MORE LOCATIONSRedoing your basement is a great way to expand the useable area of your home.It can also increase the value of your home and attract buyers in the future.By finishing a basement, you also avoid future basement repair costs that result from unfinished basements – such as water damage and air ventilation problems.
There are dozens of options on how you can use this space to improve the daily quality of life for your entire family. The options are only limited by your imagination!
- Children’s playroom
- In-law apartment
- Home office
- Home gym
- Guest suite
- Game room
Expanding your living space and improving your basement is simpler than it may sound. The hardest part may be deciding what to do with all the new space…
You can remodel your basement – and transform your home – in just 7 easy steps:
1 – Imagine the possibilities
Deciding what you want to do with the space is the first (and maybe the most difficult) step
Do you want a den? A fitness center? Or maybe just a tranquil place to find some solitude within your home (man cave, anyone?)
Your decision will determine your choice of flooring, paint, and furniture later on
2 – Waterproof
- In basements, it’s vital to make sure that moisture is not an issue now and won’t be in the future
- Moisture leads to mold, unhealthy air, and the accelerated demise of your finished walls and floors (as well as furniture)
- A professional basement waterproofing contractor can inject wall cracks, repair floor cracks, and apply a concrete sealer that penetrates the pores in the walls and floor
- These measures will also prevent insect and radon intrusion
3 – Ventilate!
- A living space is only as good as the quality of air in it
- Basements tend to have damp, stagnant air
- The air in the basement can also affect the rest of the house(Did you you know that up to 50% of the air we breathe in our homes comes from the basement?!)
- A basement air ventilation system can expel that damp, stagnant air and replace it with warmer, drier air from the rest of the house
4 – Add Windows
- Windows allow for natural light and fresh air to enter the basement
- They can also serve as an egress (exit) in an emergency
- A professional can handle the messy work of cutting a large enough hole in your basement wall and complete any finish work involved
- A window well may need to be excavated if your basement walls are mostly below grade
- You might be able to add a staircase that leads down to the window for easy exit
- Make sure to get any buried utilities marked before excavation to avoid damage
5 – Choose Your Flooring
- Your prime concern with flooring should be moisture
- Avoid future issues by repairing any wall cracks and floor cracks, even if they are not a problem now
- A penetrating basement sealer can be applied to the walls and floor that will reach the pores in the concrete and keep out moisture
- Vinyl and ceramic tiles stay clean and dry
- Carpets add warmth and comfort
- Concrete floors can also be stained or coated with polymers that can save you money by simply using your existing concrete floor (some of these can also add to the protection of the basement due to their waterproofing qualities)
6 – Build Walls
- Your finishing process will likely require the building of new walls, or the renovation of old ones
- As you work on your design with your contractor, consider the great opportunity to add extra space-saving features such as large closets or storage areas
- Make sure to have the walls professionally built
- Using a mold-resistant wallboard is always recommended in a basement
- Finish the walls with the paint, wallpaper, or panels of your choice
7 – Do It Right!
As they say,”If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right”
- This means finding an experienced, reliable contractor who can do the work well and use high-quality materials
- To add value to your home, work with your contractor to have your finished basement blend smoothly with the look and feel of the rest of your home
- Consider matching your trim, moldings, walls, and doors throughout the interior
So, what are you waiting for?
A finished basement adds value to your home, prevents future problems from mold, poor air quality, and moisture.It gives your family more space to enjoy their time at home together.
In just 7 steps, your basement can be transformed. With the help of reliable experts, the hardest part will be deciding what to do with all the room!
Photo Credit – Flikr