Basement finishing has become quite popular over the past 10-15 years. Families are growing, young adults are staying home longer to afford college debt, and as the baby boomers retire and move into 55+ communities, there is a surplus of unfinished basements. In my previous article, Basement Remodeling 101, I laid out the steps to determine if your basement can be finished. In this article I am going to talk about how to finish a basement and some ideas for your new basement.
According to remodeling magazine, 89% of millennial home owners are more likely to remodel a basement. This is due to younger adults being able to utilize the basement as a living space in lei of buying a larger home. Millennials are not able to afford the price tag of newer built homes and are opting for the “fixer upper” left behind by the baby boomers. Basements can be a great addition to the home if done properly.
The first steps in finishing a basement or any other project is your design. I highly recommend hiring a contractor to complete the job. Depending on your floor plan, basements are usually the same size as the first floor. However, there are a few differences. For instance, you will most likely not have an existing bathroom in your basement. You will also not have a kitchen or any rooms sectioned off. If you do, and it’s out dated, you will want to consider demolition of these areas. Some other things to consider are sectioning off your boiler and water heater, creating an access panel to your electrical panel, adding a full or half bathroom and creating a small enclosed area for you laundry.
Insulation, Do I Need it?
Next, you should consider insulating your basement. Basements are known to be dark, damp, cold areas of the home. If you’re going to finish the basement I recommend insulating all of your walls that come in contact with your foundation walls. This will create a warm dry environment. You will also want to consider insulating your ceiling to silence noise from mechanical equipment and other nuances. To keep your basement dry, consider a dehumidification system. Basements love moister and this can be detrimental to a finished basement. Keeping this space dry will be a key element in the planning process.
What to do With my Basement
The ideas for what your basement can become are endless. Parents may want a play areas for their children and pets. It creates a separate space from the house and can confine the mess at the same time. Maybe you and your significant other are entertainers like myself and my wife. Having a basement with a bar and media room will be a great addition for parties and gatherings. Maybe you have parents or in-laws that need a place to live. You can create a whole apartment for them with an efficiency kitchen so they are separate from your personal space. Another popular option, especially now with COVID and people working from home is a home office space. Imagine a separate office space from your wife or husband and children where you can quietly get work done. The options are endless with the right creativity.
Finally, you will want to consider finishing’s such as flooring, ceiling, and lighting. For your floor I recommend a floating vinyl floor. This will hold up against any dents, scratches and will resist water. It’s affordable and easy to install. The best part, if one piece of flooring gets damaged you can easily replace it. Ceilings, in my opinion, should be a grid/drop ceiling. It looks great when finished, easy to install, and will give anyone access to important things like HVAC ducting, pipes and electrical. Finally, I recommend LED recessed lighting. This is a great look and will provide plenty of light, but save on the pocket.
Finishing your basement is a great option for additional space. There are tons of options out there, and plenty of resources to complete these projects. As I have stated above, I recommend hiring a contractor. You will need a permit for this project and some of these tasks require experts. At Temprano Construction, we specialize in basement finishing and would be delighted to schedule a basement evaluation. Remember, it’s a blank canvas, so think hard about what your goals for this uncharted space will be.
