How Do You Turn A Basement Into A Media Room Or Playroom?
Say good-bye to that dingy cellar and hello to a home theater or rec room. Being dark, cool and isolated from the rest of the house is now a benefit, so noisy movies and video games won’t disturb the peace of slumbering or working residents above. Read 89 Organize the Basement. Those waterproofing steps apply here, too. Do any needed structural work on your foundation, taking care of drainage or flooding issues as well as earthquake retrofitting, before you finish your basement. Install a vapor barrier, sufficient insulation and electrical wiring (including speaker wire for side- and rear-channel speakers) before you finish your basement walls. Place a bank of six or eight grounded electrical outlets where the entertainment center will go, even if you don’t intend to use one immediately. Consider other features such as a ventilation or HVAC system; an intercom; a DSL, T-1 or cable hookup; and soundproofing during the planning stages. Insulate the floor of the main level of the house (t
