Basic Basement

Randy here! Building a basic basement on an empty lot is a snap. I've started on this 3x3 lot, but any size will do.

First you need to create a foundation (this will also work with the laticed deck found in the same place as the foundations in the build menu).

Next, you'll want to make sure you are on the lowest level of the house, and then you will need to delete the foundation leaving a one square pirimiter around the edges. Your basement area will be within the interior space that you deleted.

That seems easy enough, right? Well, on to the next step and here is where it can get a bit tricky. Don't worry, I will be here to guide you through the rest of the tutorial.

You will need to paint the interior of the walls with a paint or wallpaper that has a molding along the floor. This will be your depth guide for digging your basement. Personally, I prefer wallpaper as it seems to work a bit better, but any type of wallcovering with a kick molding should work just fine.

Next get out your lower terrain tool from the build menu. Start lowering the terrain a few clicks at a time. Remeber, slow and steady wins the race. I prefer to do this in a corner to get a better view, but it can be lowered at any point along the wall. Continue to lower a few squares until the molding along the bottom of the wallcovering is visable.

Don't worry it doesn't have to be perfectly even on all four corners. As long as the line along the wall is even, you will be all set.

This is that tricky part I was talking about earlier. Stick with me, we will get through it. Here is a tip to getting the depth just right...

If you can see ANY wall color under your molding youv'e dug too deep! Click undo...undo is your BEST FRIEND!

Now lets move on to lowering the rest of the floor.

Get out the level terrain tool and start from the corner and drag the mouse along the ground to bring the entire area down to the point you dug.

This might take a couple of times, but just work from the low point to the high points and you will get the job done. Rember NOT to lower the area within the one square pirimeter. And here is why...

When you lower the ground, it creates a slope from the normal ground level. The one square pirimeter will keep this slope enclosed in the foundation.

And viola! A hole in the ground! Kidding, actually it is almost your basement. Click back up to the main level of the house.

You might notice some funky floating tiles...but have no fear, Randy is here.

Just cover those bad boys with floor tiles of your choosing and poof!

They should snap right back into place.

Your probably asking yourself, "But Randy, now that it is all covered with floor tiles, how am I supposed to get into my new basement?" Well, with stairs of course!

First clear an area of four squares in your chosen location. A standard staircase will require at least this many squares of clearance. And I do suggest you use a standard staircase as it will not fit if your basement is too deep or too shallow. The staircases that extend to any size will fit no matter what, but may cause your basement to function improperly if it is the wrong depth. Once you have confirmed that a standard staircase fits, feel free to add any staircase you desire.

Click back down into the basement and place your staircase.

The final test is to send your sims down into the basement just to bbe sure everything is functioning properly.

And check it out! We did it!

Wait! I almost forgot to tell you. You can add rooms in your basement as you would on any other floor of the house.

Well, that does it, you can now create a basic basement for your sims homes. If you would like some advanced tips click below to continue one to part 2.

Back to Phishy Tutorials / Continue to Advanced Basement Tips