Five Basement
Remodeling Must
Haves
One of the easiest
ways to "add a new
room or rooms" to
your home is to
better utilize the
space you already
have. Most basements
are dark areas where
we store seasonal
decorations, old
toys, sporting
equipment and
anything else not
used on a regular
basis.
But, perhaps it is
time you reconsider
how you use your
basement? Remodeling
the basement is a
cost-effective way
to greatly expand
your home's living
space. Suddenly you
could have a guest
room, a children's
play room, a home
office, a recreation
roomthe
possibilities are
only limited by your
imagination.
Below are five easy
steps to reclaim
your basement.
1. Solve Basement
Water Problems First
Even if your
basement rarely has
problems with
dampness or
flooding, it's best
to solve the problem
completely before
beginning any
remodeling work.
Permanent solutions
can take time to
implement. A good
place to start is to
talk to an
independent home
inspector who
specializes in
basement or
foundation
waterproofing
problems.
2. Decide on the
Best Use of Your
Basement
Consider using the
space for activities
for which typical
basement
characteristics
offer natural
advantages.
The lack of light is
useful when setting
up a home theater or
a dark room. The
isolation helps
create a sound break
for a play area, a
teenager's hangout
or a place to
practice a musical
instrument.
Also, in basements,
there is usually
ready access to
things like water
lines and heating
and cooling ducts.
This makes adding a
bath easier than it
would be elsewhere
in the house.
3. Get Help with
Your Basement Design
While your basement
may not be much to
look at now, you'll
want to end up with
quality living space
when the project is
complete. An
architect or
interior designer
can help you get the
most out of the
space. A little
forethought and
careful planning now
can help you create
a space that is
attractive,
comfortable and
useful.
4. Pay Attention
to Air Circulation
When your Philadelphia
home was first
built, the odds are
that there were few
if any registers or
vents installed in
the basement. When
you remodel your
basement, you need
to think about the
need for good air
circulation, adding
openings where
necessary.
You'll also have to
include a return air
duct, but it's
important that it be
located far from the
furnace. Otherwise,
it may suck
dangerous furnace
exhaust fumes back
into the house.
To be on the safe
side, install a
carbon monoxide
detector in your
basement so that
you'll have an early
warning of any
problems with the
venting of the
furnace or any other
major appliances.
5. Maximize Your
Basement's Natural
Light
For many reasons,
you'll probably want
to add more light in
your basement.
If parts of the
basement extend
above the ground,
you can add new
windows or enlarge
existing ones.
If that isn't
possible, another
option is to dig
window wells. Window
wells can increase
the odds of water
problems, so it's a
good idea to build
ones with waterproof
covers.
Another advantage of
enlarged windows is
that they provide
alternative escape
routes in case of
fire.
One concern that
some people have
about basement
windows is that they
provide thieves with
ideal access to the
home. One way to
mitigate that risk
is to install glass
bricks (rather than
conventional
windows) at
high-risk locations.
Maximize the effect
of regular windows
by mounting some
windows in the
interior walls
between rooms that
open pathways for
natural light to
reach interior
rooms.
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