Basement Renovations

Basement renovations add value and space to a home. A finished basement space can be turned into a play room, family room, home office, spare bedroom, an exercise room, and or an extra bathroom.

A basement renovation can be more challenging than working on a room above ground. There are several challenges from space and lighting constraints to moisture and storage needs that must be addressed. With planning and creativity, however, you can turn a basement into the most used room in the house.

In general, many basements function as a home's storage area, and most are not equipped with closets. So not only is it challenging to find storage space for your new rooms, sometimes you also need to find a place to move your stored items before you begin remodeling.

Shelves and cabinets are key in any basement renovation. They turn a cellar into a workable, livable area. Be creative and use multifunctional furniture. Consider coffee tables that have hideaway storage under the top surface and ottoman cubes that can be used as seating and storage.

Most basements have awkward wall space under the staircase or near the bulkhead exit. Install custom shelves or cabinets in these areas to take advantage of every available inch.

If you need to use part of the basement for storage, install a sliding wall to partition off living area from storage area.

Since many basements, especially in older homes, were built for housing furnaces and storing vegetables, the staircases weren't built with comfort in mind. Many old homes have narrow, steep stairs leading into the cellar. The narrow stairwell becomes a challenge when you start to furnish your basement. Make sure you measure sofas, cabinets and fold out beds before you buy them and be sure they will fit down the cellar stairs.

Basements typically have very few windows and therefore can be difficult to light for reading, playing or other day-to-day activities. Standard floor and table lamps usually won't provide proper lighting for these activities. Use spotlights and track lighting to illuminate dark, shadowy corners, and hang pendant lights over seating areas to provide appropriate task lighting.

To make small windows appear bigger and brighter, hang mirrors on both sides of the window frame. Mirrors reflect light and make the room seem brighter. Another trick is to paint the walls a light color which also reflects the light. Dark colors, on the other hand, absorb light so stay away from them when you renovate your basement.

Many basements have moisture problems. They flood or they are dank and moldy. Flooding can often be solved by installing a sump pump. However if you have moisture in the concrete slab, or sub floor, you will need a moisture abatement plan. Moisture problems stem from seepage from the ground into the concrete or from condensation in the air caused by moisture that seeps in through cracks in the foundation. There are several different types of moisture tests that a general contractor can perform to determine how much moisture is in the slab and the air. It is important to know this information before you begin your basement renovations. Otherwise you could end up with a beautiful refinished room that smells musty and has a damp carpet.

Speaking of carpet, if you do have moisture in the subfloor, carpet may not be the best flooring choice. Consider a resilient floor such as sheet vinyl or even recycled rubber. These materials come in a variety of colors and can provide a nice cushion underfoot. Choosing the right flooring material is an important finishing touch to your basement renovation.

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