Finishing Your Basement? Make Sure It’s Done Right

MAKE SURE IT’S Finishing Your Basement? Done Right

By Julie Young, House and Home Writer

If you are looking to add some living space onto your home, start by finishing out your basement. No matter if your dream is another family gathering place, a home theater, gym or a gaming center, your basement is prime real estate with plenty of potential, provided you do the job right.

PREPARATION IS KEY

Before calling in a contractor to begin the remodel, it’s important to comb through magazines to get some ideas of what you want the finished product to look like and how to bring it to life. Homeowners need to create an efficient layout that will give them the features they want and need without interrupting the flow of traffic throughout the space.

If you are thinking about a family gathering area, then you will want to take

advantage of any natural light. If you are looking to install a home theater, then you won’t want to locate the drink station in front of the screen. Bedrooms require a point of egress in the event of an emergency, so you’ll want to determine if you will need to install a larger window. The clearer your vision, the more your contractor will be able to bring your dreams to life.

Once you have a vision in mind, you’ll want to call in a professional such as Everdry Waterproofing to test your space for moisture and seal up any areas that are deficient. Everdry has serviced over 80,000 basements, crawl spaces and slabs and has customized solutions, products and processes for every home, no matter how large or small the job.

Homeowners will also want to take care to consider the height of their ceiling to make sure it meets code requirements and to leave room around their mechanicals so they can

Photos: Shutterstock.com

RESOURCES:

The Element Masters, Middlebury, 574-825-8824, www.elementmasters.net. Everdry Waterproofing, multiple locations, 1-800-EVERDRY, www.everdry.com Reliance, Nappanee, 574.773.4308, www.reliancebr.net

be serviced by professionals when necessary. Professional firms such as The Element Masters, Middlebury, appreciate when homeowners make sure to leave a two- or three-foot space so the average human can get in there to work.

Remember, when it comes to finishing out a basement – an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

GET THE MOST FROM THE GROUND FLOOR

A contractor that specializes in basement remodels, such as Reliance in Nappanee, will help you make choices that will give you the biggest bang for your buck. They will help you find drywall that will not attract moisture and mold, flooring that will not scratch easily or warp in the event of an accident and will give you some ideas for making rooms pull double duty when it comes to storage so you can maximize your square footage and get the most from the space.

It’s also wise to consult with a designer to help you decorate your space and suggest durable, multifunctional elements that work well in a basement setting. For example, a large worktable can accommodate the family that likes to craft together while a large sofa can accommodate multiple gamers at once. They can also help you. You select a neutral color scheme to help enlarge an otherwise “cozy” space. They can also suggest a way to layer lighting so your basement will be able to set the mood no matter what the occasion.

Remember, just because it’s on the ground floor doesn’t mean your basement can’t be top notch. With a little imagination and some help from the pros, your basement can feel like a luxurious penthouse suite. n

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