Basement Remodeling
Newberg Oregon
Time To Remodel?
If you are fortunate enough to have an unfinished dry basement in Newberg, you might as well be sitting on a gold mine when it comes to additional square footage. You might have trouble seeing past the limitations of your basement, but the fact is that it can be used for more than a dungeon where you keep all your junk. Getting creative with your basement area will allow you to make use of the added square footage, and maximize your home’s value. With that being said, you must understand why basement remodeling is much more complex than other rooms.
Before you begin pinning basement ideas on Pinterest you should assess your basement to confirm that a remodeling project is realistic. 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. Therefore, it is important to understand these challenges if you want to be practical about the changes you want to make.
There are a number of things you want to think about: whether the basement has excess moisture; 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 decided that it is feasible to finish your basement, the next thing to do is to decide how you are going to use the extra room. There are numerous things you can do with your basement, including turning it into a family room, children’s playroom, additional bedroom, game room, home office, music or art studio, home gym or anything else that may tickle your fancy, as long as it’s practical.
The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and budget. The good thing is that if you have the room you can incorporate multiple ideas. When choosing what to do with your basement, take into account that your design ideas may need to comply with local building codes. Converting your basement into an extra bedroom is a fairly common thing, but to do so involves making sure there at least one more means of egress besides the basement stairs. Adding basement windows that are sufficiently big enough to fit through will allow you to adhere to the code.
What about my storage space?
We all know that for one reason or another basements tend to eventually turn into junk rooms. Needless to say if you turn your basement into functional space you suddenly have to find a new spot to store your stuff. Taking this into consideration you will probably still need to allocate some of the square footage to storage. However, you can also find more creative ways to create storage areas in your house. From something as simple as building extra shelving or closets under the basement stairs, to more complex cabinetry and storage ideas; it is an opportunity to get innovative and make optimal use of every square foot.
What are your flooring choices?
Due to the fact basements are below ground level the types of flooring can be limited. Carpet is obviously a standard for upper level rooms, but in a basement environment it can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew. This may occur if you have a water problem, in addition to the hassle of a perpetually damp or wet carpet. If there is any kind of moisture concerns in your basement then you should research waterproofing prior to considering your flooring selections. However, 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 basements. A sub-floor works by creating a barrier to block any moisture the concrete slab below it might generate. Believe it or not, all-in-one options do exist. They consist of plastic sub-floor tiles fused to a finished floor surface. Finishing the concrete floor is also an option, and you can even include color or stain options. One of concrete’s main benefits is that you never have to worry about mold, but with concrete it is worth looking into adding in-floor radiant heat to protect against moisture and help with climate control.
Newberg Basement Finishing
It is well 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. As such, it is always worthwhile to work with professionals who understand all the unique challenges that come with basement finishing. Our expert team of remodeling contractors know all the the inner workings of basement remodeling as well the building code unique to Yamhill County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Newberg Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free quote.
CCB# 185266