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Basement Finishing
Finishing your basement can almost double the
square foot living space of your home. A finished
basement can include new living space such as a
recreation room, a game room, a bar and even
bedrooms and bathrooms.
Finishing a basement or
remodeling a
basement is also a relatively inexpensive
remodeling job as frequently outside construction is
not required. And since it is not a critical living
area it can be completed at a leisurely pace.
Consequently finishing a basement is a project that
do it yourself homeowners can tackle.
Prior to the start of finishing a basement, a do it
yourself homeowner should first develop a well
thought out finished basement construction plan. To
help in formulating a basement construction plan a
homeowner should carefully evaluate the condition of
their home's existing basement and what type of
living space they want to achieve in the finished
basement. Frequently when finishing a basement, the
mechanical equipment such as water heaters,
furnaces, and water and oil storage tanks will need
to be moved. With careful planning some of this
movement can be minimized.
When finishing a basement a homeowner should also
consider any water or moisture problems that do
exist or could exist in the basement. Perimeter
drains may be required. In addition the exterior and
interior concrete walls of the basement may need to
be sealed.
If a bathroom or wet bar is to be installed, then
plumbing will need to be carefully considered,
particularly if the home is on a private septic
system. A pump up waste water system may be required
and if so a portion of the existing concrete floor
may need to be removed to allow room for the drain
lines and pump-up system.
Lighting is another important aspect of finishing a
basement. If natural light can be installed, via the
installation of windows, then I highly recommend it.
Besides letting light in, windows also add character
to the finished basement. In addition, ceiling
lights should also be included in the finished
basement plans, and the more the better. Finally,
workspace lighting should be added where necessary
and each set of workspace lighting should be
controlled separately.
Ceiling height is another major concern when
finishing basements. Frequently homeowners elect to
go with dropped ceilings; however dropped ceilings
can significantly reduce ceiling height if not
carefully planned. A drywalled ceiling can preserve
more ceiling height and give a better finished look
to the basement, however careful planning needs to
be made for access points to valves and to kitchen
and bathroom plumbing traps.
Frequently finished basements include home theater
systems. Particular attention should be given to
electrical wiring for basement home theater systems.
Besides electrical wiring, there is speaker wire,
cable wire, and Cat-5 wiring that is typically
required for a quality home theater system.
With a well thought out basement remodeling plan a
finished basement can be major plus to your home,
both in personal utilization and resale value.
Addressing up front key items such as basement water
and moisture issues, as well as lighting and ceiling
heights concerns, can help to ensure you get the
finished basement you have been dreaming about.
For more help on finishing your basement, see
HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Basement Remodeling Bid
sheet. The Basement Remodeling Bid Sheet will help
ensure that your bathroom remodeling project goes
smoothly and you get the finished basement you are
looking for. In addition it will help to ensure that
finishing your basement will be accomplished on time
and on budget.
Over the past 20+ years Mark
Donovan has been involved with building homes and
additions to homes. His projects have included:
building a vacation home, building additions and
garages on to existing homes, and finishing
unfinished homes. For more home improvement
information visit
http://www.homeadditionplus.com and
http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Donovan
Are you looking for a basement remodeling
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