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An unfinished basement can be a bit of an eye-sore, and an area of your home that you do not want to spend much time in. What if you could change that and make it one of the most frequented rooms in your home?
You might be looking around your basement thinking, how could I possibly re-invent this space? Dark, damp and dusty is not necessarily a place many people want to be in. Here is our step-by-step guide into the process of finishing your home basement.
Begin this process by figuring out what you want to do with your space. What works best for your lifestyle? Get the personal in-home gym you have always wanted or perhaps a home movie theater for the whole family to enjoy. If you do not have a preference, then you can build an idea based on how you want to customize your space.
You may just want finished floors, walls, ceiling, and better insulation. Then from there, you can play around with different ideas. We offer a free consultation and can give you a good idea of possible design layouts for your basement, especially when it comes to custom needs.
Tip: MAXIMIZE your space. Basements may look like they leave little room for improvement, but with a consultation, we can figure out how best to utilize your space to ensure you make the most of it.
While this is not the most “fun” part of the process, it is imperative that your basement is thoroughly inspected before starting construction.
Whether you were previously using your unfinished basement much or not, chances are it has not been inspected in a while. This overlook may have caused some common damages that need to be looked into such as; leaks, water damage, dampness, and infestations. Once those problems have been addressed, you can then move on to the stability of the area.
It is incredibly important to make sure that your walls, ceiling, and floor are capable of withstanding a finished space. Check that there is no damage to these areas as they may cause future problems if left neglected. An unstable foundation is dangerous to the structural integrity of not only your basement but your house itself.
You can determine if there is an unstable foundation by cracks in the walls. Your home is always shifting and settling as time passes, so these are not uncommon to find. No matter what issues may come up, we work with you to resolve them in a way that fits your custom design.
These are just a few of the key things we want you to consider when finishing your basement that will affect your overall plan.
Like anything else you do, safety comes first. Plan an escape or evacuation route into your basement. Is the only access point the door to your first-floor level? Consider adding a couple of windows at ground level that can be easily accessed in case of emergency. This is called an “egress”, a space where a firefighter in full gear can enter and exit with no complications. If your space allows it, a ground-floor door to the outside of your home may be a good option as well.
Tip: Most city codes require an “egress” if you plan on doing additional bedrooms.
Safety also includes testing your basement’s radon levels. This odorless gas is very common in homes everywhere and seeps in from surrounding soils. Uncontrolled levels can prove to be very dangerous. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to mitigate this…whether it be buying a testing kit or hiring a radon contractor.
Before getting any kind of work done, make sure you have the permit for it. In some cases, you may need a permit before doing any kind of additional plumbing or electrical work…especially if it affects the neighborhood you live in. You also may have specific requirements to fulfill to make sure you are keeping up to code. This is key, especially when it comes time to sell your home. Neglect could lead to failed inspections and will cost you more money down the road.
Want to add more value to your newly remodeled basement? These are some specifications we suggest when customizing your space.
Depending on how big your available basement space is, we suggest adding a bedroom or two. This will help add more value to your property and appeal to an even bigger number of potential buyers when you go to sell your home.
Also, adding the additional plumbing needed for a bathroom may be costly, but might be a worthy investment. Not only does an additional bathroom increase the value to your home, but it also is a big convenience factor for most people. When people spend time together in your finished basement, no one wants to miss out on the fun by going to an upper level to use a bathroom.
To get the most use out of your new basement, we recommend adding space for recreation. This allows more area for you and your family and friends to get together with one another. Whether it be a sitting, gaming or kids’ area…a space for recreation is important.
Is your current basement cluttered? Is it full of things you can not necessarily get rid of? No worries! When you finish your basement, add custom storage to increase your available space. This might look like built-in closets, cabinets, or shelving. We can work with you to design some of the most intuitive storage options for your basement.
Contact us today for a free consultation! We specialize in being at your side from project start to finish, design to completion…whatever your specific custom needs may be. We want your home remodel dreams to become a reality.