Basement Remodeling
Tualatin Oregon
Ready To Remodel?
If your Tualatin home is starting to feel cramped now might be the right time to give some thought to finishing your basement. For many homeowners a basement is just an large closet. A few creative basement ideas should help you take advantage of all that extra square footage and add a gorgeous addition to your home. Even so, you must understand why basement remodeling is much more complex than other rooms.
Although there are certainly a number of ways to turn the basement into one of the more inviting rooms in your home, you need to first ensure that the space is actually livable. There is a huge difference between your basement and other upper level rooms in your home, and they come with their own unique challenges. Having a clear understanding of what all the project consists of will allow you to set much more realistic expectations.
What will you use your basement for?
Once you have finished your assessment and decided that your basement can be renovated, then you must determine the best use of the space. There are many things you can use your basement for, 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 combine ideas. When choosing how to use your basement, keep in mind that all your ideas have to conform with specific building codes. Case in point, if you choose to turn the area into a bedroom, you may need multiple means of egress, so you would need to install windows that are big enough to crawl through in case of a fire.
What do I do with all my junk?
Typically, an unfinished basement becomes the storage area for all the stuff you acquire over the years. Needless to say if you convert your basement into usable space you soon realize you need 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. 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. 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 about basement flooring?
Because basements are below ground level the types of flooring can be limited. While carpeting may be your original choice for floor covering in your basement, you do not want to have to contend with mildew and mold. This may occur if you have a water problem, in addition to the hassle of a perpetually damp or wet carpet. If this is the case, you should look for basement waterproofing solutions to fix the problem. However, this does not mean that carpets are not appropriate options for all basements. If you basement doesn’t have moisture issues, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get carpet.
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 specifically designed for use in basements. A sub-floor works by creating a barrier to block any moisture the concrete slab beneath it might produce. An all-in-one floor is another option – it integrates a plastic sub-floor tiles with a finished floor surface covering. Colored or stained concrete is still another option that guarantees you never have to worry about mold, and you can use this in conjunction with in-floor heating elements for a design and style that is both attractive and comfortable.
Tualatin 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 are associated with finishing a basement can make the process much less stressful. Our expert team of remodeling professionals know all the ins and outs of basement remodeling as well the building code unique to Washington County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Tualatin Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free quote.
CCB# 185266