Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces - Finishing laundry room downstairs, guidance needed.

Hello -

I was hoping to get some advice from the forum on finishing our basement laundry room. Would it be possible to get input from everyone on our design, and then hopefully some help in guiding us through the process of finishing it? We don't have a lot of experience in this sort of stuff, but have most of the tools necessary, and can buy what we don't already have.

I'm going to post some pictures of the room as it is now (it's already framed), as well as our sketches for what we'd like to do with the room. I'd love to hear feedback from the forum as to our design, and if this is a doable project for us beginners. It's a small space, so we're trying to maximize the space without overcrowding the room. I'll post lots of pics along the way if some experienced members are willing to guide us through the process.

Thank you! Pics to be coming soon...

The only way to get guidance is to actually ask a question.

You need to write your idea's down on paper and get some sort of idea what you want to do and then physically think it out before you start any job.

At times, you need to learn your limitations and realize that not everything is going to be able to be done professionally by yourself.

Things like tile - you will want to pay someone to do it right.

Electrical, plumbing etc..

Make a realistic list and don't forget to go and get a building permit. Code inspectors are not the enemy's. A lot of the time, they understand how things ought to be done and can steer you away from making mistakes which would cost you more in the long run to do something twice or do it incorrectly and then have the house burn down or someone get hurt.

I would ask for advice before I buy anything and I would also make sure to check the sale papers weekly for deals on building materials you might need to do the job properly.

Since it is not a main room in your home, you can check the damaged bin at the local building supply store. At times they have deals on cases of tile where maybe one or two were broken or two by fours or electrical wire or drywall.

You don't always save money by doing it yourself. Especially if you do not own the right tools. Sometimes the tools cost more then if you paid a professional installer to just come over and do it for you and for things like a banjo. Even if you bought it, how many more times would you use it, once your remodeling project was complete.

Post your pix and drawings on a site such as photobucket.com and copy/paste the IMG code to your reply post. We'll take a look at what you have, versus what you propose and may can offer some ideas as to how it can be done.

Thanks all for the input. I really don't mind parting out some of the work, but I'd like to do as much as possible myself and learn along the way. There's definately that point where, perhaps with the drywall, it would be better for me to hire someone. I'm particularly intersted in setting up all the infrastructure like the wiring, plumbing, and ductwork.

That aside, there isn't much I can do until I have a plan, so check out my sketch of a possible layout. The ironing board is a built-in that will fold out, and swivel. The shelf to the right o the w/d would have a clothing rod above it to hang some clothes. There will be cabinets above the w/d, to the left of the clothing rod.



http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/756/imagegj.th.jpg (http://img210.imageshack.us/i/imagegj.jpg/)

Scetch

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/346/a122189.th.jpg (http://img382.imageshack.us/i/a122189.jpg/)

Short wall where w/d may go...

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2313/a122192.th.jpg (http://img63.imageshack.us/i/a122192.jpg/)

Wall that backs up to crawl space...

Things like tile - you will want to pay someone to do it right.

You don't always save money by doing it yourself. Especially if you do not own the right tools. Sometimes the tools cost more then if you paid a professional installer to just come over and do it for you and for things like a banjo. Even if you bought it, how many more times would you use it, once your remodeling project was complete.

Is this "doityourself.com" or is it "this is why you should hire a professional.com"?

I see there is a triple joist beam on that wall with no support under it..... Is the dirt in the crawl space below the concrete? There should be solid blocking in the joist spaces above the crawl/laundry wall, for fire stopping and joist bearing rotation prevention.
I would change the door swing to the other side or into the other room. Use a 2'-10" wide door to install the units easily.
Be safe, Gary