Basement Remodeling

If you live in a home that has an unfinished basement, chances are good that you have thought about basement remodeling. If you have ever been in a basement that has been finished and remodeled, you know that this process can add much to your home. Many people turn their basements into dens, recreation rooms, or home theaters. Basement remodeling is also good for growing families.

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Why Do Basement Remodeling?
If you have space in your basement, and it is unfinished, you might consider it a waste of space. After all, the basement is part of your home, and it is usually easily accessible from the rest of your house. Having all of that space down there and being unable to use it is very frustrating. Many people do basement remodeling because they would like to be able to finally use their entire home. Basement remodeling increases the property value of a house because it gives you more livable space. The space can be used for just about anything, which means that your basement remodeling project can be tailored exactly to your needs.

Increasing the amount of livable space is perhaps the most common reason to do basement remodeling. For a husband that has a huge collection of bowling trophies, or the wife that really needs a room in which to do her scrapbooking, basement remodeling can be a great project. Many families allow their teenagers to move into basement rooms as they get older, which gives them more privacy and more independence as well. No matter what your particular reasons might be for doing basement remodeling, there are several important things for you to remember.

Flooring and Basement Remodeling
The first step in doing a basement remodeling project is to evaluate the flooring situation and see what should be done. Many unfinished basements come with concrete flooring. If the floor is level and stable without any cracks you can work with it. However, if the concrete in the basement is heaved at any point, cracked at any point, or crumbling at all, it will need to be replaced before you can finish the basement remodeling project. Therefore, fixing or replacing concrete flooring is the first step in a basement remodeling project. Basement remodeling costs are often very high when the flooring must be fixed or replaced.

Once you are working with a smooth concrete floor that is in good condition, you need to decide what to do with it. Flooring can be laid over concrete as long as you pay attention to the types of flooring you are using. Tile, carpet, and linoleum can all be laid over smooth concrete. Remember, however, that this process is slightly different from laying flooring over wood.

When you are putting down carpet over concrete, you will need thick padding to insure that the floor is soft and comfortable for your room. When you are laying down linoleum or tile, you will need special glues and equipment to attach it to the concrete. Be sure that you check with your hardware store when you purchase your flooring in order to be sure that you have purchased the correct flooring for concrete.

Walls and Basement Remodeling
Most unfinished basements also come with concrete walls. Therefore, a basement remodeling project must also include putting up real walls that can be painted and used. Drywall is the best technique for creating real rooms and finishing your basement. Installing drywall is a job either that you must already know how to do, or that you must learn how to do as you go. It can be tricky, so it might be a good thing to turn over to the professionals. If you are doing your basement remodeling project entirely on your own, you might consider finding a book or DVD that will explain the drywall process to you before you begin.

There are other options if you do not wish to do drywall. Some people simply put up paneling over the concrete walls. This can look good temporarily, but it does not adequately finish the basement. For instance, you cannot install light switches or sockets with paneling. Also, it can be very hard to attach to the concrete. It is often used as a "quick fix" for basements that have been partially remodeled.

Remember that if you are planning on using the basement for bedrooms, it is safer to also install egress windows. If you will be renting the basement for an apartment it is your legal responsibility to make sure that there are egress windows. Egress windows will also help open the basement up and make it feel more like a real room. Therefore, you might consider installing these before you finish the walls.

Ceiling and Basement Remodeling
With a true unfinished basement, there will be a beam ceiling. This is the underside of the floor above the basement. If you are remodeling your basement, you will need to hang a ceiling so that it can be a truly finished basement.

Hanging a ceiling is tricky. You can usually buy ceiling panels at a hardware store, but in order to make them stay you will need to install framework. Again, this is a process that you should know beforehand, or be willing to work hard to learn as you go. The ceiling should be installed so that there is enough room for any wires or pipes to run freely within it. Be sure to also leave some panels open or accessible so that you can service these wires and pipes as need be.

Drywalling the ceiling is also a possibility instead of hanging ceiling tiles. If you have already worked on drywalling the walls, you might be able to do the ceiling as well. Your hardware store or home improvement book will be able to give you some good tips about doing the ceilings.

When you hang a ceiling in an unfinished basement, you are going to lose some height in the room. Therefore, you should carefully measure the height of the room with the ceiling installed, so that you can be sure the room will be exactly what you need it to be. Some people prefer not to finish the ceiling because they do not want to lose that height. In this case, they might paint the beams and pipes and wire coverings so that they match with the rest of the finished basement and still look appropriate.

Heat and Electricity and Basement Remodeling
The basement in your home was most likely dug out as the home was being built. Most of the time, the only electricity in unfinished basements is the electricity that runs in the ceilings. This will probably mean a bulb here and there, and these bulbs might also have sockets attached to them. This is usually the best way of having electricity in an unfinished basement. Therefore, when you are doing a basement remodeling project, you need to be aware of the fact that the entire basement will most likely have to be rewired. In order to use that space, you will need light switches, electric sockets, and real light fixtures.

Electricity is a tricky thing to install on your own. Therefore, unless you have a background in installing or rewiring, it is often a good idea to seek the help of a professional. A professional can easily rewire your basement, and you will know that it was done safely and correctly.

Heating is often easier than electricity in basement remodeling projects. Most of the time, there is already a heat source in the basement. Modifications can be made to this heat source in order to allow you to have heating ducts in the basement. It is, however, also something that should be handled by professionals. Trying to do heating or electricity on your own can lead to fires or other problems.

Drain Tile and Basement Remodeling
There are often going to be problems with basement remodeling that you might run into even before you start. If your basement leaks or floods, there is no sense in remodeling it until you have made adjustments to it. If you remodel your basement and then it leaks, you will have wasted much time and money. Therefore, if your basement leaks or gets damp during any time of the year, you might want to explore drain tile before you begin.

Drain tile can be installed along the base of your basement, or even along the outside of the basement. It is something that is best installed by professionals. It can also be costly. However, drain tile usually prevents any moisture from getting into your basement. Therefore, it will allow you to continue with your basement remodeling project.

Basement Remodeling and Mold
Many basements come standard with problems such as mold. If you have a moldy basement, there are things that you must do before you begin your basement remodeling project. If you allow mold to remain as you do carpets and walls, you will find that the mold gets worse and spreads. All of your hard work could be ruined by allowing mold to still be in your basement.

Before you begin your basement remodeling project, be sure that you have investigated your entire basement and checked for mold growth. Any that you see should be attacked with cleaners and bleach. Often, mold grows as a result of damp concrete, so putting up drywall and finishing the floors will stop the mold from returning. However, you must be sure that you have removed all of the mold before you begin the remodeling project. This will help you guarantee that it will not return.

Basement Remodeling and Pests
Another thing that is often found in unfinished basements is pests. Mice, spiders, and other bugs like to make basements their homes because they are damp, dark, and are not used often. Before you begin your basement remodeling project you should inspect the basement for pests. Seal any cracks in the windows or walls in order to be sure that pests cannot continue to come in. Also, spray for pests and remove as many as you can. A good way to cut down on pests naturally before your basement remodeling project is to have a cat move in for awhile. If you do not have a cat, see if you can have one come live in your basement for a few weeks. This is a good alternative for those who do not wish to use many chemicals or sprays in their home. You will find that the amount of spiders and mice is greatly reduced with the addition of a feline.

Most finished basements will not have problems with pests because they are no longer damp or dark or unused. However, if you do find that you have spiders or other pests returning after you have finished your basement remodeling project, it might be a good idea to get your home professionally inspected by an exterminator.

Decoration Tips for Basement Remodeling
Decorating your now-finished basement is going to be the most fun part of your basement remodeling project. Remember that you will have to choose floor colors as well as wall colors. Lighter colors always look better in a basement because they make the spaces appear larger. There are also tricks that you can use to help the basement feel like a room on the upper levels of the home. For instance, if you have small windows instead of egress windows, you can hang long curtains to cover them. The length of the curtains will make the windows appear larger.

Painting a mural or using lots of bright art work is also a good idea for decorating finished basements. You can create a scene that will pull attention away from the fact that it is a basement.

When you are adding furniture or other things to a finished basement, you should try to make them as warm as possible. Warmth is something that will help make a basement feel like a real part of your home. Therefore, light colored walls and darker, rich furniture will help you create that truly inspiring extra space you have always wanted.


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