Renovating Your Basement

Make your basement a living space
In many cases, a basement can be thought of as “found” living space in your house. If an unfinished basement or cellar can be renovated to become living space, you have for all intents and purposes increased the square footage of your house without moving. A remodeled basement will supply you with added comfort and convenience and can raise the future value of your house.

Renovating a cement or block makes always sense
Even if your basement is already finished, finishing again may still make sense. A previously underutilized basement spare bedroom may be transformed into that wine cellar you need, or a seldom used home entertainment may turn into the recreation room for the kids room you’ve always wanted. It’s a good possibility that if your basement has already been renovated either by the former resident, or by you a long time ago, much of the work and expense can be eliminated from the new project.

Is your cement or block dry?
It is critical to be sure your basement will stay dry before you start your basement remodel. Kick off your project by thoroughly reviewing the foundation walls, paying added attention to the corners and the area where the walls meet the floor. Engage a specialist to fill any cracks in the cement or block walls you might spot, and it would be an important investment to have the walls waterproofed prior to starting your renovation.

Cover the walls
No matter what sort of area you are designing, you must cover the foundation walls. To cover the cement or block walls, it is best to hire a dry wall contractor who will stud out the walls and install the drywall. Finished and painted dry wall can quickly give your unfinished basement space a warmer and more lived in look.

Build a beautiful floor for your basement
The cement basement floor can be covered with linoleum or ceramic tiles, or it may be carpeted. You can mull over having your contractor install an insulated floor above the concrete slab; enabling you to keep the finishing basement warmer and dryer. A well-constructed and handsome floor gives a finished basement the appearance of being an integral part of the residence, not just an afterthought.

Proper lighting
Basements are by their very nature dim, because they have little or no natural lighting. Proper lighting is of utmost importance to a well-done basement renovation. If the basement is partially below grade, try to install as many windows as is feasible to maximize natural light. The goal of basement lighting is to permit the homeowner to forget that he is in an area lacking windows, or at best, equipped with small windows.
Indirect lighting is the most effective way to light a basement, since it gives the area a more spacious feel, and provides the impression of higher ceilings. If the basement is completely below grade, the homeowner should use as much lighting as possible to avoid having the normally low-ceilinged basement feel like a cave.

Let your decorating whims soar.
Since your basement is for all intents and purposes a gift of, let your decorating whims soar. If your pocketbook can stand it, you can switch some chilly, damp storage area into a wine cellar, a home entertainment room, a cozy den, a home office - and increase the value of your home in doing so.

Frank Sarntarpia
Find info on kitchen remodeling ideas and all about advantages of solar energy.

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