Finishing a basement can create extra living space with far less cost and complexity than an addition that expands the home’s footprint. Perhaps for that reason alone, finishing a basement is a popular project for many homeowners. But a well-designed basement remodel is much more than an assembly of studs and drywall thrown up over a foundation wall, then trimmed and painted. Understanding and managing the risks of moisture and bulk water is imperative to developing a successful basement design, as is getting the insulation and air-sealing details correct.

In the articles that follow, the editors of Fine Homebuilding walk through the process of getting that basement remodel done right.

Basement Finishing and Remodeling is a free 20-page, full-color PDF download written by Fine Homebuilding authors Steve Baczek, Emanuel Silva, and Andy Engel. The three-article collection highlights the construction know-how needed to build beautiful, comfortable living spaces below grade, covering:

• Build a Risk-Free Finished Basement
• Replace a Rotten Lally Column
• The Stay-Dry, No-Mold Finished Basement

Click here to download this 20-page basement remodeling PDF.

For ideas and examples, check out 12 Remarkable and Inspiring Basement Remodels, a slide show of projects from the Fine Homebuilding archives.

And learn how to prepare basements to remodel with this Fine Homebuilding Insulate Your Basement video series:

• Insulate Your Basement—Part 1 … The process starts by addressing water.
• Insulate Your Basement—Part 2 … Control airflow and you control heat loss and condensation.
• Insulate Your Basement—Part 3 … Insulate the walls and rim joists.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

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Insulation Knife

If you like insulating with mineral wool, this knife makes cuts that are clean, neat, and easy — it's much better than a utility knife which can be slow and messy.

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Caulking Gun

It's important for any insulator to have a good caulking gun for air sealing or adhesives, and this one features a revolving frame that makes orienting the tip a breeze.

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Staple Gun

Although powered staplers are very popular, you still need a manual stapler on the job site. This staple gun from DEWALT® is reliable and easy to fire, reducing fatigue over prolonged use.

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