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.
A damp and leaky basement is hardly the kind of place where you would like to spend any amount of time. Besides, the dampness can reduce the value of your house dramatically. Water proofing of your basement is the most important step in basement renovation. Through proper insulation, your basement finishing contractor will be able to control the flow of air, thereby reducing moisture. You will also need to install a sub floor over your existing concrete floor before you use floor coverings like rugs and carpets. Since the basement is home to the entire pipe work of the house, you will need to use your imagination to hide these pipes and wiring from visibility. False ceilings and special screens can hide these unsightly elements.
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.
Hi my husband and I want to convert our breeze way into a rec room. The area is 14' x 20'. I have pics if needed.
Mike D
I just purchased a home with a large, open kitchen and I would like to install a kitchen island. I've found a few online for approx $2000 and I'm wondering if an island built for my kitchen by a contractor would be less expensive.
Cristin H