Things to Consider Before Remodeling Your Basement

If you want to increase the living area of your home in a cost-effective way, you should consider remodeling your basement. Basement renovation and finishing are a great way to add valuable space for enjoyment to your home. A basement finishing project can be of any size and purpose, such as creating a media room, family room, indoor games & entertainment space, home office, guest bedroom, or in-law suite.

Basement

So, if you want to finish your basement but aren’t quite sure where to start, we are here to help you. We’ve listed things you need to consider to tackle this project from start to finish in this post.

Determine your needs

The basement renovation cost starts as low as a few thousand dollars and can go beyond $80,000 depending on your needs. Whether you want to create a new high-end living space or looking for a simple finishing, your needs will determine the project’s cost. Therefore, first, you need to consider what exactly you want from the basement project. Though the type of finishing will determine the cost, much of the renovation cost also depends on the current condition of the basement. This means you need to consider the plumbing and electrical needs, walls, floor plan, moisture control, and other requirements as well. These key considerations will have a significant impact on the total project cost.

Consider the unique challenges of the basement renovation.

Unlike renovating other parts of the home, the basement project comes with unique challenges. Since basements are not built to be living spaces, you need to consider existing columns, ceiling vents, exposed pipes, and plumbing. It would help if you made sure that the home’s drainage is away from the foundation and that there are no leaks into the basement or moisture retention in the walls. Also, you need to think about the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. The materials used in finishing the basement should be able to withstand temperature and moisture. Moreover, basements are dark spaces due to few windows and doors, which means you need to think about proper lighting arrangements.

Think about aesthetics

Renovating and remodeling a basement is very different from renovating other parts of the home. To make it look aesthetically pleasing, you need to work and think differently. To make the basement an inviting gathering spot, you will need a proper lighting plan. Recessed lights, track lights, and pendants help eliminate shadows on surfaces. Moreover, you can add or enlarge basement windows and exterior doors for proper ventilation and natural lighting. To give your basement main-floor style look, cover the concrete with your choice of materials like plywood, paneling, or paint over the concrete. The solid wood flooring is not recommended for below-grade installations because it shrinks and expands, resulting in gaps or warping. Also, it would help if you chose the ceiling option which is best suited for your basement.

Amanda R. Dubose

Spent high school summers getting to know dogmas in Minneapolis, MN. Spent several years merchandising walnuts worldwide. My current pet project is researching Slinkies in Jacksonville, FL. Spoke at an international conference about testing the market for action figures in Hanford, CA. Spent the better part of the 90's lecturing about cellos in Orlando, FL. Spent 2001-2007 building sausage in Naples, FL. Tv fanatic. Internetaholic. Travel expert. Incurable zombie nerd. Coffee advocate. Hardcore web trailblazer. Gamer.