What To Consider Before Making Basement Renovations
It’s always fun to transform a part of your home into something new and exciting. Basements especially can undergo impressive transformations, going from drab and damp spaces to spectacular exercise areas, play rooms, t.v. rooms, storage areas, or even living spaces. Before you hire a contractor or start to do any work yourself, though, there are some important things to think about to ensure you’re making a smart investment.
Decide The Layout
This depends on what exactly you’re hoping to use the space for, as it’s unwise to go into renovations without a vision of what you’d like at the end. Just imagine almost finishing up your renovations, only to wish that you’d also included a spot for a television or that you’d placed the bedroom area elsewhere. The best solution is to have a layout beforehand so you know what you’re working towards. A few tips:
- If you’re creating some kind of socializing space, put that nearest to the most natural light. This creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
- It’s nice for bedrooms to have a window, so place them near the perimeters.
- An area to watch television can be in a darker part of the basement. This gives it more of a home theater feel.
- Storage is best kept a few inches off the ground, either with risers or shelving.
Stop Water Leakage
If you notice moisture or water coming in from any location, source it, repair it, and plan to waterproof it. Nothing will destroy your beautiful new basement area than unwanted water, flooding, soggy insulation, mold, or ruined flooring. That means that all the money you put into the project will simply go in the trash, leaving your space wet and ruined.
Don’t Be Afraid To Dig Down
If you’re feeling cramped in your basement, it could be because the ceiling is low. If it wasn’t originally intended to be a living space, there might be a low ceiling or low-hanging ductwork, wiring, and piping. This may require you to dig a little lower to then create a higher ceiling for the space. Think back to your overall vision and figure out if this is a necessary step to take. If you’re needing to do this as well as waterproof your basement, you’ll want to make sure you’re making all the right steps at the right time.
Noise Reduction
If you’re looking to turn this space into a television section or media room, there will be a lot more unexpected noise coming from the basement. This can affect the rest of the house, so don’t forget to install sound insulation in the basement ceiling to help. Otherwise the sound will simply go right into the drywall.
Plan Ahead
We can’t emphasize it enough: have the layout and a final vision. But this doesn’t just apply to your basement; in fact, it also applies to the rest of your home. A basement is sort of the heart of a home’s mechanical system, so if you ever need to get back in there to do major work on a different floor, you’ll be removing work that was just completed.
Additionally, planning ahead also means preparing for the future. There’s no better way to care for you basement and home than by waterproofing it. Waterproofing your basement not only makes it a safe, dry spot for your belongings, but it protects the foundation of your home from deteriorating due to water damage. Call AA Action Waterproofing today for your free quote at 877-344-9654.