Finishing my basement

[e.rice]

My wife and I have been wanting to finish our basement for a long time.  I've always assumed I would hire somebody to do it for me but I've gradually come around to the idea of doing the work myself. 

Over Thanksgiving break, I framed my first wall.  It went pretty well, especially considering it was the first time I used a nail gun. 

I've got a long haul in front of me but I should learn a lot and save a lot of $.  I will try to update this post regularly as I make progress. 

Feel free to ask me any questions. 

[CowboyAndIndian]

Cool.

What is your overall design? What do you plan for the floors and ceiling? Are you going to put in a bathroom?

Got my basement done (my design, other peoples labor). Since I had an 8 ft ceiling, did not use a drop ceiling, but used drywall.

Also check out photos of big_owl and little_owl's basement. Great job, with good pictures. http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/from-zero-to-million-dollar-basement-(diy)/

[e.rice]

The plan is two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a room that will start out as a play room for the kids but eventually will be converted to a home theater, living room area, a semi finished storage (drywall+paint but concrete flooring), and an unfinished mechanical room.  I did the plan myself using some free software I found.  Basically I just took a tape measure to all the outer walls in the basement and then started messing around until I got something I liked.   

Ceiling will be drywall with a few access points to reach things like water shut-offs.  Flooring will be mostly carpet, tile in the bathroom, and possibly acid stained concrete in the area by the walk-out door.  In the 8 years we've lived there, we've had no moisture problems at all, even in the worst thunderstorms.  I will still put in a sump pump, though.

Thanks for the link ... I will check it out.

[CowboyAndIndian]

Suggest that you do not do carpet. Basements are usually humid and the carpet becomes a mold-magnet!

You could do laminate (like I did), which is very easy to lay and is not cold like tile.

[Metric Mouse]

Awesome. I did my basement last year ish.  Lots and lots of work.  There's plenty of posts on remodels of all levels and types in the "DIY" subforum, and plenty of knowledge floating around. Good luck! Keep us updated.  I love having the basement finished, nice thick carpet and a gas fireplace is probably the most comfortable place in the house.