Basement Finishing Tips

By Author: Warren Gallagher
Total Articles: 19
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One of the most cost-effective ways of adding floor space to your home is basement finishing. Since the basement already has a floor, walls, and a roof, you only need to spend on finishing it to obtain extra floor space for a gym, home theater, home office, guest room, family room, children's playroom, recording room, or hobby center. However, you need to keep in mind that finishing a basement is not the same as finishing any other room in your home because the basement has some unique features. Whether you are finishing the basement of your home in Connecticut or remodeling it, you need to keep a few things in mind.

Unique Characteristics of Basements

All basements have fewer windows and, therefore, a lower amount of light and air. To ensure that the remodeled basement of your Danbury, CT, home is not dark and gloomy you need to pay special attention to lights. Make sure that there are plenty of general lights as well as special focus lights and dimmer lights depending on the purpose for which the basement is being remodeled. For instance, if you are planning on a basement home theater you need dim lights as well, ...
... while a playroom will need plenty of bright, cheerful lights.

Basements can also accumulate humidity at a faster rate. Apart from ensuring that the basement is waterproof before you start remodeling it, you might need to install a dehumidifier. Humidity is bad inside your home even if there is not any electronics or clothing in that room or space. Humidity by itself can instigate the growth of mold which only leads to other problems, respiratory and so on.

Many basements have supporting pillars. When designing the basement remodeling for your Greenwich, CT, home, you need to take these pillars into account. One effective way of using the pillars is to incorporate them in the design and give your remodeled basement an industrial look.

Most basements have wires, pipes, and ducts connected to the utilities that are placed in it. When remodeling the basement of your Litchfield home, you need to take care that access to the furnace and other utilities is not hindered. Also, by installing special ceiling tiles that can be detached to access the wire, pipes, and ducts, the maintenance work will be easier and not damage the finish of your basement.

Great Features for Basements

While every homeowner has unique requirements for their basement a few features will make the basement more convenient to use. For instance, installing a bathroom in the basement will reduce the need for frequent trips upstairs and make people more willing to use the remodeled basement. Similarly, a small refrigerator and a hob can enable people to brew themselves a cup of tea to help themselves to a drink without having to trudge upstairs as well.

County Permission

Before you start your basement finishing project obtain the necessary permits from the county planning office. Many counties require basements that are being converted into living space to have egress windows. By obtaining the permission and making the necessary modifications before the finishing work starts, you will be able to concoct a better design for your finished or remodeled basement.

Total Basement Finishing of Connecticut specializes in basement remodeling in Greenwich, CT and other surrounding areas. Visit them online for a free basement finishing estimate.