when a plan is labeled with basement as ” unfinished” what is requires to be complete? basically I want to know if the perimeter walls need to be framed in and if insulation will be required.
I’d like to simply have the joist bays insulated at perimeter, then after we move in, frame walls and insulate the rest.
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Replies
I'd consider unfinished to be bare concrete walls but the ceiling would need to be insulated to pass inspection.
Insulation might be a good idea even though you plan to finish the space in the future as it will help reduce sound transmission later.
>>but the ceiling would need to be insulated to pass inspection.Interesting - not in my area, FWIW
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Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
"when a plan is labeled with basement as " unfinished" what is requires to be complete? basically I want to know if the perimeter walls need to be framed in and if insulation will be required."
For what purpose?
"Finished" can be anything starting with just paint the walls and on UP and UP.
when a plan is labeled with basement as " unfinished" what is requires to be complete? "
Totally depends where you live ie. local code. I'd say the minimum is exposed everything, no insulation or drywall, no furring for future finishing.
WSJ
Talk to your local inspector. Here (Iowa), even unfinished basements need to have the exterior walls and sill box insulated to get the CO.
Regards,
Dennis
Talk to your local inspector. Here (Iowa), even unfinished basements need to have the exterior walls and sill box insulated to get the CO"
djj,
And here in WI we don't have CO's. It's all local.
WSJ
I have always understood unfinished basement to mean a concrete lined hole in the ground...
A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of coloured ribbon. - Napoleon Boneparte
When a plan is labeled unfinished basement, I interpret that as a space not currently intended for habitable space. If a basement was labeled as finished space it would have to comply with egress requirements, light and ventilation requirements, and anything other code issues. Also that space would be assessed at a higher tax rate than a basement would be.
It is rare to see a "finished" basement on a set of plans because that space may not be able to code compliant habitable living space, without meeting the necessary code requirements.
Up here in Canada, finished walls are only those which have a finishing material(drywall) to the floor. Framed, insulated and vapor barriered walls aren't considered finished because building insulation is not finishing material. You can actually put drywall and it's still considered unfinished if the drywall doesn't extend the foot and half to the floor (18").
Strange but true
in that context. I would think of it as no covering on stud walls or cieling. your permitting authority or assesor may have a different guideline
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Webster's New Collegate Dictionary:
unfinished adj. any one of my projects. Just ask my wife.
happy?
you sure your wife isn't friends with my wife? Mine says the same thing.
But at least I work on her list, while my own list sits somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind maybe someday to be touched.
>>Webster's New Collegate Dictionary:
>>unfinished adj. any one of my projects. Just ask my wife.My ex used to say men have trouble with the "'fi...fi....fi......finished' word!
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Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
Ask your wife?
The picture that accompanies the definition in Websters '05 Edition is MY HOUSE!!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
When my house and basement were recently assessed the assessor figured anything without floor covering to be unfinished. Even though walls had sheetrock up and painted.
Are looking to save some tax money and have an "unfinished" basement? I think I would do as much as possible "if this is new construction" before I move in and still qualify as "unfinshed". Seems like it never gets done when you move in, plus cost wise it is not really that much more to have it done while the subs are on sight now. Especially if it is just perimeter walls to insulate,rock and firetape. Of course running electrical and plumbing later may be some trouble.
I know some people plan on a 3600 sqft home 1800 upper/1800 basement and finish the lower level later. Just run rough electrical and plumbing (following code) but still be unfinished. Then when the assessor comes in your taxes are for a 1800 sqft home. Though if you are getting a loan that may not be enough to meet the requirments.
Jeff
The reason I prefer to do it after is: It will be a suite which I'm not supposed to have. It will be done after I move in and fairly quickly as my mom will be moving in.
I could build the perimeter walls ( I may have to , if required) but I'm doing alot of the work myself. It wouldn't be too hard to frame out those walls as I'm a framer by trade and I could knock it off in a couple days. My list is getting long though and right now even a couple days is alot, as my helper (father in law) has been laid up with bad back (not from working with me - lol) and now has gall stones.
traditionally around here when the walls are built, batt insulation is used. But I'm toying with the idea of perhaps maybe applying rigid insulation to walls, then stud it out later. But perhaps insulating the entire ceiling would be the way to go, that way I (mom) will get the noise buffer from my noisy 3 and 5 year old.
Thanks all, for responses, I guess I'd better call the inspector and find out what he'll be looking for.
Life safety issues need to be covered if someone will be living there.
They are covered
electrical code varies if the space is finished, or unfinished, code also defines finished and unfinished ...
Where does "the code" define finished and unfinished? Or are you not talking about the NEC?
In the city of Omaha, the builders wanted to sell an "insulation package" as an upgrade in production homes, but to make it affordable (the finished space would require more outlets) and so as not to confuse the simpleton electricians who usually get sent to those types of homes, they didn't want the firred, insulated and drywalled basement to be labeled "finished".
The city finally came to an agreement with the builders to define a basement as finished if the ceiling is finished. So, if the builder leaves bare joist and rocks the walls, the homeowner could have just one GFCI in the entire basement; but if the ceiling is finished, then the outlets need to be spaced like in a living room and do not have to have GFCI protection.
The State of Nebraska electrical inspectors took a simpler and more reasonable approach: If you say it is finished then it is and it had better have outlets spaced accordingly, If you say that it is unfinished then every outlet had better be GFCI protected(allowing for exceptions as per the NEC).There are no electrons! It is all made up. Don't believe it.
Electricity is made by GREENIES.
I will look tonight and edit this post ... sounds like the same situation you have .. I seem to remember if the drywall extends all the way to the floor it is considered a finished space and the all the rules for plugs (every 6') and lights kick in, otherwise it is treated as an unfinished space ... I guess the assumption is that if the bottom of the wall is open it can always be brought up to spec before it is covered ..
edit .. Ontario Electical Safety Code, Rule 26-710(a) .. if the wall finish does not extend fully to the floor, ie, if the lower 450 m (17.7 in) of the wall is not finished .... insulation and vapour barrier ... may extend fully to the floor ..
Edited 12/1/2005 9:05 am ET by wane
I'm with mikeys regarding insulation.
To get the CO, in my locale the basement ceiling needs to be insulated 4' in around the perimeter.
As to an "unfinished basement", to me that's mean bare floor and bare walls. No drywall. Insulation to meet code.
I got the impression from mikey he meant to insulate the entire ceiling - which wouldn't be a bad idea, and I might consider that.
you are saying to insulate just the ceiling perimter, ( if I'm following you right) which is what my original plan was.
Edited 11/22/2005 10:57 pm ET by alrightythen
Yes, in my town we only need to insulate the basement ceiling 4' in from the rim joist. Must be R-19 minimum. That's the minimum insulation required in the basement to get the CoO.Your area may be different.
I checked with the inspector he said concrete can be bare.
For clarification, yes the concrete walls in a basement can be bare.But in my area. the basement CEILING, ie, the first floor platform, needs to have insulation in the joist bays (first floor joist bays, the same as the basement ceiling joist bays) from the rim joist to four feet in from the rim joists.