build moisture in your insulation and it will be a home for all kinds of mold and critters, just like mine was. The rest is good though. I made a lot of mistakes in my 20's that I am now repairing in my 40's. Just remember in the future on exterior basement walls, it is vapor barrier first, then insulation(unless of course you are using rigid foam as your vapor barrier) then your framing and finish.

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

Yes you can also use ridged foam, this is much less common to do and can result in a greater R value of the wall. I would argue that using the foam as a vapor barrier will be difficult to seal all the joints. You have to keep an air gap between the insulation that I used and the concrete wall this will allow for some air movement and prevent the insulation from pulling any moisture into it. This home is also not concrete block it is a poured foundation with modern water proofing on the outside of the foundation, weeping tile and a sump pump. So the chances that I have a moist interior wall in my basement is greatly reduced.

[@JasonEllingsworth]

@ResearchDesignBuild unfortunately you have an incorrect assumption. It's vapor traveling through that space, in to your insulation, and being permanently trapped behind your plastic. It's backwards. If you put the plastic first hung like a curtain loosely against the wall, and insulated your framing in front of it, you would have a system that would last 50 years. Yours will last about 15 if you develop any kind of leak in your foundation walls. I'm dealing with the same exact thing in mine

[@JasonEllingsworth]

@ResearchDesignBuild the way you did it was an old school way of doing things, before we learned better, and unfortunately most state building codes don't enforce the correct way to do it

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

@@JasonEllingsworth I don't believe you would pass a building inspection if you put plastic vapor barrier right against the concrete. You would definitely build up condensation between the plastic and the concrete wall. I don't really get your point of moisture being permanently trapped. Houses breath, so on the exterior of your vapor barrier there is an allowance for things to change in terms of moisture content, It doesn't all just flow one way and get trapped in the insulation.

[@JasonEllingsworth]

@@ResearchDesignBuild you'll get it eventually

[@timetod.i.y7638]

No need for vapour barrier in basements if half the height or more is underground . What happens is that moisture gets inside from the outside ground, soil. And cant get through because of vapour barrier and you get mould. Basements should be sealed from outside not inside but good ventilation is a must inside

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

This advice would go against Canadian building code. You would never pass an inspection for a basement without a full vapor barrier on the inside.

[@Fe-mt8fv]

Wow, you hiring?

[@ResearchDesignBuild]

If I was smart I should have been, it would have sped up the project by a fair bit for some parts of it.