Basement Remodeling and Finishing

Basement Remodelingand Finishing

Let’s face it.  Thebasement is the most ignored part of the house. We only use it for storage, laundry and sometimes we forget that it’seven there.  What’s important to knowthough is that you can transform your basement into something better than astorage room or a laundry area.  It canbe a new office space, a new children’s play area, a new guest room.  All it takes is a few brilliant ideas, acontractor specializing in basement finishing and knowledgeable in buildingcode requirements and enough funds to bring it all together. 

There are many stages to basement finishing.  It’s not as simple as waving a magic wand tomake the worst conditions go away.  Hereare some steps to transform your neglected basement to a normal functioningpart of the house.

Inspection

The first step to your basement finishing is theinspection.  Through inspection, thecontractor will be able to discern and evaluate the kind and extent of repairs(should there be any) and recommend the appropriate solution.  All future plans for the basement is dependenton the result of the inspection.  Forinstance, if the basement itself is prone to dampness and moisture then itbecomes apparent that the area needs to be treated and repaired before any finishingcan be done.  Wallpapers may be out ofthe picture or the choice of flooring will also take this moisture intoaccount. 

Planning

The planning stage comes next.  Though you probably have an idea about whatto turn your basement into, minute details like the lay-out of the electricaland plumbing systems coincides with the repair of the basement.  That way, while the repairs are beingaccomplished, the placement of walls and flooring can be done at the same timeor immediately after.  At this point, itmay be necessary to consult with a general contractor or your preferredelectrician or plumber to finalize the plans.

This is also the time for choosing materials, furniture andfurnishings to decorate your basement.

Repair preparations

Once the inspection is over and done with, the contractorcan now begin to remedy the situation.  Sincethe basement is located at the bottom of the house, the number one problem ahomeowner should expect is the presence of moisture and over-all dampness.  Regardless of the extent of the repairs, acontractor’s priority is usually the waterproofing of the basement.  Both the walls and the flooring arecandidates for moisture so treatment of these problem areas is imperative.

Preparations for these areas will also be done according tothe over-all plan specified by the homeowner and in concurrence with aprofessional.  This way, time andfinances are both managed well.

Remodeling and Finishing

When the dirty work is finally accomplished, thebeautification of the basement begins. This part is basically called basement finishing because it’s like thetopping off of a building.  It’s thefinal stage before the project is ready for turn-over.  This is the time for installing floorcoverings, wall coverings, shelving implements and even the installation offixtures like toilets and showers if the basement is being converted into abathroom.