Homeowners can remodel a basement into an extra bedroom, playroom, entertainment center or home office. If you’re considering this, first examine the value of your home and what kind of financing fits your budget.
Ensure everything in the basement is dry and up to code before beginning any remodeling work. Eliminate water issues, refresh piping and install insulation. Contact Basement Remodeling Tacoma WA now!
A finished basement can become a wonderful place to spend time with family, entertain friends or do a little work from home. Whether it’s a man cave, playroom or home office, the layout of the space is critical to the success of the project.
Before you even think about finishing the walls or hanging drywall, you need to figure out how you’ll use the space. This will help you determine the floor plan and what elements to bring in, such as furniture, appliances and décor.
It’s important to keep in mind that you can’t just hack at the studs like you would a room in the rest of the house, because this could compromise the structural integrity of the house. That’s why it’s important to work with a professional when developing the layout of your Basement Remodeling.
Once you’ve established the major surfaces, like floors and walls, you can begin to build on them with a drywall contractor. This is one of the stages where a respirator mask is highly recommended, as this process involves plenty of dust.
Then you can add some extra touches that make the space feel more finished. Dress up the walls with tall wainscot, for instance, or create built-ins near the walk-out door to store coats and boots. Installing a drywall arched opening between rooms is another great way to divide the space without building complete walls. If you do need to partition the space, try using large rugs to create zones. Keeping it open is preferable, as internal walls restrict airflow and can contribute to dampness in the basement. Lastly, don’t forget to add a backup sump pump system as part of your basement renovation. It can prevent a disaster down the road and potentially save your home from thousands in water damage.
Lighting
In a basement, lighting is a crucial consideration. The space is often dark and dingy without natural light, making it difficult to navigate. But the right lighting layout can make a basement feel warm and inviting, like the rest of your home.
Recessed lighting is ideal for basements because it contributes focused light from above and reduces shadows and glare. For a more dramatic effect, consider highlighting a ceiling cove with LED strip lights in multiple colors and brightness options. These lights can also be controlled by a remote, so you can change the mood of your basement with a flick of a switch.
Hanging fixtures are popular choices for a basement because they add a lot of style to the space. Pendant lighting can help you create a bar-style atmosphere while providing functional lighting for eating and entertaining. Clusters of bare Edison bulbs and suspended tube lights also make a nice addition to a modern basement.
Task lighting is an important consideration for a basement because it helps illuminate work areas and activities like reading, playing games, and working on projects. Task lighting is usually a combination of ambient, natural, and accent light. It’s important to layer your lighting, so you have plenty of coverage for every area in your basement.
For a brighter basement, replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Not only will the new bulbs save you money on your electric bill, but they’ll also last longer and produce less heat. Be sure to use dimmer switches and lighting zones so you can control the level of brightness in your basement at any given time. This will save even more money by only running your lights when they are needed.
Flooring
Basement remodels often begin with a desire to update flooring. Concrete floors are common, but they can feel cold and hard on the feet. Carpeting is an affordable and cozy option. Be sure to choose a type that will stand up well to humidity and moisture.
Aside from a general sense of style, the most important factor in choosing flooring is practicality. Your family will use the space to play, sleep and entertain, so it needs to be able to handle whatever comes its way. It should be able to impress overnight guests, tolerate typical tweenage horseplay and manage the dust from your woodworking hobby.
Many basements require extra ventilation, so it’s a good idea to install venting in the floor and ceiling. It’s also a good time to add insulation, which will help keep the space cool and dry.
Once you’ve finished with the basics, consider creative basement storage ideas. Drawers, shelving and nooks in the stairwell can make it easier to store items out of sight while keeping them within reach. You’ll also want to think about how the space will be used in the future. If you plan to turn it into a Netflix-and-chill room until the kids move out, consider investing in fixtures that will be able to evolve with your family’s needs, like versatile furniture and easy-to-clean surfaces.
It’s also a good idea to consider any local or state codes that apply to your basement remodel. If you’re doing the project yourself, Steckel recommends wearing the proper safety gear including eye protection, long pants, sturdy shoes and gloves. For some aspects of the work, a mask is recommended to prevent breathing in sawdust and other debris.
Plumbing
The first step in any basement remodeling project is to determine what you want to accomplish and how much you can afford. This includes settling on a high-level goal, such as a new bathroom or a bedroom, and establishing the scope of work, such as foundation repairs and the removal of hazardous materials.
Depending on whether you’re making changes to a wholly unfinished space or a basement that’s partially finished, your contractor will need to figure out how much plumbing and electrical work is needed. This is typically done by examining the existing ductwork and pipes and checking for any preexisting damage that requires repair. Then, they’ll need to get a permit and inspections from local authorities.
Once you’re ready to install your new bathroom, your contractor will need to dig trenches and install the pipes. They’ll also need to add any necessary plumbing hookups and drains if your basement doesn’t have existing ones.
After the pipes are in place, your contractor will connect them to your fixtures. This will include installing drain pipes to the sewer line and water supply lines to sinks, toilets, bathtubs and showers. If your new bathroom has a window, the contractor will need to install venting as well.
This can be a costly step, and it’s one of the reasons why it’s important to plan ahead for your basement remodel. It’s also a good idea to make sure your contractor is licensed and insured before hiring them.
If you don’t have the money to pay for your basement remodel outright, you might consider financing it with a home improvement loan. These loans, which are available from banks and credit unions, use your house as collateral and have fixed interest rates and repayment terms. You might also be able to deduct the loan’s interest on your taxes.
Electrical
Before you bring in contractors to create a layout and add wiring, you should do a walk-through of the basement to determine where electrical* outlets, sconces, and other fixtures will go. For instance, you might want recessed lighting for a home office or more decorative fixtures in a bar area.
Then you can work with an electrician to plan where all the wiring should go, such as in a drop ceiling versus leaving pipes and wires visible. It’s also a good time to talk with your electrician about if you want a new subpanel or simply connect to an existing one. You can even ask your electrician to install a GFCI outlet for each space, since the new ones are tamper-resistant and meet code requirements.
You should also decide whether to hang drywall horizontally or vertically. The latter leaves fewer seams, but it’s also more expensive.
Finally, you’ll need to choose between an open or dropped ceiling for your basement remodel. An open ceiling saves money, but you’ll have to deal with wood beams and pipes when you look up. However, you can paint the ceiling a dark color to hide those features.
Another option is a drywall dropped ceiling, which is more expensive and takes longer to install. But it’s less likely to get damaged by a leak or flood and it allows you to conceal electrical and plumbing wires behind the drywall. Regardless of which ceiling you choose, it’s important to stay on budget and keep up with construction schedules. Otherwise, you risk over-improving your basement, which can affect the value of your home when it comes time to sell. Make sure all the contractors you hire are licensed and insured, too. Most states require specialty contractors like plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors to maintain specific licensure.