Basement Remodeling
Canby Oregon
Ready To Remodel?
If you are starting to outgrow your Canby home now might be the right time to give some thought to finishing your basement. For many homeowners a basement is just an extra-large closet. Getting creative with your basement will help you make use of the additional footage, and increase the value of your home. With that being said, you must understand why basement remodeling is much more complex than other rooms.
Although there are certainly many different ways to transform your basement into one of the more welcoming rooms in your home, you first need to ensure the space is actually livable. Remodeling your basement is completely different from remodeling other rooms in your home. There are many unique challenges that need to be taken into consideration. Having a clear understanding of what all the project entails will allow you to set much more reasonable expectations.
What will be the purpose of the new space?
Once you have determined that your basement can be remodeled, then you must decide how to best use the space. Converting a basement into a home theater room has become a very popular idea in recent years.. While that is an option there are many different potential uses for your basement, including a home gym, mother-in-law suite, home office, or even an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to generate additional money.
The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and budget. The best part is that if you have the room you can implement more than one idea. Unfortunately there are some limits to what you can use your basement for, so you must check that your ideas will be in compliance with the local building codes. For example, if you decide to turn the area into a bedroom, you may need several means of egress, so you would need to install windows that are big enough to crawl through in case of a fire.
What do I do with all my junk?
Typically, an unfinished basement slowly becomes a storage area for all the stuff you accumulate. Needless to say if you turn your basement into functional space you soon realize you need to find a new spot to store your stuff. You may need to reserve some of your new basement space for storage purposes rather than using it all up as finished space. The good news is that during the remolding process you can design better ways to organize your storage area so that it takes up less space. For instance, you could build shelving or small closets under the stairwell, have shelves along the walls enclosed behind small doors, or use stock cabinetry as storage chests and bench seats.
What about basement flooring options?
Flooring alternatives for the basement are limited simply because the room is below ground level. Carpet is obviously a standard for upper level rooms, but in a basement environment it can be a magnet for mold and mildew. Constantly soggy carpet is aggravating, but the mold that it could result in can cause medical conditions for your family as well as costly remediation bills to eliminate it. If this is the situation, you should look for basement waterproofing solutions to fix the problem. However, this does not mean that carpets are not suitable choices for all basements.
Everyone knows that moisture is always an problem with basements and this can affect your flooring choices. Thankfully there are sub-floors that are specifically designed for basements. These are manufactured to form a shield against any moisture that might permeate the concrete slab below. An all-in-one floor is an alternative – it integrates a finished floor surface on top of plastic sub-floor tiles. Stained or colored concrete is an additional alternative that guarantees you never have to worry about mold, and you can use this in conjunction with in-floor radiant heat for a design that is both comfortable and attractive.
Canby Basement Finishing
It is worth mentioning again, when it comes to basement remodeling the building code is the most important aspect. Making sure your basement is up to code has to trump all other options. This is where a general contractor who recognizes the many unique situations that go along with finishing a basement can make the process much more enjoyable. Steve’s Home Improvement is a team of remodeling contractors that are specialists in basement renovation and service all of Clackamas County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Canby Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free estimate.
CCB# 185266