Basement Remodeling
Did you know that the time you spend in your finished basement can be healthier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient if you consider the following steps?
* Improve the indoor air quality by correcting any damp basement problems and testing for radon before you begin the project to save money.
* Seal air leaks and install vapor retarders and insulation.
* Wrap your water heater and six feet of piping to save energy.
* Consider installing an ENERGY STAR labeled heating and cooling system, when replacing your existing system.
* Seal your ducts in unconditioned spaces are properly sealed.
* Consider installing ENERGY STAR labeled lighting to save money and energy, no matter what the space will be used for.
* Install ENERGY STAR labeled windows, doors, and skylights to save money and energy and increase your comfort.
* Make sure the dryer is properly ventilated if your laundry room is in the basement. Consider a clothes washer with the ENERGY STAR label for optimum cleaning that uses less water and energy to operate.
Basement Remodeling Finish: How to Use Your Basement
Author: Eugene Makeev
When you bought your pre-owned or new construction New York home, everything seemed to have fitted well. But as time goes by, you’ll find your home more and more cramped with little to no space at all to accommodate your family’s growing and changing needs. When faced with this issue, the most cost-effective solution would be to maximize your use of every square foot which is not optimally used within your house. This makes basement remodeling ideal.
The number of ideas on basement remodeling finish you could come up with is limited only to how creative you can get. In the planning stage, the total square footage of the area must be measured first. With this, you can opt to use the entire area for a specific purpose or have separating walls to create rooms for different functions. The measurement will also be used by your hired local contractor to estimate the materials and cost.
When brainstorming on which basement remodeling finish is best, you have to consider:
Will the planned finish be well accommodated given the measurements?
Is this the best way to take advantage of the privacy and isolation the space offers?
Would this give you and your family the greatest increase in quality of living?
And, is the return on the investment well worth it?
Whatever your way of living, personality, style and preferences are; there is a perfect basement remodeling finish for you. If you have teens in the house, a game room would be the best way to help you keep track of them as you would know exactly where they hangout and that is in your very own home. Home-based moms would now have the privacy and organization they need with their very own home office. Exercise buffs need not throw away cash on costly monthly memberships and gas as they can enjoy working out at their very own gym. Movies can be enjoyed with friends and family at the comforts of your home theatre. You would not have to deal with complaining neighbors as you can do your band’s practices in your soundproofed music room. And the possibilities go on and on.
A great tip would be taking advantage of the ready and easy access to plumbing. You could add up another bathroom, or a kitchenette into whatever your basement remodeling finish is. This would not only make things more convenient but could also help boost the value of your homes as well. Or you could even turn the whole area into your personal luxury spa.
But whatever basement remodeling finish you choose for the project, it is crucial to have your basement waterproofed first. Evaluate the area for issues that could affect the functionality and level of comfort the finish would provide. The methods and measures to be applied depends on the extent of water and moisture problems that the area experiences. You should also make sure to protect your investment. To do so, ensure proper insulation, ventilation and dehumidification; and provide monitoring devices and emergency power supply.
About the Author:
Eugene Makeev of Craftsmen Network has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in basement remodeling Brooklyn by matching their needs with prescreened basement contractors. Feel free to use our basement remodeling calculator.