I was sitting there watching some programs on TV, about different DIY projects, when one of my favorite home improvement shows came on, "Design on a Dime." It's about remodeling one room, for $1000 or less. At some point during the show, I thought "Hey, my basement is just one big room, maybe I can fix it up for $1000 or less."
I began to research different "do it yourself projects." I was looking for one that would be simple enough for me, with my tiny brain and limited carpentry skills -- to accomplish myself on a $1000 budget. Next, I just had to decide what to do and how to do it.
So Many Family and Living Room Ideas to Choose From
Many of the DIY projects that I researched, either cost too much, or were too complicated. I opted for one of the simpler projects. I just wanted a basic family room, where we could all gather to watch a movie or play a game. I still felt the need to requisition the help of one of my closest friends; David Pauwels, because he is a bit more experienced in carpentry work than I am.
Staying within budget was going to require some major bargain shopping. Luckily, between me and David, we had pretty much all the tools we would need; but materials were a different story.
Material Cost Breakdown
Below is a list of the material we used and how much these items cost.
- Waterproofing Material - I decided to just use some waterproof paint (like what they use in swimming pools) on the cinder block walls. Cost = $300
- Hardware & Supplies - Things like screws, hinges, nails, masonry drill bits (for the concrete floor), carpet tack strip, outlet covers, and electrical wire really add up. Luckily my uncle was able to provide the wire at a huge discount, because he kept it in bulk reels in his garage. Total Cost = $70
- Wood for Framing - Since this was a basement, I picked up some "less than perfect wood" from the local lumber yard at a major discounted price. Cost = $250
- Drywall and Joint Compound - Again, being a basement, I went with the thinnest drywall available and picked out sheets with minor defects for a discounted price. For joint compound, I bought the general purpose stuff, and it only cost $6 for a five gallon bucket. Total Cost = $150
- Paint - The paint store had a section of miss-tinted paint that cost $1 per gallon. The downside was that I couldn't choose the color, but since I was on a tight budget, it didn't bother me much. I picked up several gallons of miss-tinted paint and three gallons of a dark red primer that we mixed together to create a rustic red color. That just left a couple gallons of white paint for the ceiling. Total Cost = $100
- Carpet - I was able to find two good pieces of scrap carpet from a discount carpet outlet. Of course, using two pieces of scrap carpet created a seam. By strategically placing the furniture, the seam was later hidden and unnoticeable. Cost = $100
- Accessories - I was able to pick up a really neat overhead light, a fake plastic tree, a coffee table, and two wooden doors at various yard sales. These items added a nice touch to our family room. Total Cost = $40
The total cost of my "cheap DIY project" came to $1010.00, but this included furniture that I picked up at various yard sales. Thanks to David's help, we were able to complete the project in about four days. Cost of labor? One steak on the grill and a cold beer is all that David asked for in return. What a pal! There were some minor complications we ran into along the way but nothing too major.
Complications
- Damaged Drywall - This required extra joint compound to hide the defects. We had to put it on extremely heavy and use a thick texture for both the walls and ceiling. The thick texture made it hard to paint straight lines and cut the wall into the ceiling. Additionally, outside corner edges were extremely difficult to cover with paint.
- Cheap Paint Mixed With Primer - This caused the walls to scratch easily. When we moved the furniture downstairs, any little knick on the walls scraped the paint back down to bare drywall.
- Pipes and Vents - We were able to relocate or work around many of the pipes and vents in the basement; however, the main drain could not be relocated. Instead, we framed it off, put a door there, for access, and made it to look like a closet.
