DIY'ers, help needed

[White Out 403]

Hey all. I'm about as useful as tits on a boar, to quote on my favourite movies, and I need some advice. I have an unfinished basement and we won't be able to afford to finishing it for a few years at the least, but it's now become my home office. I installed a couple of baseboard heaters but they're not powerful enough for the basement which is around 800 sq feet with high ceilings.

So, what I need to do is get creative to keep myself from not freezing. I thought of some sort of temporary walls? Is that something people do? What kind of possible solutions are out there that are feasible do to divide off an area but not involve framing and drywalling?

[btimbit]

What do you have on the floor? Is it just bare concrete?

[dino7c]

can you afford a NG fireplace? It could be incorporated into future development plans.

[White Out 403]

What do you have on the floor? Is it just bare concrete?

Concrete floor

can you afford a NG fireplace? It could be incorporated into future development plans.

We have one on the main floor, is hooking on to the gas line an expensive/difficult proposition? That's actually not a bad idea our fireplace upstairs is super super hot and NG is way more cost effective than the BB...

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Post a picture of what you're working with. Especially the walls and any rough in work for electrical / HVAC they might have done.

[REDVAN]

I have a partially finished basement with electric baseboard heaters installed here and there.

I have walls boarded though...

Main advice: get something on the floor asap. I have dricore down, on top of that I put some scrap carpet and it's not too bad.

[transplant99]

Get the floor covered as mentioned....then if you can hang poly/plastic around the area it should help in retaining heat around the desk.

https://www.negairmachines.com/images/containment/surface-shields-dust-shield-containment-kit.jpg

[calumniate]

Consider opaque plastic for added privacy!

[GoinAllTheWay]

Close all the heat vents on the upper floors and open em wide in the basement. Screw the highfloor folk, they're trying keep you down!

[KTrain]

If it's going to be a years long solution, you might want something that doesn't look like you're about to commit a Dexter style murder.

Maybe combine that with some curtains to soften the look and has the added benefit of reducing any echo during Zoom meetings.

[White Out 403]

Get the floor covered as mentioned....then if you can hang poly/plastic around the area it should help in retaining heat around the desk.

https://www.negairmachines.com/images/containment/surface-shields-dust-shield-containment-kit.jpg

This looks like I'm going to explain 80's music to people before I chop them up

[bc-chris]

what about some moveable dividers? i made these for my shop - simple 1x4 construction with insulation in between each 1x4 (i wanted it for sound absorption). then just covered it with the cheapest tan fabric i could find at the fabric store.
mine are about 6'6" tall, but you can easily make them floor to ceiling. you could use some heavy poly as a 'door' and that would help keep the heat in.


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51869265795_1a7574eb91_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2n2vxC8)IMG_0396 (https://flic.kr/p/2n2vxC8) by bc-chris (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61687172@N05/), on Flickr


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51868613341_f2ab4f653a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2n2scEV)IMG_0398 (https://flic.kr/p/2n2scEV) by bc-chris (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61687172@N05/), on Flickr

[Diemenz]

Holy resized pictures!

I went through a similar issue but the basement wasn't as bad as your issue. First thing that helped was getting something on the floors like mentioned. I used a bunch of carpets that I had from previous and that was a huge help. I have since corrected it with having additional vents installed in the basement and it has been smooth sailing since.

[Shazam]

This looks like I'm going to explain 80's music to people before I chop them up

I don't care what people think of you in the hockey forum, this is hilarious.

[White Out 403]

bc chris thats awesome man. im going to see what i can figure out based on that

[DoubleF]

bc chris thats awesome man. im going to see what i can figure out based on that

If those dividers don't work the best or are too expensive, what about some form of a temporary canopy or tent (ie: ice fishing tent) to use to trap the warm air? Additionally, a small portable ceramic heater to point directly at you as needed might help as well (vs the base board heater just warming whatever).

[Fuzz]

If those dividers don't work the best or are too expensive, what about some form of a temporary canopy or tent (ie: ice fishing tent) to use to trap the warm air? Additionally, a small portable ceramic heater to point directly at you as needed might help as well (vs the base board heater just warming whatever).
So, uh, a grow tent....


https://bestledgrowlightsinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/51g9pteEQCL.jpg

[DoubleF]

So, uh, a grow tent....


https://bestledgrowlightsinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/51g9pteEQCL.jpg

Grow lights and heater help to double it up as a sauna/tanning station? Nice. :D

[topfiverecords]

If it's going to be a years long solution, you might want something that doesn't look like you're about to commit a Dexter style murder.

Maybe combine that with some curtains to soften the look and has the added benefit of reducing any echo during Zoom meetings.

Sounds like they'd commonly be related.

[Since1984]

You can also try this fancy yet fun option:

https://www.everblocksystems.com/everblock-simple-wall-kit/

[Fuzz]

Grow lights and heater help to double it up as a sauna/tanning station? Nice. :D
Plus you can safely take off your tinfoil hat when in it. It's really the perfect solution, here.

[Shazam]

Source Office Furnishings used to have partitions on casters that would've worked great for you (we have some at the office), they don't seem to offer them anymore. Ah well.

[CaptainCrunch]

I was going to say the same as before, pick up office dividers, they're like under $200.00 per and throw a nice rug on the floor.

[CaptainYooh]

Bare concrete floor is a huge heat loss contributor. I suggest the following:


buying a couple of office soft divider walls at an office furniture auction to delineate your workstation space ;
line the workstation space floor with half-inch cork sheets (for insulation) and rubber or carpet mat(-s).
install baseboard heaters inside the workstation.

That should keep you reasonably warm.

[DoubleF]

I was going to say the same as before, pick up office dividers, they're like under $200.00 per and throw a nice rug on the floor.

Isn't the issue with office dividers is that they're not exactly great at ensuring that the heat doesn't leak into the rest of the basement from the baseboard heaters? This was the original issue I believe. I don't think OP mentioned any issues with privacy or noise, just temperature.

I think OP needs a combination of a set up to trap the warm air ("ceiling" to floor) as well as potentially a method to direct the hot air into a vessel to trap it (as opposed to a baseboard heater which is kinda undirected). All this without building fixed walls.

Because it seems to be temperature only, OP might even be able to remedy the situation without any form of walls like a Kotatsu type set up.

[tvp2003]

If your concrete floor is in good shape I'd suggest subfloor tiles (see https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/categories/floors/flooring-tools-and-accessories/underlayment-and-surface-prep.html) -- they're pretty easy to install (and uninstall) and don't require special tools or skills, especially if it's just a small space.

Also, instead of poly/plastic wrap, I think hanging some thicker curtains from the ceiling joists might help as well.

[surferguy]

I’d try and get a canopy tent as suggested (like you see at a market) and then hang curtains or drapes/fabric off the sides all the way to the floor.
Some plywood down and carpet on top and you’ve got yourself a nice home office.


Easy to set up

Extra Bonus - every time fabric goes to 50% off you can redecorate!

But seriously - that may just be your cheapest, easiest option

[puffnstuff]

Like tvp2003 said, get those subfloor tiles. Used them on the unfinished concrete floor in my shop in the basement, huge improvement. And then get yourself some lined drapes tacked up, good to go.

[photon]

We used the rolls of underlayment seen on tvp2003's link then put some thick laminate over it and it worked great. Can still put down a rug or not.

Also put in a smaller gas fireplace down there something similar to this: https://www.napoleon.com/en/ca/fireplaces/products/fireplace-products/gas-fireplaces/park-avenue-series

That thing heats it up quite fast.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I'm also about as useful as tits on a boar.

But I've been voluntold to help renovate the basement. My father in law has lend me tools and shown me some basic stuff.

Since I've done a ton of stuff, new shelves, flooring in the laundry room, drywall around the washer/dryer, cabinets and shelving in the laundry room.

I'm currently doing the basement bathroom over.

New floor, added/replaced some drywall, first coat of pri er went on this evening.

It's really not as hard as you think. Especially when you notice how much people don't notice your mistakes.

I'm happy to help give amature advice. CP has been amazing answering my green questions. Hell I have a working sump pump because of the folks on here.

Figure out what you want to do. Then you can slowly work toward it.

Trust me, we'll help where we can.

What do you want it to be? Start small. Little by little.

I'm hoping in a few years to have my basement bar with drought on tap. Slowly working my way toward that.

[8 Ball]

Lay down some good one side plywood to whatever configuration you want. Top it with cork flooring. Put up some acoustic partitions (hopefully find them cheap, used online). Cheap lamps for lighting, and an electric oscillating heater. You will also need one of those plastic things for under your chair. When it comes time for the basement development, nothing is permanent, so you easily dumpster or sell /donate it.

[indes]

Just need a couple of walls, made of plywood, drapes or anything really and a forced air heater. Baseboards are horribly inefficient, especially in a cold basement. A decent 1500w oscillating heater will make a huge difference.

[RichieRich]

Just need a couple of walls, made of plywood, drapes or anything really and a forced air heater. Baseboards are horribly inefficient, especially in a cold basement. A decent 1500w oscillating heater will make a huge difference.

I have the sub floor w laminate on top, proper walls, approx 10’x10’ space, and an oscillating ceramic 1500W heater. Between the lighting computer monitor and myself it’s more than sufficient to heat the room and keep it warm. Just rather chilly in the morning and that floor is cold so slippers or sandals are comfy. Plus it’s quite noise proof both ways so I can have good tunes going when needed.

[Sliver]

Be honest. You're making a jack shack, aren't you?