Basement Remodeling
Happy Valley Oregon
Ready To Remodel?
If your Happy Valley home is starting to burst at the seams now might be the right time to consider finishing your basement. It may be difficult to see past the limitations of your basement, but the truth is that it does not have to be limited to a creepy room where you hide all your storage boxes and utilities. A few inspiring basement ideas should help you make use of all that extra square footage and add a beautiful addition to your home. Having said that, the challenging nature of basement remodeling is why so many basement remain “unfinished”.
Although there can be numerous ways to turn the basement into one of the more welcoming rooms in your home, you need to first ensure the space is livable. There is a world of difference between your basement and other upper level rooms in your home, and they each present a unique set of challenges. As such, it is important that you understand these challenges if you are going to be realistic about the changes you want to make.
There are a several things you need to consider: whether the basement has moisture problems; whether it has provisions for heating and cooling; whether it has ducts and pipes below the ceiling joists that may need relocation; whether it is radon-free, and whether your ceiling is high enough.
How will you use it?
Once you have determined that your basement can be finished, the next thing to do is to determine how you are going to use the extra room. Converting a basement into a home theater room has become a very popular idea in recent years.. Obviously that is an option, but there are many different ways to use your basement, including a home gym, mother-in-law suite, home office, or even an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to generate extra income.
The possibilities are limited only by your budget and imagination. The good thing is that if you have the room you can implement more than one idea. Unfortunately there are various limits to what you are allowed to use your basement for, so you need to make sure that your ideas will be in compliance with the local building codes. Case in point, if you choose to turn the space 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 about my storage area?
We all know that for some reason basements tend to eventually turn into junk rooms. Which means that all this junk needs to go somewhere else when you renovate your basement. You may need to reserve some of the basement room for storage purposes rather than using it all up as finished space. However, you can also find more creative ways to create storage areas in your house. 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?
Flooring options 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. This may occur if you have a water problem, in addition to the hassle of a constantly wet or damp carpet. If there are moisture issues in your basement then you should consider waterproofing prior to considering your flooring options. However, this does not mean that carpets are not ideal options for all basements.
Everyone knows that moisture is often times an problem with basements and this can impact your choice of flooring. Thankfully there are sub-floors that are designed specifically for basements. These are manufactured to form a barrier to any moisture that might permeate the concrete slab below. Believe it or not, all-in-one options do exist. They consist of plastic sub-floor tiles fused to a finished floor surface. Concrete floors can be finished to resemble tile, slate, or marble, and you can even include stain or color options. One of concrete’s main benefits is that there’s no need to worry about mold, but with concrete it is worth looking into adding in-floor heat element to protect against possible moisture build up and assist with climate control.
Happy Valley Basement Finishing
It is worth mentioning again, when it comes to basement remodeling the three most important things are code, code, and code. Adhering to the building code has to trump all other decisions. Because of this, it is always worthwhile to work with professionals who understand all the unique challenges that come with basement finishing. Steve’s Home Improvement is a team of remodeling professionals that specialize in basement remodeling and service all of Clackamas County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Happy Valley Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free estimate.
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