by Robert Walch

Sept. 1, 2010 — Although not many coastside homes have basements, there are still many dwellings built on hillsides where there is extra space beneath the current living area. If you have been thinking about doing something with this unused space, you may wish to take a look at Remodeling a Basement (Taunton, $19.95) by Roger German.

Newly revised, this “Build Like a Pro” book covers all the bases when it comes to doing something with a basement that is either still unfinished or needs a major makeover.

A general contractor for over three decades, the author first addresses evaluating walls and floors, checking mechanical systems and dealing with the water problems which are the bane of most basement projects.

He then discusses what can be done with the area — recreation room, extra bedroom, utility and workshop area — and how to approach design work and building code and permit issues.

The bulk of this hands-on guide is devoted to the nitty-gritty of actually doing the job yourself. You’ll find chapters on framing walls, plumbing and wiring, installing insulation and hanging sheetrock for ceilings and walls.

Once the heavy lifting is done, the final chapters delve into the finishing chores, such as setting doors and cabinets, floor coverings, installing baseboard and fitting closets.

There are plenty of illustrations, pictures and “pro tips” that will help the do-it-yourselfer handle each step of the project. However, while this book will give you a sense of the scope of the project, it probably won’t answer all your questions.

I would use it to get an overview of what a home-improvement job like this would entail. Then I would sit down with a contractor to see what is really feasible given my particular situation. This is very important if you are on a hillside and may have to begin by actually pouring a concrete floor.