Ask Mr. Fix it

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 usable space, you have in essence enlarged the square footage of your house without moving. A finished basement will supply you with added comfort and convenience and can increase the re-sale value of your house.

Remodeling a basement makes always sense
Even if your basement is already finished, renovating again may still be the logical thing to do. A previously unused basement home entertainment may be transformed into that wine cellar you need, or a infrequently used recreation room for the kids may turn into the spare bedroom room you’ve always wanted. Chances are that if your basement has already been finished either by the former resident, or by you a great while ago, much of the work and expense can be eliminated from the new project.

Is your basement dry?
It is critical to be satisfied that your basement will stay dry before you begin your basement remodel. Kick off your project by thoroughly reviewing the foundation walls, paying close attention to the corners and the area where the walls meet the floor. Employ a professional to repair any cracks in the basement walls you may see, and it is absolutely an excellent investment to have the walls waterproofed prior to starting your remodeling job.

Cover the walls
No matter what manner of room you may be planning your basement, you must cover the basement walls. To cover the basement walls, it is probably a good idea to employ a dry wall contractor who will stud out the walls and install the drywall. Freshly painted dry wall can immediately instill in your unfinished basement space a warmer and more inviting appearance.

Build an attractive floor for your basement
You can consider having your contractor install an insulated floor on top of the cement slab; assuring that you can keep the renovating basement warmer and dryer. The cement basement slab can be covered with linoleum or ceramic tiles, or it may be carpeted. A well-made and handsome floor gives a renovated basement the appearance of being an integral part of the residence, not just an add-on.

Using the correct lighting
Basements are inherently dim, because they have little or no natural lighting. Using the correct lighting is of utmost importance to a first-rate basement remodeling project. If the basement is to some extent below ground, try to install as large a quantity of windows as practical to maximize natural light. The end result of good basement lighting is to cause the user 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 feel, and gives the impression of taller ceilings. If the basement is completely below ground level, the homeowner should use as much lighting as possible to circumvent having the normally low-ceilinged basement feel like a cave.

Let your decorating whims soar.
Since your basement is in effect a gift of, let your decorating whims soar. If your pocketbook can stand it, you can convert some cool, damp storage area into a wine cellar, a home entertainment room, a cozy den, a home office - and enhance the value of your home in the process.

Frank Sarntarpia
Home Remodeling

Tags: house additions, home repair, landscaping, home improvement, home fix-up

Next Post: Top Contractors In Albuquerque, New Mexico

Comments are closed.