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 element of finishing your basement is taking care of waterproofing. A damp basement will not only ruin your furniture and furnishings, and produce that awful smell, but it can also decrease the value of your home by up to 25%. A completely dry basement is entirely possible by installing proper insulation that prevents condensation and moisture problems. After water proofing is done, look at ways to brighten your basement. Dull gray and brown colored paints are absolute no- nos. Look at light pastel shades like cream, ivory or yellow to bring in the light, and create an illusion of spaciousness. Open up existing windows to increase the brightness, and ensure good circulation of air. If you plan to use your basement for more than one purpose, like as a family room and an extra bedroom, demarcate these areas to establish boundaries, and to ensure proper flow in your basement. If you intend to continue using the basement as a storage area, designate a special storage closet or storage room to hold all your junk.
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.
Looking to extend home into back yard to add a laundry room, dining room, master bathroom & central HVAC. Roof & ceiling need to replaced as well as interior walls. Interior floors will need to be replaced part with carpet & part hardwood/laminate. Removal of small storage shed & repair to a larger storage shed & repair to roof of a detached open patio. Secondary, landscaping.
Fermina A
I need basement remodeling (app. 550 sq.ft) and stairs carpet replacement with laminate flooring, Painting entire interior (1280 sq.ft) and taking wallpaper out and replaceing it with paint in Kitchen and 1/2 bathroom.
Kirti P