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Thread ID: 64173 2005-12-06 03:38:00 OT - Converting a basement to an office Morgenmuffel (187) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
410549 2005-12-06 03:38:00 How more off topic can i get

Basement
1 concrete block wall, 2 poured concrete (house wall)
part of the house above it so a floorboard roof
Concrete floor

I want to convert part of this in to an office, my budget is limited, but i would just like some advice on how to go about it

I would like it to be insulated and warm, as well as carpeted

so what sort of budget would I be looking at and what materials would I need

the area is about 2/3 single car garage

Any help would be appreciated
Morgenmuffel (187)
410550 2005-12-06 03:52:00 Hi Nigel.
I've done a couple of such jobs over the years. The main concern is waterproofing/dampproofing both floor and walls. Have you got earth banked up outside against one or more of the walls? Then ventilation, even if there is only going to be one person using the small office. Essential. What sort of headroom have you got? Access - internal stairs or walk-around outside? Heaps of questions and a lot of paper planning before you start. On my last one the main block wall had earth of the outside and I never ever got it dampproof. On an earlier one I was able to Mulseal the outside of the block wall before the earth was placed against it and it made a tremendous difference. Wish you well.
Scouse (83)
410551 2005-12-06 04:16:00 Basement


I want to convert part of this in to an office, my budget is limited,
I would like it to be insulated and warm, as well as carpeted

Buy a piece of carpet off Trademe. Whack in your desk etc, whatever stuff you are going to use.
There. Done.
Just like my husbands "office".
pctek (84)
410552 2005-12-06 04:29:00 Basement
+
Invercargill.




Scuba gear?
godfather (25)
410553 2005-12-06 04:33:00 No earth banked against any walls,
I already have carpet down I was just worried that it might rot,
As winters down here get pretty cold i also want to make sure it is well insulated, not having all the heat going out through the walls, floor roof etc

Cheers
Morgenmuffel (187)
410554 2005-12-06 04:38:00 got spare carpet and underlay?? carpet the walls !

if its a bit cold i would use a dehumidafier, keeps it nice and warm as well as dry .
tweak'e (69)
410555 2005-12-06 04:44:00 Dehumidifier for the win, in summer and winter. It dries the air that makes heating the room easier in winter and makes cooling the room easier in summer as the moisture in the air doesn't need to be heated or cooled first. Jester (13)
410556 2005-12-06 04:52:00 It might pay to check if there are any council regulations regarding turning your basement into an office. It is quite likely that they will want you to damp-proof it, insulate it etc. etc. somebody (208)
410557 2005-12-07 22:33:00 How do I go about damp proofing it, is there some sort of rubbery paint i paint over the floor/walls etc

I will check with the council, as i have to go in there to see if concrete floor is already water/damp proofed, hopefully something like that would be on the records

Cheers
Morgenmuffel (187)
410558 2005-12-08 00:04:00 Invercargill!!!

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy the house next door?
netchicken (4843)
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