Many homeowners dream of finishing their basements. It’s not just a way to expand your home’s living space. Creating a room from the ground up is a rare opportunity for many. Having that much flexibility for the first time can be overwhelming. I wrote this post for you if you need help finishing your basement. As a starting point, consider the following basement remodel tips.
Prioritize Creating Useful Space
Even if you upgrade your basement, it must remain a highly functional space. Design should enhance rather than detract from functionality. Three rules to remember when planning your new layout. They are as follows:
- Any locations that require more seclusion should be walled off.
- In case of a leak, leave the area surrounding your water heater unfinished.
- To save money, keep your plumbing in place whenever possible.
The sky’s the limit after that. Consider all of the ways you want to use your completed basement before you begin your renovation. Perhaps you’ve been considering adding a guest room or another bath room, or perhaps there’s some unused space that might be put to better use.
Keep An Eye Out For Cracks
Look for any cracks in the foundation walls and floor. If cracks are visible, use a high-quality carbon fiber crack repair solution to address them first.
Carbon fiber is more durable than standard steel and is relatively simple to install. It offers a long-term solution to the problem and can be used for a range of tasks. Tasks like fixing gaps in floors and walls and reinforcing bowed walls. Prior to handling other parts, it’s critical to ensure structural integrity.
Install A Subfloor
Basement contractors must build living rooms that are comfortable, warm, and dry. Look for a tongue and groove tongue-and-groove engineered wood subfloor that can be installed quickly and easily. A high R-value product is essential. The higher the R-value, the better the material insulates the area.
Make A Detailed Plan
A well-planned basement remodel necessitates a precise design that you and the homeowner agree on. Sit down with the customer and draw a rough layout of the room so that you can both see how the basement will come together.
Do Not Construct On Top Of A Concrete Slab
Extreme weather events have become more common, resulting in an increase in the number of flooded basements. Many households are taking precautions to cope with basement moisture effectively.
Air circulation is an important part of moisture avoidance since it minimizes harmful moisture and mildew. Natural ventilation, windows, for example, and mechanical ventilation, ducts, fans, and vents, are both options to consider. Breathable building materials, such as a suitable subflooring product that encourages positive ventilation and maintains the final floor elevated off the concrete, should also be used.
Don’t Overlook The Importance Of Energy Efficiency
Homeowners often renovate with energy efficiency in mind. They seek out energy-efficient materials and solutions to save money while improving the comfort of their house. Basements that are uninsulated or insufficiently insulated can account for up to a third of total home heat loss.
Don’t Forget To Include A Good Drainage System
If a main floor drain isn’t enough, there are a few other options. However, installing a French drain through a concrete slab is expensive. Because all dirt around the house must be excavated to the depth of the footings, drain tiles can be laid along the foundation wall’s exterior. One more appealing option is a sump pump, which can be installed inside or outside the home and activates when the collection pit fills up.
Summary: Basement remodel tips
Many homeowners dream of finishing their basements. It’s not just a way to expand your home’s living space. Creating a room from the ground up is a rare opportunity for many. Having that much flexibility for the first time can be overwhelming. Even if you upgrade your basement, it must remain a highly functional space. Design should enhance rather than detract from functionality.
If you have any questions about basement remodel tips contact me today.