Basement Remodeling
Tigard Oregon
Ready To Remodel?
If you are lucky to have a dry basement in your Tigard home that is unfinished, you have hit the jackpot when it comes to additional living space. Often times homeowners can’t recognize their basement for anything more than a storage area. A few inspiring basement ideas should help you take advantage of all that extra 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 many different ways to transform your basement into one of the more inviting rooms in your home, you need to first ensure that the space is livable. There is a world of difference between the other rooms in your home and your basement, and they come with their own unique challenges. As such, it is important that you understand these potential issues if you are going to be practical about the changes you want to make.
What will be the purpose of the new space?
Once you have determined that your basement can be finished, the next step 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.. 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 extra income.
The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and budget. The best part is that if you have the room you can implement more than one idea. Unfortunately there are some limits to what you are allowed to use your basement for, so you need to check that your ideas will be in compliance with the local building codes. Converting your basement into an extra bedroom is a rather common thing, but to do so requires that you make sure there at least one more means of egress besides just thet stairs. Adding basement windows that are sufficiently big enough to crawl through will allow you to comply with the building code.
What do I do with all my junk?
Everybody knows 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 remodel 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 cabinetry and storage ideas; it is an opportunity to get imaginative and make optimal use of every square foot.
What about basement flooring options?
Because basements are below ground level the types of flooring that available are rather limited. While a carpet may be your first choice for floor covering in your basement, you do not want to have to contend with mildew and mold. Constantly wet carpet is aggravating, but the mold it can potentially bring with it can resulted in health problems for your family as well as costly remediation costs to remove it. If this is the case, you should look for basement waterproofing options to solve that problem. Having said that, this does not mean that carpets are not ideal options for all basements. If you are sure you have a dry basement, there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t get carpet.
We all know that moisture is often times an concern with basements and this can influence your choice of flooring. Luckily there are sub-floors that are designed specifically for basements. A sub-floor works by forming a barrier to block any moisture the concrete slab beneath it might produce. An all-in-one floor is an alternative – it combines a plastic sub-floor tiles with a finished floor surface covering. Stained or colored concrete is an additional option that ensures you never have to worry about mold, and you can use this in conjunction with in-floor radiant heat for a design that is both comfortable and attractive.
Tigard Basement Finishing
It is well worth mentioning again, when it comes to basement remodeling the building code is the most important aspect. Making sure your basement is up to code has to trump all other considerations. This is where working with a general contractor who understands the many unique situations that go along with finishing a basement can make the process much less stressful. Steve’s Home Improvement has a team of remodeling experts that are specialists in basement renovation and service all of Washington County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Tigard Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free consultation.
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