The Added Benefits of a Finished Basement

Are you looking to add more usable living space or value to your home's equity? If so, then it’s a good idea to consider finishing your basement. There’s a lot to consider when tossing around the idea of a basement upgrade, but the benefits will be very rewarding.

As homeowners, we tend to overlook our basements as being a suitable, valuable or available living space. In most cases, a basement can become a bedroom, game room, home office or a family room-- what a valuable asset!

Creating the perfect living space in your basement can become vital to the success of you and your family’s work life and playtime. Who wouldn’t want the bonus of added living space to us to live, work and play in? And it comes at a much more affordable price than adding an additional living space onto the upper level!

Here are a few factors to consider when planning a basement upgrade to increase the living space in your home:

Remove All Moisture Before Remodeling

The most important step before beginning any basement upgrade is ensuring that all basement moisture problems are being resolved or are already resolved. If your basement appears to be wet, damp, or prone to flooding then it’s a good idea to contact a waterproofing contractor to come and evaluate the space.

Basements that are damp, wet and humid can house several residual problems. For example, mold and mildew thrive in dark, damp, wet areas. Moisture can cause paint to chip and peel, walls to warp, wood to decay, and the overall structure can weaken.

These problems can all be avoided by waterproofing your basement. This process must be done properly. So, do-it-yourselfers, it’s best to avoid using waterproof paints and internal sealants, as these products usually don’t withstand hydrostatic pressure or time.

A wet basement can be very unhealthy to you and your family, and over time it can spread foul odors throughout your home. Such smells are the result of mold and mildew and can cause health issues. In most cases, people who already have asthma, respiratory issues and breathing difficulties, are more susceptible than those who don’t.

An Unfinished Basement’s Comfortable Temperature Battle

It’s difficult to regulate the temperature in an unfinished basement, for this very reason, many homeowners worry if their basement will ever be comfortable.

A moist basement isn’t exactly a surprise, and neither is the discomfort homeowners express. In fact, moist air can be very difficult to cool or heat and can be quite costly on your energy bills. If you’re getting tired of paying too much to heat your basement in the winter and cool it during the summer, and you’d like to walk barefoot without freezing your toes—it might be time to upgrade! When you modernize, consider all of your options very carefully and then make the decision that works best for you.

Design Your New Space

Once your new space is dry and its new wiring has been installed, it’s time to consider the other aspects of the room: walls; drywall or paneling, flooring; carpet, tiles, hardwood flooring, or sub flooring, ceiling; drop ceiling, tiles, drywall or panel boards, and, finally; lighting.

There are a lot of available choices, but each should be selected to meet your particular needs or style.

It’s always best not to try and tackle this entire project by yourself. Instead, call on a professional. An expert will have all the necessary tools, expertise to evaluate the space, determine the pros and cons, and recommend the best options to suit your specific needs. Contact Total Basement Finishing by DryZone today for a free estimate for basement remodeling in Maryland.