Example Basement Finishing Projects in Round Rock

Scope of work

Insulated framed walls on the concrete, wiring with outlets and recessed lights, drywall on walls and ceiling, a vinyl plank floor suited to a slab, paint, a door to the unfinished side and trim. The built-in cabinets and desk nook are not part of this cost.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 2000s house in Round Rock have a walkout basement on a sloped lot. The downhill end opens to the yard, and the uphill end is bare concrete with one wide high window.

They want that end as one open family room, with space for a large sofa, a TV wall and a corner for homework. The basement is dry, so the work starts with insulated walls and runs straight through to paint and flooring.

The goal

The goal is a bright, open family room in the part of the basement that was bare concrete.

Process

1. Before work Layout drawn, the slab and walls checked for damp, and plans submitted to the city.
2. Walls and wiring Insulated walls framed, outlets, lights and the TV wall cables run, then inspected.
3. Drywall Walls and ceiling hung, taped and painted.
4. Floor and trim Vinyl plank laid on the slab, doors hung and trim fitted.

Planning right

• Check for damp before any wall goes up. A dry basement is the starting point.
• Plan the TV wall first. Its outlets and cables go in before the drywall.
• Choose flooring that is rated for a basement slab.
• Keep a door to the unfinished side so the water heater and other equipment stay easy to reach.

Scope of work

Framing and insulation, wiring with extra outlets at the TV wall, recessed lights on a dimmer, drywall, a vinyl plank floor, paint, a door and trim, then the TV mounted, the sound system fitted with its cables in the wall, and a desk top and shelves fitted. The chairs are the owners’ own.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 1990s house in Round Rock have a walkout basement with one unfinished room on the uphill side. They want it for films and video games, with a desk where one of them can work during the day.

The TV goes on the long wall, away from the window, so daylight does not wash out the picture. The desk sits along the side wall under the window, and the cables for the TV and sound run in the wall before the drywall goes up.

The goal

The goal is a room for films and games that also works as a quiet place to work.

Process

1. Before work TV wall, seats and desk placed on the plan, and plans submitted to the city.
2. Walls and cables Walls framed and insulated, with a dimmer, outlets and the cables for TV and speakers run before the inspection.
3. Finish Drywall, paint, floor, door and trim, then the desk top and shelves.
4. Equipment TV mounted and the sound system connected and set up for the chairs.

Planning right

• Keep the TV off the window wall so daylight does not hit the screen.
• Put the ceiling lights on a dimmer for films.
• Run a spare cable to the TV wall for the next game console.
• A solid door keeps film sound out of the rest of the basement better than a hollow one.

Scope of work

Framed and insulated walls with a door, wiring with outlets along the desk walls and a network cable, recessed lights, drywall, carpet, paint and trim, then a long L-shaped desk counter on brackets, pegboard above it, an open cubby unit at one end and open shelves in the corner.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 1990s house in Round Rock both work from home, and their children need a place for homework and hobbies. They want one room downstairs with a door they can close and a desk long enough for three people at once.

The desk counter runs along two walls in an L, open underneath so the chairs roll in. Pegboard above it holds tools and supplies off the desk, cubbies at one end take paper and craft boxes, and a network cable runs to the desk for steady video calls.

The goal

The goal is a closed workroom where three people can work at one long desk.

Process

1. Before work Desk length, seat spots and outlet spots set, and plans submitted to the city.
2. Walls and wiring Walls and door framed, then outlets, lights and the network cable run and inspected.
3. Finish Drywall, paint, carpet and trim.
4. Built-ins Desk counter, pegboard, cubbies and shelves fitted.

Planning right

• Allow about 3 ft of counter for each person who sits at the desk.
• Pegboard above the counter keeps tools and supplies off the work surface.
• Leave the counter open underneath so chairs roll right in.
• A solid door helps on calls.

Scope of work

Insulated framed walls with plywood behind the drywall on the storage wall, wiring with outlets and bright flush lights, drywall, paint, a mirror wall, thick rubber tiles over the slab, a glass-paned door and trim. The rack, weights and machines are the owners’ own.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 2010s house in Round Rock lift weights in the garage, where it is hot most of the year. They want a gym in the walkout basement, which stays cooler.

The squat rack needs height for lifts overhead, so the ceiling is kept as high as the floor above allows and the lights sit flush. The rack stands free in front of the mirror wall. Plywood goes behind the drywall on one wall to hold hooks and storage, and thick rubber tiles over the slab take dropped weights.

The goal

The goal is a cool basement gym with a floor and walls that stand up to weights.

Process

1. Before work Rack spot and ceiling height checked, and plans submitted to the city.
2. Walls and wiring Walls framed with plywood on the storage wall, outlets and lights run, then inspected.
3. Finish Drywall, paint, door and trim, then the mirror wall.
4. Floor Rubber tiles laid over the slab last, so they stay clean.

Planning right

• Measure the tallest lift before the ceiling is planned.
• Plywood behind the drywall gives hooks and racks something solid to hold.
• Rubber flooring protects the slab and quiets dropped weights.
• Put a fan or an air vent on the plan. Gyms get warm.

Scope of work

The slab cut and trenched for new drains, drain, vent and water lines, a framed room, a vent fan ducted outside, wiring and lights, a tiled walk-in shower with a bench and a glass panel, a vanity with a basin, a toilet, a tile floor, paint, a door and trim. The slab is patched once the drains pass inspection.

Project overview

In this example, a family in a 2010s Round Rock house uses the walkout basement as a second living area. Guests who stay over have to go upstairs to shower, so they want a full bathroom on the lower floor.

In this house the sewer line leaves below the basement floor on the downhill side, so new drains can fall to it without a pump. The bathroom sits close to that line to keep the trench in the slab short.

The goal

The goal is a full bathroom on the lower floor, with drains that work without a pump.

Process

1. Before work Sewer depth confirmed, layout drawn and plans submitted to the city.
2. Slab Slab cut, drains and water lines laid and inspected, then the slab patched.
3. Walls Room framed, wiring and fan in, and waterproof board put up in the shower.
4. Finish Shower and floor tiled, vanity, toilet and fittings set, and the grout sealer applied once the grout has cured.

Planning right

• Find out how deep the sewer line is before choosing where the bathroom goes.
• If the drains sit below the sewer line, a pump is needed and the cost rises.
• Run the vent fan to the outside, not into the ceiling.
• Place the bathroom near the stairs or the guest room, not off the family room.

Scope of work

A larger opening cut in the concrete wall and a new window set, a stepped well outside with a retaining wall, framed and insulated walls, wiring and recessed lights, heating and cooling ducts, drywall, carpet, a door, a built-in wardrobe and trim.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 2000s house in Round Rock want a guest bedroom in their walkout basement. The best spot is on the uphill side, where the only window is small and high.

A bedroom needs a window big enough to climb out of in an emergency. The opening is cut larger in the concrete wall, a new window goes in, and a wide well outside, held by a concrete retaining wall, has steps up to the yard. The rest is a plain bedroom finish with a built-in wardrobe.

The goal

The goal is a guest bedroom with daylight and a safe way out.

Process

1. Before work Window size and wall cut checked against the rules for the address, and plans submitted to the city.
2. Window Ground dug out beside the wall, the concrete cut, the new window set and the stepped well built.
3. Room Walls framed and insulated, wiring, lights and ducts run, then inspected.
4. Finish Drywall, paint, carpet, door, wardrobe and trim.

Planning right

• A basement bedroom needs an escape window. Check that first.
• A wide well with steps makes the window easy to use and lets in more light. Keep plants clear of the steps.
• Add a supply and a return so the room stays as cool as the rest of the house.
• Keep furniture low under the window so the way out stays clear.

Scope of work

A built-in cupboard at the tall end and open shelves made to follow the slope of the stair, doors and shelves, a light inside the cupboard, paint and trim to match the stair.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 2000s house in Round Rock have a finished walkout basement, but the space under the stair is open and collects boxes. They want luggage and holiday decorations behind doors and open shelves for books and baskets.

The built-ins follow the slope of the stair. A cupboard with two pairs of doors at the high end takes suitcases and boxed decorations, and open shelves fill the low end for books and baskets.

The goal

The goal is closed storage that fits the stair exactly.

Process

1. Before work Stair measured, the slope traced and the things to store listed.
2. Build Cupboard frames made to fit and fixed to the stair and floor.
3. Fit Doors and shelves hung, and a light wired inside the cupboard.
4. Finish Paint and trim to match the stair.

Planning right

• List what you want to store before the cupboards are drawn.
• Tall things go at the high end and baskets at the low end.
• A light inside the deep cupboard saves hunting with a phone.
• Check that nothing under the stair, such as a shutoff valve, gets boxed in.