Advice On How Improving A Basement
Finishing Your Basement
Make your basement a living space
Often, a basement represents “found” living space in your house. If an unfinished basement or cellar can be finished to become functional space, you have for all intents and purposes enlarged the usable area of your house without moving. A renovated basement will supply you with extra comfort and convenience and will raise the market value of your house.
Finishing a basement makes always sense
Even if your basement is already finished, renovating again may still make sense. A previously ignored basement recreation room for the kids may be transformed into that spare bedroom you need, or a seldom used wine cellar may turn into the media room you’ve always wanted. In the lucky event that your basement has already been finished either by the prior owner, or by you a long time ago, a great deal of the work and expense can be cut out of the new project.
Is your basement dry?
It is critical to be satisfied that your basement will always be dry before you start your basement remodel. Kick off your project by inspecting the foundation walls, with particular attention to the corners and the area where the walls meet the floor. Engage a professional to repair any cracks in the basement walls you may see, and it would be an excellent investment to have the walls waterproofed prior to starting your renovation.
Cover the walls
It is not important what sort of area you might be remodeling, you must cover the foundation walls. To cover the basement walls, it is best to employ a dry wall specialist who will stud out the walls and install the sheetrock. Spackled, sanded and painted sheetrock will quickly provide your raw basement space a warmer and more welcoming appearance.
Build a beautiful floor for your foundation
You may think about having your contractor put in an insulated floor covering the concrete slab; assuring that you can keep the renovating basement cozier and dryer. The cement basement slab can be covered with linoleum or ceramic tiles, or it may be carpeted. A well-installed and handsome floor gives a remodeled basement the appearance of being an integral part of the house, not only a postscript.
Using the correct lighting
Basements are inherently dark, because they usually provide little or no natural lighting. Using the correct lighting is very important to a well-done basement remodeling project. If the basement is partially below grade, try to install as large a quantity of windows as possible to maximize natural light. The end result of good basement lighting is to permit the resident to forget that he is in a room without windows, or at best, equipped with inadequate windows.
Indirect lighting is the most natural way to light a basement, since it gives the area a more spacious appearance, and provides the impression of higher ceilings. If the basement is completely below ground, the remodeler should use as much lighting as possible to avoid having the usually low-ceilinged basement feel like a cave.
Let your imagination soar.
Since your basement is for all intents and purposes reclaimed, let your imagination soar. If your pocketbook allows it, you can change some dank, damp storage area into a wine cellar, a home entertainment room, a cozy den, a home office – and increase the value of your residence in the process.
Frank Sarntarpia
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