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Room Transformation: The Basement

One of the top questions that is asked when taking a look at a new home is, “Is the basement finished?” If the answer for your home is “no,” you may want to consider transforming that unfinished space into a functional, enjoyable part of the home! Doing so can have a big impact on your home’s resale value, since it increases the amount of livable space in the house.

With that in mind, whether you’re considering hiring a pro or going with a DIY project, there are some important things to consider when planning on finishing a basement.

Keeping It Dry Is Key

A big challenge that comes along with most basements is moisture. Due to their subterranean nature, some basements are prone to damp air and even collect water from poorly planned drainage or cracked foundations. The first step to any successful basement renovation is to make sure that the conditions are as dry as you can possibly get them.

Between sump pumps, vapor barriers, smart drainage, and any necessary foundation repair, you should be able to achieve a satisfactorily moisture-free state within your basement. And once it’s dry, you’re ready to begin the rest of the project.

Warm It Up

Another problem that comes along with being below ground is that basements tend to get colder than most rooms in the house. Now that your basement is nice and dry, damp air won’t contribute to the problem, but you’ll still have to contend with the chill. Insulating will help you to keep the heat in, as will using a thick pile carpet with plenty of padding.

The exception, of course, is if you plan to install heated flooring – then you’ll want to use a thinner layer of carpet so that your flooring isn’t impeding the effectiveness of the heating system.

Mute Those Pipes

You never really realize how loud the pipes in your house are until you’ve finished your new recreation space in the basement and spend some time surrounded by all that running water. The key to avoiding this post-project misery is to mute the pipes before the drywall goes up. Have a friend or family member go through the house – flushing toilets, draining baths, running faucets – and listen for especially loud drainage areas. Once you’ve found the culprits, wrap the offending pipes in carpet padding and use a quality duct tape to secure your new sound barrier in place.

Make Space Overhead

If you’ve already got a lower ceiling in the basement, you’ll want to preserve every inch of overhead space that you can. With that in mind, opt for low-profile recessed lighting – or wall-mounted lighting – instead of ceiling fans or suspended globe lights.

 

 

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