| A finished basement can be a great place where | | | | up the basement stairwell you remove some of |
| you can entertain your family and friends by | | | | the basement like atmosphere. Some designers |
| putting in a recreation room which includes a pool | | | | would like to see the doorways of the basement |
| table, ping pong table, pinball machine, and/or | | | | widened and employ arches and columns to dress |
| dartboard.Before a basement renovation you | | | | them up. Examples include French Doors for |
| should:1. Look for basement foundation cracks. | | | | privacy or a partial separator using decorative |
| Hairline cracks in the basement can be the fault of | | | | glass to add elegance to the basement |
| improper curing where as large cracks are most | | | | room.When looking at windows, if applicable, add |
| likely caused by settling. Both can be repaired with | | | | as many as you can. Basements tend to be dark |
| hydraulic cement if the crack is not active i.e. | | | | and gloomy but with more natural light it becomes |
| whatever caused the crack is no longer an | | | | a better and well lit area. If windows are very |
| existing problem. If the basement crack is still | | | | limited, look into security and use glass block |
| active then the crack patching may be re-opened | | | | windows. When it comes to artificial lighting, the |
| later.2. Look for basement moisture problems. | | | | choices are fluorescent lights, table lights, floor |
| Moisture problems may be tough to fix. Water is | | | | lamps and ceiling lights. If your budget allows, stay |
| persistent and can make its way through the | | | | away from the fluorescent lighting since it is not |
| basement walls that are considered permeable. An | | | | the most appealing in design.When installing the |
| easy way to test water problems is to tape a | | | | ceiling, stay away from suspended ceilings |
| piece of aluminum foil to various places on the | | | | because they make the basement look like a |
| basement walls and floors. Seal the edges of the | | | | basement. Consider using tray ceilings. When |
| foil tightly and leave in place for several days. | | | | choosing the color for painting, use a light, bright, |
| After several days, if moisture droplets appear | | | | or dramatic color scheme. With these colors, you |
| beneath the foil then moisture is going through | | | | can turn that dark gloomy basement into a room |
| the basement masonry. If the moisture appears | | | | that opens and brightens.The basement floor is |
| on top of the foil, the problem is condensation | | | | always cold since it is in direct contact with the |
| from basement humidity. Look for other water | | | | ground. Look at having a subfloor between the |
| problems by looking in the underside of the | | | | concrete and flooring space. This will make it a |
| basement's first subflooring for signs of leaks. Fix | | | | warmer and dryer living area and a smooth |
| any faulty pipes and fixtures. Look for brownish | | | | surface for your carpet or flooring of your |
| stains on the basement subfloor and sides of the | | | | choosing. If a subfloor is not in your plans and you |
| basement joists. This will indicate active or an old | | | | are using carpet, get plenty of padding to put |
| leak that has been repaired. If the stain is spongy, | | | | under the carpet. Try to have a storage room |
| an active leak exists.Basement renovation planning | | | | added, maybe around the sump and furnace area. |
| is key to the success of your basement. For | | | | This would be convenient for all those things that |
| instance, if you decide you want a wetbar and/or | | | | can't be thrown out. Think about adding shelves |
| bathroom, you will need to have the plumbing | | | | to this room to keep it fairly organized.To control |
| done first. This would be a top priority because | | | | noise, have thick wall to wall carpeting and a high |
| the plumbing usually goes beneath the cement | | | | quality pad can absorb much of the sound. You |
| floor. After the plumbing is completed, you need | | | | can use sound deadening material below any |
| to plan and install the electric which may include | | | | underlayment or subfloor. This is nice especially if |
| hiring a certified electrician. Your plans should | | | | the basement is used for a bedroom or office. An |
| include enough electrical outlets, telephone lines | | | | easy way to reduce noise is by installation of |
| and cable hook-ups. These will be used for your | | | | thick insulation between ceiling joists.In |
| television(s), lamp(s), computer(s), electronic | | | | below-ground basement renovations, should you |
| games, and a computer modem. Once installed, | | | | want to add a kitchen or bath you can tie into |
| you must decide on paneling, dry walling, or | | | | the plumbing system that is in place above. You |
| painting to cover your cement walls. Although | | | | can buy toilets and lavatories that are specifically |
| paneling might be cheaper, the refined look of | | | | designed for below grade applications.After your |
| drywall makes it the material of choice for | | | | basement renovation are complete, start adding |
| finished spaces. Paneling can look dated and does | | | | the "toys" that will make it an enjoyable area |
| not always last long.The next phase in your plans | | | | where you get away from it all.Keith Hoyng is the |
| should be the stairwell. Some professionals | | | | web master and operator of which is a good |
| suggest you should open up the stairwell and | | | | source of information for remodeling and much |
| install a banister because a basement typically | | | | more information. |
| features stairwells that are enclosed. By opening | | | | |