Basement Remodeling
Keizer Oregon
Ready To Remodel?
If you are fortunate enough to have a dry basement in your Keizer home that is unfinished, you might as well be sitting on a gold mine when it comes to additional square footage. Sometimes homeowners can’t see their basement for anything more than a storage area. A few imaginative basement ideas should help you make use of all that extra footage and add a beautiful addition to your home. Even so, you have to realize that basement remodeling is not always a simple project.
Before you start pinning basement ideas on Pinterest you should assess your basement to make sure that a remodeling project is feasible. There is a world of difference between the other rooms in your home and your basement, and they each present a unique set of challenges. Having a clear understanding of what all the project consists of will allow you to establish much more sensible expectations.
There are a several things you need to consider: whether the basement has a moisture issue; 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 you have sufficient ceiling height.
How will you use it?
Once you have determined that your basement can be remodeled, then you must determine how to best use the space. Because of the low-light environment of a basement one of the most common uses is that of a home theater. While that is an option 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 additional money.
The possibilities are limited only by your budget and imagination. The best part is that if you have enough space you can combine ideas. Unfortunately there are various limits to what you can use your basement for, so you need to check that your ideas will be in compliance with the local building codes. For example, if you choose to convert 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 house fire.
What about my storage space?
Typically, an unfinished basement slowly becomes a storage area for all the junk you accumulate. This means that all this stuff needs to go somewhere else when you remodel your basement. You may need to reserve some of your new basement space for storage reasons rather than using it all for living 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. From something as simple as building extra shelving or closets under the basement stairs, to more complex storage and cabinetry ideas; it is an opportunity to get innovative and make optimum use of every square foot.
What about basement flooring options?
Flooring choices for the basement are rather limited because the room is below ground level. While carpeting may be your first choice for floor covering in your basement, you do not want to have to deal with mold and mildew. Constantly soggy carpet is irritating, but the mold that it could result in can lead to health issues for your family as well as costly remediation bills to eliminate it. If there is any kind of moisture issues in your basement then you should research waterproofing prior to considering your flooring options. Having said that, this does not mean that carpets are not ideal options for all basements.
Fortunately, even with a basement floor that is sure to get wet, there are suitable flooring alternatives to choose from. You could go with a sub-floor designed specifically for use in basements. These are constructed 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. Colored or stained concrete is still another 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 and style that is both attractive and comfortable.
Keizer Basement Finishing
There are many additional considerations you need to make for your basement remodeling, including your ceiling options, window and lighting options as well as all the building codes. Because of this, it is always advisable to work with professionals who understand all the unique challenges that come with finishing a basement. Steve’s Home Improvement has a team of remodeling contractors that specialize in basement renovation and services parts of Marion County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Keizer Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free estimate.
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