Basement Remodeling
Sherwood Oregon
Ready To Remodel?
If you are starting to outgrow your Sherwood home now might be the right time to give some thought to finishing your basement. For so many homeowners a basement is just an oversized closet. A few imaginative basement ideas should help you tap into all that extra footage and add a eye-catching addition to your home. With that said, the challenging nature of basement remodeling is why so many basement remain “unfinished”.
Before you begin creating a basement dream board on Pinterest you should actually assess your basement to make sure that a remodeling project is even possible. Remodeling your basement is not the same as renovating other rooms in your home. These unique challenges must be taken into consideration. As such, it is important to understand these challenges if you want to be practical about any changes you may want to make.
There are a number of 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 you have sufficient ceiling height.
What will you use your basement for?
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 potential uses for 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 may seem almost infinite, and you can even combine two or more ideas if you have enough room. Unfortunately there are some limits to what you can use your basement for, so you must make sure that your ideas will comply with the local building codes. Case in point, if you choose to convert the space into a bedroom, you will need several means of egress, so you would need to install windows that are big enough to fit through in case of a fire.
What do I do with all my junk?
Generally, an unfinished basement becomes the storage area for all the stuff you acquire over the years. This means that all this stuff needs to be moved elsewhere when you renovate your basement. You may need to still commit some of the basement room for storage reasons rather than using it all up as finished space. However, you can also find more creative ways to create storage areas in your house. From something as simple as installing closets or adding extra shelving under the basement stairs, to more complex storage and cabinetry ideas; it is an chance to get creative and make optimum use of every square foot.
What are your flooring choices?
Flooring choices 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. Perpetually damp carpet is annoying, but the mold it can potentially bring with it can lead to health issues for your family as well as costly remediation bills to remove it. If there is any kind of moisture issues in your basement then you should research waterproofing before you consider your flooring selections. That said, dry basements do actually exists. If you happen to be fortunate enough to have a dry basement then carpet is a perfectly sensible choice. If you are sure you have a dry basement, theres no reason why you shouldn’t get carpet.
Everyone knows that moisture is frequently an concern with basements and this can affect your choice of flooring. Luckily there are sub-floors that are specifically designed for basements. A sub-floor works by establishing a barrier to block any moisture the concrete slab beneath it might produce. Believe it or not, all-in-one options do exist. They consist of plastic sub-floor tiles fused to a finished floor surface. Stained or colored concrete is still another option that assures you never have to worry about mold, and you can combine this with in-floor heating elements for a design that is both comfortable and attractive.
Sherwood 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 options. This is where working with a general contractor who is aware of the many unique situations that go along with finishing a basement can make your project much more enjoyable. Our expert team of remodeling contractors know all the the inner workings of basement remodeling as well the building code unique to Washington County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Sherwood Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free assessment.
CCB# 185266