Owens Corning Basement Finishing System

Has anyone had any experience with it or know anyone that has?

I have an unfinished basement and would like an economical way to put this task to bed.

I like how you can just take a wall off if you need to get behind it.

The only thing I don't like is that the wall is really panels and isn't smooth but it seems like an ok trade off.

I found some clips on Bob Vila.com.

It would seem the labor would be less but maybe they charge more for material.

I've had water in my basement before so this seems great.

I'm not familiar with the system, but personally I'd be worried by the phrase "helps reduce dampness and mold."

I can't say I have any experience of this particular product but for a basement it seems a good idea given the extra water risks. Have you sealed the backing walls and floors? even so for future barrier treatments removable panels are certainly a lot less work than having to pull plaster or sheet rock down.

@lynx.

It is a finishing system not a waterproof barrier or foundation. It's not designed to be like a swimming pool liner. It's obviously different but try to think of it as mold resistant paint or wallpaper size/paste. Certain wallpapers or paints wouldn't last 5 mins. in a bathroom so one would use appropriate types for that moist environment. With a basement the moisture comes from outside instead of inside and if the external barrier loses it's integrity slightly over time this system should be able to cope with limited damage.

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Originally Posted by lynx

I'm not familiar with the system, but personally I'd be worried by the phrase "helps reduce dampness and mold."

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Well I know the drywall, if it gets on the bottom for instance, the wetness will creep up and can start to harbor mold.

From what I understand about this is that it is not made out of anything organic so mold has no place to harbor.

Look at Bob Vila clips.

Mind you, I don't like just listening to the words of the maker of the product and that's why I'm looking some independent opinions.

I've had water in my basement when the power went out for a long time and I had no back-up for my sump pump.

I plan on getting generator for that but having these type of special walls for basement would be a plus.

Hell, I can enclose my water heater and furnace with this stuff, it would seem.

I actually have this in my basement, but I didn't own the house when it was installed so I don't know how long it took to install. You can get behind the panels, but it's not as easy as you may think. You have to remove all the strips that border the panel, which usually means taking the plastic mouldings from the ceiling and floor and sides. Can be a pain b/c these are much longer than the panel you want to remove. Plus, the panels are made from fiberglass and you have to stick your fingers in through the sides and pull it out, which smushes the panel a bit and gets fiberglass on your fingers. The panels are $250 a piece (I think), so I'm not so sure it's economical.

Maybe you can install drywall and just make access panels to the areas you need to get to.

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Originally Posted by backlash

I actually have this in my basement, but I didn't own the house when it was installed so I don't know how long it took to install. You can get behind the panels, but it's not as easy as you may think. You have to remove all the strips that border the panel, which usually means taking the plastic mouldings from the ceiling and floor and sides. Can be a pain b/c these are much longer than the panel you want to remove. Plus, the panels are made from fiberglass and you have to stick your fingers in through the sides and pull it out, which smushes the panel a bit and gets fiberglass on your fingers. The panels are $250 a piece (I think), so I'm not so sure it's economical.

Maybe you can install drywall and just make access panels to the areas you need to get to.

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Yeah I need to find out the cost per sq. ft since some panels will be bigger than others. Maybe a "panel" is a fixed cost and size and you just cut it up from there.

All in all I'd rather be able to remove whole walls. I can enclose everything this way and just remove as needed.

HI,My wife had them come in to give a price 28x40 basement with wiring and it was 38,000.
This was about one year ago.
I didn't have it done.
I guess if they have more homes Installing it the prices will come down.
But it does look good.

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Originally Posted by mr.Dman

HI,My wife had them come in to give a price 28x40 basement with wiring and it was 38,000.
This was about one year ago.
I didn't have it done.
I guess if they have more homes Installing it the prices will come down.
But it does look good.

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:yikes:

My basement is bigger than that (not by a whole lot).

edit: They are coming on Wed. to give me an estimate. I think I'm going to get in a fight with the estimator.

If I get this done this year, I can get a $500 tax credit.

Research Spray foam insulation. That stuffs amazing, its a little costly but works like a charm.

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Originally Posted by Smith

Research Spray foam insulation. That stuffs amazing, its a little costly but works like a charm.

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Do you consider that a finished wall?:P


Why consider this?
I don't think it looks good at all, but maybe in real life (not pics) it might look alright.
What is it you need access to anyway?
Most of the things you need access to are either right at your electrical panel (which can be covered nicely with some sort of cabinet/doors) and next to your furnace (which you will build a room around).
Anything else like plumbing traps you can build small access doors to.

IMO for running future electrical the best idea is to run a 2inch pipe (pvc or that white pipe they use for central vac.) from your panel to different places in the basement (such as the furnace room), just meaning that if you ever wanted something added they use that pipe instead of ripping down your whole ceiling to drill through floor joists...

I find this site helpful for most DIY.:)

http://forum.doityourself.com/archive/index.php/

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Originally Posted by rossco

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Originally Posted by Smith

Research Spray foam insulation. That stuffs amazing, its a little costly but works like a charm.

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Do you consider that a finished wall?:P

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Right now in my house I would :P

The guy came to the house last night.

$56000.

:dry:

I'll do it but I'm not in a rush.

Contract's up next year and I'm getting married soon.

holy shit. 56000 to finish a basement?? that seems steep. Do the drywall and make access panels to everything you need.

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Originally Posted by Busyman™

The guy came to the house last night.

$56000.

:dry:

I'll do it but I'm not in a rush.

Contract's up next year and I'm getting married soon.

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Purely from an investment view-

Are finished basements a selling point in your specific area?

I ask because although townhouses would probably see a good return on a finished basement because of the location, land being at a premium and limited addition options, I seem to remember you are a little bit more rural and not short of lot space. Sure you would gain extra sq. footage but at that price would you get a better return if you did an addition instead?

How does your house compare to your neighbors? It would be harder to sell the most expensive house in the neighborhood as those that could afford the price tag would probably go for a smaller place in a more expensive area (Unless you are in the most sought after location in DC)


Congrats on the upcoming wedding dude........

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Originally Posted by vidcc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman™

The guy came to the house last night.

$56000.

:dry:

I'll do it but I'm not in a rush.

Contract's up next year and I'm getting married soon.

---

Purely from an investment view-

Are finished basements a selling point in your specific area?

I ask because although townhouses would probably see a good return on a finished basement because of the location, land being at a premium and limited addition options, I seem to remember you are a little bit more rural and not short of lot space. Sure you would gain extra sq. footage but at that price would you get a better return if you did an addition instead?

How does your house compare to your neighbors? It would be harder to sell the most expensive house in the neighborhood as those that could afford the price tag would probably go for a smaller place in a more expensive area (Unless you are in the most sought after location in DC)


Congrats on the upcoming wedding dude........

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Thanks, vid.:happy:

Houses around here are very expensive (just not as bad as LA or NYC).

I'm in

a rural area but barely

the Washington Metropolitan Area sorta near AAFB

near Fort Washington (the National Harbor is being built there)

many expensive HOA houses are nearby

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I really don't care about investment. I want better living space and I plan on staying here unless I move down south. It's not often one can find rural space in basically "the big city". I have one neighbor.

However ,as you alluded, an unfinished basement is not counted in the sq. footage when selling a house.

Some other good points of this type of basement:

The jobs takes approx. 10 days to 3 weeks to finish. Sheet rock basements take about 8 weeks.

Owens Corning has a lifetime warranty on the basement and it transfers to the new owners. Most can't say they have a basement warranty besides homeowners insurance.

So all-in-all as far as investment, as much living space as my first floor will added and the buyer of my home will get that space under lifetime warranty (Owens is probably not going out of business any time soon).