Basement Remodeling
Lake Oswego Oregon
Time To Remodel?
If your Lake Oswego home is starting to burst at the seems now might be the right time to consider finishing your basement. For many homeowners a basement is just an extra-large junk room. Being creative with your basement area will help you make use of the additional square footage, and maximize the value of your home. With that said, 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 inviting rooms in your home, you first need to ensure the space is actually 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. Having a clear understanding of what all the project entails will allow you to establish much more realistic expectations.
There are a number of 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.
What will be the purpose of the new space?
Once you have finished your assessment and decided that your basement can be renovated, then you must determine the best use of the space. 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 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 may seem almost limitless, and you can even incorporate two or more ideas if you have enough room. Unfortunately there are various limits to what you are allowed to use your basement for, so you must make certain that your ideas will comply with the local building codes. Case in point, if you decide to turn the space into a bedroom, you will need several means of egress, so you would need windows that are large enough to crawl through in case of a fire.
What do I do with all my junk?
We all know that for one reason or another basements have a tendency to turn into junk rooms. This means that all this junk needs to be moved elsewhere when you renovate your basement. You may need to still commit 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 are your flooring choices?
Because basements are below ground level the types of flooring that available are rather limited. While carpeting may be your original choice for covering the floor of your basement, you do not want to have to contend with 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 is any kind of moisture problems in your basement then you should research waterproofing before you consider your flooring options. Having said that, dry basements do actually exists. If you happen to be lucky enough to have a dry basement then carpeting is a perfectly reasonable option.
Fortunately, even with a basement floor that is sure to get wet, there are good flooring alternatives to choose from. You could go with a sub-floor specifically made for use in basements. A sub-floor works by establishing a barrier to block any moisture the concrete slab below it might produce. An all-in-one floor is an alternative – it combines a finished floor surface on top of plastic sub-floor tiles. Colored or stained concrete is still another alternative that assures 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 comfortable and attractive.
Lake Oswego Basement Finishing
There are many additional things to consider for your basement remodeling, including your ceiling options, window and lighting options as well as all the building codes you need to adhere to. This is where working with a general contractor who recognizes the many unique situations that go along with finishing a basement can make the process much less stressful. Steve’s Home Improvement maintains a team of remodeling experts that are specialists in basement remodeling and service all of Clackamas County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Lake Oswego Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free quote.
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