Finishing a basement is one of the most popular home improvement projects in the country today. Whenever there is a shortage of existing space, and adding a new room is not a feasible action, a basement renovation can give you all the extra space you need at a lower budget. Say for instance, you run a business or work from home, and especially need a home office to organize your work space. With just a few alterations, you can finish your basement to use as a home office. Finished basements can be used as home theaters, family rooms, game rooms for the kids, home gyms, entertainment centers or hobby rooms. If you are a wine aficionado, you can use it as a wine cellar to store your wines, and even turn it into a wine tasting den, and have friends over.
The first step towards a beautifully finished basement is waterproofing. Moisture problems in your basement can quickly lead to icky mold and mildew growing on the walls, peeling paint, musty odors, and cracked and crumbling walls. Even if your basement looks perfectly dry, it is advisable to take care of water proofing before basement finishing to avoid damage from flooding or leaks later.
The flooring too may have to be reinforced by laying a sub floor over the concrete basement floor. This provides a base for your other floor coverings. Use light colored paints on your walls to create an illusion of brightness. For finished basement that will have multiple uses, don't clutter the entire area with furniture and equipment. Instead, section off the basement into separate areas by using partitions, or putting up walls.
A basement remodel can proceed like clock work, giving you a beautiful and functional living space that meets all your needs. This can happen only if you plan out the project properly. Generally, a 4 to 6 month period is recommended for your basement remodel planning. Talk to each member of the family about their ideas for a finished basement, before you go hiring contractors. Layouts are difficult to change when you're half way through the project. For instance, the age of the people who use the basement most often must be considered. For instance, if you plan to have a children's play area, you also need a child friendly bathroom, non slip tiles, and simple and easy to clean furnishings. Besides, there are building code requirements to take care of. Expect unplanned for delays to take place, and factor in extra time to handle these.
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Hello, I'm buying this house with a special program FHA203K streamline, I need to provide the bank complete estimates for the renovations, I want a estimates to do a bathroom and add a french door (or Big window) in the living room so I can have a good view of your new pool. Thanks Ivis |
I am trying to budget adding a bathroom to my basement...home built in 1954 with 2 bed/1 bath...basement will be converted to daughter's space in a few years...possible add egress to make compliance with 3rd bedroom requirement also |