Have you decided to turn your basement into a nice living space for your family? If so, know that there are a few things that you need to consider as you move forward with this home refinishing project.
The Flooring
You should start by thinking about the flooring of your finished basement because it will depend a lot on where you live and the existing issues that you may have with water. A good solution is to use laminate vinyl waterproof flooring material. This material looks like wood and installs like laminate flooring, but it's made out of a vinyl material that is not going to be damaged by water if it does get into your basement. The downside is that it can be more expensive than alternative materials, and it can feel cold to walk on it in the winter.
Another flooring option is to use carpeting, which is going to be much more affordable, feel warm on your feet, and be a soft surface for kids to play on. However, that carpet will need to be thrown away if you get water in your basement.
The Egress Window
Finishing a basement properly and doing it to code means that you are going to need an egress window. This is a window that is larger than the typical basement window, and it allows people to exit through the window in case there is an emergency. Having a secondary exit in a basement is crucial if you want to ensure everyone is safe.
You should think about where this egress window will be located when designing the layout of your basement. If you are refinishing the part of the basement at the front of the home, that egress window will likely need to be at the front of your home as well. Changing around the layout so that the egress window can be placed near the back of the home will hide it better and not ruin the curb appeal of your home.
The Ceiling
Basements tend to have a low ceiling compared to other rooms in your home. That's why you need to consider how you want to finish it. Will you be using drywall to close it up and put in recessed lighting, which can take away some of the height of the ceiling and leave any utility lines inaccessible? Or do you want to leave it open and potentially spray paint the ceiling a flat color? It may not look the best to leave it open, but it can be a good idea to gain back some height and leave utility lines accessible.
Talk to a contractor to learn more about home refinishing.
Yes, construction workers and contractors spend some time planning and designing. They spend time sourcing materials and giving quotes. But to most construction workers and contractors, the best part of the job is the build itself. These are people who typically enjoy working with their hands and creating things, so when a building or structure comes together in the end, they find it very satisfying.
if you can relate to this feeling, then you might make a good contractor yourself! We recommend that you read a few articles on this blog to get a better sense of this industry, and then perhaps look into training programs and internships.