Basement Finishing Plans

Gone are the days when the basement’s only purpose is for storage space. You can’t believe how beautiful and functional your basement can be. Yes you would have to shell out a considerable amount of money but think of it as an investment that will definitely add value to your home.

Before starting with the actual work, you need to have a basement finishing plan, this will serve as your guide in doing the project. The first thing that you have to decide on is what you will use your basement for. Here are some of the most popular basement finishing plans:

1.) Basement Bar - If you’re the type of person who likes having friends come over for drinks then having a bar right in your home is a great idea. You can either buy a ready-made bar or hire a carpenter to build you one to make it more personalized.

A bar unit can cost anywhere between $185 and $600. Complete the look by buying bar stools. Martini shakers, wine glasses, beer dispensers can also be added to your list. You can include other furniture in your basement as well like comfortable couches and chairs. You can also set up a poker table so the guys can play and drink at the same time. Your hubby is going to love you for this!

2.) Basement Bedroom/Kids’ Room – If you’re always picking up toys all around the house, then you might consider putting the kids’ room to the basement. This way, you won’t have to worry about stumbling on toys and other stuff and besides the basement will give your kids enough room to play. It will also free up one of the room upstairs. This is one of the basement finishing plans that I really like.

3.) Basement Theater/Movie Room – Since the basement lacks natural light, why not take advantage of it and convert it into a movie room. You don’t have to worry about soundproofing because you can easily do this by installing acoustical ceiling. You can ask your contractor how to get rid of that echoing sound in your basement.

Complete the look by purchasing the same seats that they use in theaters. Huge movie wall posters and wall lights can easily be installed to complete the look. It will be more fun if you will have a popcorn maker in the movie room.

Basement Finishing Costs

A lot of houses have unfinished basements or homeowners just use the space to store things that they sparingly use not realizing that a basement can add an additional living space which can definitely add value to the home. If you are seriously contemplating on finishing your basement or you’re just shopping around to see what will be the basement finishing costs, you need to have a finished plan. Planning carefully will save you tons of troubles in the future.

If you are not that creative and you have a lot of money to spare, you can hire a professional architect or a designer to draw plans for you. However, sometimes this is unnecessary because the basement is already structurally done. You can just browse for finished basement photos over the internet. A lot of them are free so don’t worry about paying extra for these. Should you decide to hire a professional designer, you’re looking at $300 to $1,000 depending on your preference’s complexity. A lot of contractors offer free design so you might want to include this with your options.

Make sure to include electrical, heating or plumbing materials to your basement finishing costs. What are the other things that comprise the cost? New carpeting, paint for your walls and ceilings, new drywall and ceiling, lights, door, windows (optional) and other finishing materials will run up the cost. You can ask your local home improvement store for a price list of all the things you need so you’ll have an idea how far you can go. You can always use the internet to search for prices. After detailing your plan, you can work on the other specifics of the project.

It’s better if you make a list what type of drapes, carpeting, paint and electrical fixtures you will be using. Base carpeting prices start around $15 per yard but they can cost as much as $120 per yard. If you’re not sure what quality you want and you are not comfortable spending too much, it’s always safe to go for standard builder grade quality. Once you are ready to specify the quality of your finishes, you can google them online or you can go to your local store.

The next step in estimating basement finishing costs is figuring out the cost for each separate item. For example, in my area, drywall is currently priced at $0.90 per square foot. If I multiply it with 480 square feet, my cost will be $432. If you are hiring a professional to do it for you, add about 30% to 40% for overhead and profit. After adding all the separate unit prices, you should have an idea what your finishing costs will be. The average cost for basement finishing is $15 to $35 per square foot but then again it will still depend on the materials used.

Remodeled Basement: Office Space You’ll Love

A lot of homeowners basically use the basement as a storage space without realizing that they can convert it into something more useful and valuable. With the recent economic crisis, people want to save as much money as they can. If you have a basement and you are renting an office space, you might as well have a remodeled basement that you can use to work at home.

Working from home is not new to us and a lot of people are now actually doing that not only to save money but because it gives them more flexibility. This is a much cheaper alternative to leasing office space in a commercial office building.

I wouldn’t really consider having a remodeled basement as an expense, it is rather an investment. Before you embark on a new project to turn your basement into a workable office area, you have to consider a lot of things first. A detailed plan is always a must on any type of project especially if you want to avoid spending on unnecessary materials. Draw the layout, think how many desks or any office equipment you need and where you will put them.

One piece of advice that I can give you is getting rid of all the mess and clutter in your basement because a clear basement will help you think more logically because you can envision the design and layout pretty good.

You can cover the duct work by installing a good quality dropped ceiling. You can choose to do the carpeting on your own. Remember that good lighting is very important so you can work properly. Fluorescent lights are more appropriate for a remodeled basement which will be used as an office space. If you’re thinking about designing your basement walls, you can do so by installing good quality paneling. The installation of office cubicles or desk comes next.

If there will be different people working in your office basement, cubicles will offer more privacy. However, if you will be the only one using the basement office, then you’ll be ok with a desk and some chairs to accommodate your guests. Some desks and cubicles are already designed with electrical outlets, date ports and side wall shelving so you can store books and other documents. You can also put other furniture in your office basement to break the formal look and make it more comfortable.

Helpful Finish Basement Ideas To Remodel Your Basement

The basement is probably the most flexible room in the house because you can pretty much convert it into anything you want. There are tons of finish basement ideas online and on magazines and oftentimes, homeowners get confused with what they want to use their basement for.

There are hundreds of possibilities and with modern designs and with the use of state-of-the-art tools, you can make your basement look unbelievably gorgeous that it won’t feel like it is a basement at all. I can’t blame those people who are willing to spend thousands of dollars to make their basement fully functional. It’s very much worth the money because like I always say, it’s an investment rather than expense.

If you have no idea what you will use your basement for, here are a couple of helpful finish basement ideas that you might consider:

Basement Office Space- With the economy not doing so well these days, it’s not wise to keep on paying expensive rental expenses when you can use a room in your house to do all your work. If you have a basement, consider yourself lucky because you can convert it into an office space. What’s good about this idea is that you have the advantage of separating the office from other rooms in your house like the family room. This is a good way to separate work from family time because when you’re in the basement, you feel that you are entirely in a different place so it means you don’t associate it with your home. The quiet and serene nature of the basement is ideal for a work space.

Basement Gym- We often encounter the dilemma of having enough space in the house to make way for huge and heavy exercise equipment. If you only use your basement as a storage area, why don’t you convert it into something useful? Something that will help eliminate your problems with not having too much space for you to exercise. The basement is an isolated room which can be good to house all your gym equipment.

Basement Bathroom - If you have a typically small house and you only have one bathroom but you have an empty space in the basement then you might as well have another bathroom. A bathroom can easily be set up in the basement because you already have the pipes, it won’t require a lot of work anymore. You can have a very spacious bathroom down in your basement, go ahead and add a bathtub apart from your regular shower room.

These 3 are just some of the finish basement ideas that you can look into. There are more ideas out there, you just have to click and read.

How to Remodel a Basement to Have a Warm and Cozy Ambience

The basement is cold, dark and damp by its nature, no wonder a lot of people don’t invest their money in remodeling their basement. It’s good to know that basement finishing has evolved and you can’t believe how amazing your basement can be just by using a couple of tricks. People usually get lost on how to remodel a basement because there’s just too much information out there. If you do not have any idea what to use your basement for then you might want to consider having an additional living room where everyone can go down to and have a good conversation or simply a room where you can relax and get away from the outside world.

If you want a room which will help you relax and feel warm and easy, you have to create that cozy atmosphere. You can remodel your basement into pretty much anything you like and this task is not as difficult as how others would put it. What does a cozy ambience mean? Well it simply means warm, friendly, comfortable and informal atmosphere. Forget about that image in your head that the basement is dark and creepy.

By making use of the right colors, overstuffed furniture and useful accessories, any basement can become warm and cozy. To achieve that warm finish, you have to paint your walls in a neutral tone. Eggshell is a nice color or perhaps warm beige or light yellow. You can also go for warmer sage colors or brownish tones depending on your furniture and carpeting. In general, warm colors are in shades of red, orange and yellow.

What about furniture? It’s a great idea to layer in your furniture and select oversized and overstuffed seatings, loveseats, sofas or couches. A warm and cozy room is a nice place to have a conversation and what’s better than a huge comfortable couch? If you are using old furniture, try using a slipcover to give it new life. Make sure you choose a slipcover that sends off warmness. Throw pillows and candles will make good accessories. When it comes to lighting, crisp bright lights shouldn’t be considered if you want that warm and cozy ambience. Consider using a combination of floor, table and wall lighting apart from the ceiling light. Go for soft lights. Don’t try to light every single corner but rather focus on a focal point.

Basement Finishing: Theater Room | Tips To Think About

Basement finishing is probably one of the most fun tasks when it comes to home improvement. Instead of constructing an additional room in your house, you can just make use of your basement to convert it into a usable and functional living space that everyone can enjoy. Almost everyone loves watching movies and turning your basement into a theater room will be a dream come true.

Seating in a darkened theater allows you to be in a different world that lets you experience action, adventure and fantasy. With the advances we have nowadays, we can enjoy our movies in crystal-clear quality right at the comfort of our own homes. Most of us would want to create a space in our home to serve a single purpose and the basement will make a great theater room.

Basement finishing has come a long way and you’ll be surprised or perhaps excited with how much you can do with the space in your basement. Yes it is possible to replicate all the sights and smells of a walk-in theater. The key in creating the right ambience is identifying the elements which make up the look and feel of a real movie theater.

You have the option to improve the actual viewing theater and the concession area by adding floor height drapes and curtains that are fastened to the walls. This will dress up the room and will provide elegant décor as well. Aside from the wall-mounted LCD or Plasma TV and home entertainment center, what else do you need? Of course you need rows of seats facing the screen. You can find stores that actually sell the same seats that are used in theaters. There are also high-end big theater seats that are readily available. I saw some of these seats and they kinda’ look like recliners. Now that’s comfort!

Before you actually start with your basement finishing project, you have to clear the room and make sure you get rid of the things that you will no longer have use for. A garage sale is not a bad idea at all. Paint the floor with a darker color or if your basement is equipped with exterior waterproofing, you can just choose a carpet with darker color. Cover your walls with easy-to-maintain fabrics that have darker colors whether you’re considering solids or patterns. Cotton, polyester and muslin fabrics are easy to hang and you can throw it in your laundry with ease.

With regard to lighting, you can install wall lamps and make sure all of them are spaced evenly around the room and they should be connected to a common dimmer switch. To complete your home theater, you can purchase a popcorn maker and make sure you have your refrigerator so that you’ll always have cold drinks available. Movie posters are also great additions to your basement theater room.

How to Pick Basement Remodeling Contractor

Sometimes hiring a basement remodeling contractor is a smarter move than pulling off a DIY project especially if you don’t have the time to learn everything at a short period of time. Basement finishing projects are one of the most cost-effective home improvement projects that you can carry out. If you do it right, you will enjoy your basement for many years to come. Not only that, you are also adding a huge value to your home. The basement used to serve only one purpose and that is to store things that we sparingly use. Now, it’s amazing how much we can do with the basement as you can convert it into pretty much whatever you please.

One of the reasons why you want to hire a basement remodeling contractor is because you want an expert to take care of your basement’s moisture problem or condition. If you don’t deal with moisture problems at first hand, you would have to worry about dealing with water damage and costly repairs in the future one way or the other. There are a lot of companies to choose from and it can be confusing for homeowners because we only want the best service. Be very careful with huge and sales-oriented basement contractors with tons of advertisements. They tend to charge higher amounts because they pass on campaign and advertising expenses to consumers. I’m not saying either that you should settle for a basement remodeling contractor who charges dirt cheap. Sometimes they do this because of the lack in trade experience.

Look for a company that is managed by experienced trade people with commendable work ethics. They’re actually in the middle. Make sure you choose one that can comply with your needs and requirements. While most basement contractors usually ask for a 30% deposit, be cautious of those who demand full payment upfront. Don’t fall for basement contractors who go knocking on each door and those who claim to offer a huge discount because of the left over materials from the last job. Observe if the contractor is rushing you to sign the contract without reading the terms and conditions or any necessary paperworks. You also have to make sure that the contractor you are hiring has a license. Check if they have workers’ compensation insurance because this will cover their damages just in case one worker is injured. If you are going to hire a basement contractor who does not have insurance proof and one of the workers suffers an accident, the property owner may be sued for financial obligations. So before hiring a contractor, make sure you do your part in making a research and a little investigation.

How to Save on Basement Remodeling Costs by Hiring a Contractor

In today’s economic condition, saving the most money that we can is not a bad idea. Remodeling a basement will require you to shell out a considerable amount of money but there are definitely some ways on how you can save on basement remodeling costs. It’s actually a smart move to do your home improvement project during this low period.

Should you decide to sell your house in the future or you just want to make your home value go up, the basement is one area in the house that you want to work on. One of the most popular ways to add extra living space in your home is to have the basement remodeled. Before embarking on a new project, you have to come up with a plan that is cost-effective, functional and of course something that will be fun for you. Before you rule out the option of hiring a contractor, you have to think of other ways on how to minimize basement remodeling costs.

When it comes to affordable basement remodeling or finishing, a general contractor can be more important than the materials. For a lot of homeowners who choose to pull off a DIY, they end up having a sub-standard basement which leaves them dissatisfied of course. The best that you can hope for is a project that is mistakenly done that will require you to draw high bills from a contractor you had to call just to correct your mistakes. If you want to save money, don’t be scared in negotiating with the contractor for the best possible price.

Be honest on how much you can afford. In addition to that, a contractor can help you find great deals when it’s time for you to buy the materials needed in remodeling your basement. Contractors usually have some kind of a deal or special price with local home improvement stores because they get materials in bulk. Talk about loads of discounts!

Waterproofing, lighting, fixtures and flooring can be very expensive. Your contractor can tell you which discount products are worth your money, they know because of their experience in the industry. They are the best persons to ask when it comes to this matter.

Tips on Dealing with Basement Remodeling Contractors

Remodeling your basement will not only add extra living space but it will also increase the value of your home. It will not be an easy task and if you want to do a DIY project, you’re looking at spending 6 months before you see the final results. If you do not have the luxury of time to do the remodeling project on your own then you’re better off hiring a company to do it for you. There are a lot of basement remodeling contractors out there and choosing the best one for you can be very tricky and it requires a lot of time when it comes to decision making.

Before you start dialing phone numbers, you need to have an idea what you want to use your basement for. Having a detailed plan will help the contractor in giving you a close estimate. Once you’ve decided about the design and the function of your basement, it’s time for you to start looking for basement remodeling contractors. The internet is a good place to look and so is the yellow page. You can also ask relatives, friends or coworkers if they know a good company that they can recommend.

Once you’ve finally decided about which contractor you are going to hire the next question is, how do you deal with them? Basically, basement contractors will need very little ground level working space from you. You don’t have to worry about rearranging your home for them because they will be working below ground anyway. It is very important though to move anything and everything that will be in their way. Although there are no specific rules or etiquette when it comes to dealing with basement remodeling contractors, it’s good to establish a good one to make the work easier and a lot smoother. If there are people working in your home, it is a common etiquette to allow them to use your bathroom. I’m sure you don’t want to ask your worker to go down to the local convenience store just like what other clients do. If you were in their shoes, you wouldn’t appreciate such behavior. It’s also not necessary to offer them snacks, beverages, towels and trash bags because this is not indicated in the contract that you signed but keep in mind that these people are working hard for you. Offering them cold drinks and snacks will not hurt you. Being easy to get along with, respectful and nice is not a bad idea at all. If you treat your workers nice, you will get the same response and I bet they will work harder.

DIY Basement Remodeling – Do It Yourself Basement Remodeling Guide

Planning a do-it-yourself basement remodeling project? Want to add a family room, basement bar, or entertainment room to your basement? Perhaps an additional bedroom in your basement? Take time to read these 5 tips for the best results on your DIY basement remodeling.

The Do it Yourself Basement Remodeling Guide

There are certain basic thing to remember when you plan to do a do it yourself basement remodeling. It is good to remodel your basement according to how it is going to be used. It will also allow you to enhance the appearance of the basement itself.

1. What are you going to use the basement for?

Planning for a do it yourself basement remodeling, should always begin with deciding what you are going to turn the basement into. Is it going to be a play room for the kids or a wine cellar? Will you be adding a bathroom or a fire place?

2. Fix any existing problems.

Existing problems in your basement should be remedied at this point. Make sure that your basement is free from leaks. Check the walls and the foundation for any cracks or holes. Make sure that you seal the cracks and fill in the holes properly. If not, all your hard work will be destroyed by water or moisture that leaks in. The foundation should also be in top shape. Make sure that it is not bowed.

3. Make sure that the basement is insulated and well heated.

Check the existing furnace if it is able to heat the basement efficiently. If not, you should probably consider replacing it or adding another one. Insulating your walls will also help in keeping the basement warm. Some companies offer electric floor heating that will not only keep the room warmer but will also fight off the growth of mold and mildew. You may also add a fire place to help in maintaining a warm room temperature but make sure that it is compatible with how your basement is going to be utilized.

4. Design your basement.

Design your basement according to its use. If it will be a recreational room, bring down that home-theater system. If you will use it as a workshop, put shelves and cabinets to store your tools. A painting studio will definitely need natural light. Add windows. For a kids play room, choose bright colors and make sure that the room is kid-friendly. The visual design of your basement will depend on your personal style.

5. Don’t forget the lights.

Adding windows to a basement that is partially above ground is a good way to let natural light in. Regardless of having basement windows or not, it is important that you also put artificial lights in your basement. Strategically place the lights around the room. Choose from different kinds and sizes of lights that match your basement design.

These do it yourself basement remodeling tips will definitely turn any dark and old basement into a bright and lively room that is going to add another exceptional room to your home.

Are you spending beyond your means for basement remodeling? Save precious dollars by getting practical advice on basement remodeling ideas.