Basement Finishing

Spending money on finishing your basement can not only provide your family with more floor space, it can improve the resale value of your home. If you are thinking about adding on to your house, think again. Finishing your basement will probably cost less than adding another large room onto your home. In the past, many homeowners dealt with their basements as if they were, well, basements. Today, many homeowners are taking a different approach. Instead of using their basements for storage, some are turning them into state of the art kitchens or guest suites for out of town visitors.

Why the Basement?

Using your basement as part of your living quarters makes sense for several reasons. Basements are cooler during the summer months and warmer during the winter months than parts of your house that are above ground. Basements even dampen sound. Moreover, finishing your basement will certainly be less disruptive to your home and your family than building upon upper level floors.

Building Codes

Before you begin your basement finishing project, make sure to check local building codes. You are probably going to have to get at least one type permit, if not more. These permits may include an electrical permit, a mechanical permit, a building permit, or a plumbing permit. You might also have some local requirements regarding waterproofing, ceiling heights, or other issues related to finishing your basement.

Designing Your Basement

Your basement does not have to appear dark, even if it has a limited number of windows. You are going to have to have more lighting in your basement than you do in other parts of your house simply because your basement receives a limited amount of natural light.

You can trick your eyes into thinking your ceiling is higher than it really is. For example, emphasize horizontal lines rather than vertical lines when designing your basement. People usually hang pictures so that they are at about eye level. Hang your pictures a little lower than usual. If your ceilings are lower on the sides than in the middle of your basement, consider installing cabinets, closets, or shelving in the lower areas.

You might want to install tile rather than carpet on the floors of your basement. Tile is easier to clean and maintain. It also does not absorb moisture.