Basement Renovation
A finished basement can be a great place where you can entertain
your family and friends by putting in a recreation room which
includes a pool table, ping pong table, pinball machine, and/or
dartboard.
Before a basement renovation you should:
1. Look for basement foundation cracks. Hairline cracks in the
basement can be the fault of improper curing where as large
cracks are most likely caused by settling. Both can be repaired
with hydraulic cement if the crack is not active i.e. whatever
caused the crack is no longer an existing problem. If the
basement crack is still active then the crack patching may be
re-opened later.
2. Look for basement moisture problems. Moisture problems may be
tough to fix. Water is persistent and can make its way through
the basement walls that are considered permeable. An easy way to
test water problems is to tape a piece of aluminum foil to
various places on the basement walls and floors. Seal the edges
of the foil tightly and leave in place for several days. After
several days, if moisture droplets appear beneath the foil then
moisture is going through the basement masonry. If the moisture
appears on top of the foil, the problem is condensation from
basement humidity. Look for other water problems by looking in
the underside of the basement's first subflooring for signs of
leaks. Fix any faulty pipes and fixtures. Look for brownish
stains on the basement subfloor and sides of the basement
joists. This will indicate active or an old leak that has been
repaired. If the stain is spongy, an active leak exists.
Basement renovation planning is key to the success of your
basement. For instance, if you decide you want a wetbar and/or
bathroom, you will need to have the plumbing done first. This
would be a top priority because the plumbing usually goes
beneath the cement floor. After the plumbing is completed, you
need to plan and install the electric which may include hiring a
certified electrician. Your plans should include enough
electrical outlets, telephone lines and cable hook-ups. These
will be used for your television(s), lamp(s), computer(s),
electronic games, and a computer modem. Once installed, you must
decide on paneling, dry walling, or painting to cover your
cement walls. Although paneling might be cheaper, the refined
look of drywall makes it the material of choice for finished
spaces. Paneling can look dated and does not always last long.
The next phase in your plans should be the stairwell. Some
professionals suggest you should open up the stairwell and
install a banister because a basement typically features
stairwells that are enclosed. By opening up the basement
stairwell you remove some of the basement like atmosphere. Some
designers would like to see the doorways of the basement widened
and employ arches and columns to dress them up. Examples include
French Doors for privacy or a partial separator using decorative
glass to add elegance to the basement room.
When looking at windows, if applicable, add as many as you can.
Basements tend to be dark and gloomy but with more natural light
it becomes a better and well lit area. If windows are very
limited, look into security and use glass block windows. When it
comes to artificial lighting, the choices are fluorescent
lights, table lights, floor lamps and ceiling lights. If your
budget allows, stay away from the fluorescent lighting since it
is not the most appealing in design.
When installing the ceiling, stay away from suspended ceilings
because they make the basement look like a basement. Consider
using tray ceilings. When choosing the color for painting, use a
light, bright, or dramatic color scheme. With these colors, you
can turn that dark gloomy basement into a room that opens and
brightens.
The basement floor is always cold since it is in direct contact
with the ground. Look at having a subfloor between the concrete
and flooring space. This will make it a warmer and dryer living
area and a smooth surface for your carpet or flooring of your
choosing. If a subfloor is not in your plans and you are using
carpet, get plenty of padding to put under the carpet. Try to
have a storage room added, maybe around the sump and furnace
area. This would be convenient for all those things that can't
be thrown out. Think about adding shelves to this room to keep
it fairly organized.
To control noise, have thick wall to wall carpeting and a high
quality pad can absorb much of the sound. You can use sound
deadening material below any underlayment or subfloor. This is
nice especially if the basement is used for a bedroom or office.
An easy way to reduce noise is by installation of thick
insulation between ceiling joists.
In below-ground basement renovations, should you want to add a
kitchen or bath you can tie into the plumbing system that is in
place above. You can buy toilets and lavatories that are
specifically designed for below grade applications.
After your basement renovation are complete, start adding the
"toys" that will make it an enjoyable area where you get away
from it all.
About the author:
K Hoyng is the web master and operator of www.quickcash2u.com
which is a good source of information for remodeling and much
more information. Visit this site at
http://www.quickcash2u.com/basementremodeling.html
K. Hoyng
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