Having the ability to design your house exactly the way you want it is a huge privilege these days. Even though it can take a lot of time and money to get things looking how you envision them, it is often found to be well worth it in the end. Remodeling your basement might be one of the biggest projects that you ever take on, however with some expert tips it might not be as hard as you think. Here are some of those suggestions and tips to make this do-it-yourself project a little bit easier in the long run.
One of the biggest obstacles you might face when it comes to remodeling your basement is water issues. If there are any major signs of leakage anywhere, you will have to take care of that before anything else. The most important thing will be to make sure everything is kept dry before attempting to do any kind of construction down there, and make sure that there are no cracks in your foundation before you start.
Vapor barriers are going to be an important element to your remodeled basement even if you solve any water leakage issues that might be there. Basements can become very damp and cold, even if there is no water coming through, so putting up a vapor barrier is a smart move to keep out that extra moisture. It might be a good idea to lay some of this material out for a couple days just to see how much does come through before you move forward with your building plans.
Before starting to build, always make sure that you are working within the neighborhood code. In some cases, people are required to obtain certain permits before being allowed to build on the property, even if you own it. This is especially true when it comes to electrical work or plumbing, because that might need to be inspected beforehand.
Even if you find a way to keep almost all the moisture out, it is still likely going to be a very cold space in your house down in the basement. Adding some insulation is the best way to keep the outside temperature out of your basement and make it a tolerable, livable space to hang out in. An option for taking care of this issue would be to purchase spray foam insulation, but the best way would probably be to buy a kind of insulation with double-sided vapor barriers to prevent that moisture from getting inside.
Having easy access to your plumbing and electrical lines will be important, so it is a good idea to invest in some removable ceiling tiles that can both serve as concealers and access points. Even though not many homes have removable ceiling tiles these days, you might get the idea that doing this option will make your basement look more industrial than domestic. Don’t worry, there are plenty of designs and lights that you can get that will make you happier with this choice all while keeping it easy to fix the problems as they arise.
Especially during the winter, basement rooms can be extremely frigid. In order to allow more heat in the room, try putting some heating vents on the baseboards. Although before you jump the gun and do this, make sure that it is possible with your HVAC system installed in your home. If you are unable to put any heaters into the baseboards themselves, you might find that using space heaters are your best bet for keeping that room warm and cozy.
Written by Mike Wolfe of Mike Wolfe Construction. Mike and his crew offer the best service for home improvement Columbia MO has to offer!
