The main reasons why people remodel their basements is to add more space to the house and also increase the value of their home. If you are not well prepared remodeling your basement can be quite challenging. In this article you will find tips that will help you have the best experience when remodeling your house basement. Get to know your legal obligations first before you commence doing any work on your basement. Before starting any project make sure you know what is required of you legally to avoid any penalties later.
In some areas, people are expected to get permits if they want to do any construction work in their home, and failure to do that can attract monetary repercussion. If a person knows well what is expected of them, they can avoid spending more money on fines that may be very costly.
Before commencing any renovation work, it is necessary to address any moisture problems. In the many past basements have been said to have problems with leaking, flooding and condensation. To avoid a basement full of mold and musty odors in the future, deal with any moisture issues before the project begins. One way of knowing whether there is moisture in the basement is to tape two feet plastic sheeting squires on the wall as well as the floors.
Leave the test for two weeks and come and see how it has behaved. If your foundation is unsealed you will find some under the plastic. Condensation on top of the plastic means that the basement is dehumidified.
Another tip is inspecting and repairing other critical areas. Joists are very crucial and must be examined before continuing with any other work in the basement. Address any sagging joists if there are any in your basement. Examine the basement for any rot and damage to make sure remodeling runs smoothly. Also, look for rot in any wood framed windows, rim, and header joists as well as the sill plate.
The other essential thing to do is to get a professional to look for any fuel burning equipment and the ventilation in your home to make sure that carbon monoxide has not built up without you noticing. When remodeling your basement, you can decide to divide it in different rooms that can be used for different things. If you put an extra bedroom and bathroom in the space it can be used as a living area by guests or a family member.
If a kitchen is added it is easy to use the basement for entertainment purposes. Do not forget the staircase in the process of remodeling. It is essential to make sure that the staircase is functional.