How to renovate a basement, step by step

[Jockiebear]

What possibilities!

Exactly! Today we finally decided how the bathroom will look, drew it in the room with spray paint. It will probably turn out well

 

[Jockiebear]

I have another question that I hope to get support with:

Interior walls in the basement.

1) I understand that I need to strip the walls completely. But how can you easily remove wallpaper from a previously plastered wall? I spontaneously want to avoid adding moisture.

2) How do you remove the paint easily? It seems to remain a type of rubber membrane.

3) I will knock down loose plaster and then try to recreate new plaster. What type of plaster should be used? And paint afterward? Silicate?

3.b) The plaster at the bottom in some places has been very damp - is it just a matter of knocking it down and bringing in a dehumidifier?

I'll attach a few mediocre pictures to better show the current status.

#BasementWall
#plaster
#cooler

 

[cpalm]

Exactly how would you build it, step by step? I don't have a direct need for EPS concrete itself, I would also be open to, for example, laying boards (but how do you make them completely tight in all the nooks and crannies?)

Check here: https://www.husgrunder.com/renovera-husgrund/grava-ur-kallaren-och-isolera/#gravaur
There is a lot you need to consider and many potential challenges that can cause trouble.

But the construction summarized:
10 cm of compacted washed macadam at the bottom as a capillary-breaking layer and leveling.
30 cm EPS foam boards.
10 cm reinforced concrete with underfloor heating.

Then, as mentioned, there are endless variations of this. Foam, EPS concrete, Isodrän, Leca, cell glass, etc. Floating or casting the floor. But my conclusion is that ordinary EPS boards and reinforced concrete are the cheapest and provide a very good insulation value for a given total thickness.

If you compare the construction you were advised on, for example: (10 cm macadam) + 10 cm EPS concrete + 5 cm float vs. (10 cm macadam) + 5 cm EPS foam + 10 cm concrete, then 5 cm EPS foam provides 30% better insulation value than 10 cm EPS concrete.

Since you intend to insulate so little, you might consider XPS foam, which has slightly better insulation value and, as a bonus, better load-bearing capacity.

It won't be completely waterproof, and that's not something you want to strive for in this case. The important thing is that you don't get capillary moisture transport between the ground and the floor, which the capillary-breaking macadam layer ensures.

 

[Jockiebear]

Hey,

I've been away a bit and busy with the house. But wanted to give a quick update;

The slab is laid out, and we've hauled away a couple of hundred wheelbarrows of stone and cement.

I've then dug out and removed larger irregularities. Also replaced all the drainage and laid new ones where we will set up a new bathroom. Also prepared for a well where the boiler will stand, which wasn't there before. The well is coming anytime. And drainage for the laundry room.

Then filled it in and started leveling.

Tomorrow, we'll compact and add gravel to level it further. After that, plastic and tape, and prepare for the foam insulation.

I've also ordered a pump truck for casting, so it feels like we're heading in the right direction.

Started working on the wallpaper in the "kids' rooms" downstairs. There were two and three layers of wallpaper, so I understand the walls have had a tough time... but not everything is coming off easily, not sure how to proceed there. Diamond grind down and replaster?

 

[Jockiebear]

Hi gang,

Another question:

Now that we’re about to pour a new cement foundation, there are XPS blocks and a vapor barrier underneath. Then we’ll install underfloor heating pipes, 4 cm. I'm wondering if we should put some foil on the cement so that the heat is reflected upwards instead of downwards into the cold slab.