Guide to Finishing a Basement

The various issues to take into account when considering the renovation or remodeling of a basement are discussed in this guide to finishing a basement. Usually, this is the part of the home that is not completely finished when you bought it. This is because the basement is commonly utilized only as a storage of various belongings that are no longer used or those that are seldom used. Moreover, this particular part of the home has the tendency to be damp because of seepage of water from the surrounding soil. Thus, many people do not want to attempt to make the basement as a part of the livable space in the home because of the unique challenges that it presents. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome these challenges and this guide to finishing a basement will discuss some of them.It should be noted that if you are knowledgeable on how to provide a remedy to the dampness in the basement, then you are one step closer to converting this unused part of the house into a place that plays a vital role in improving the quality of life of the members of the household. This is because there are many finish basement designs that are available for free from both print and online sources. This guide to finishing a basement is by no means exhaustive of the many things that you can do but is only designed to point you towards the right direction in making a proper appraisal of the importance of your basement.To solve the natural abundance of moisture in the basement, waterproofing the floor and the walls is essential. This will provide a barrier to the water that is trying to get inside the room. This is important because you may not be able to use carpets on the floor or wallpaper on the walls if they are damp. On top of these, the wet walls and floors are conducive for the rapid reproduction of mold and mildew that do not only destroy your belongings. They also contribute to health problems like asthma, hay fever and bronchitis, among others.You will also need to install the proper plumbing and electrical wiring, based on your specific purpose for the basement. And after these have been installed by a certified plumber and electrician, respectively, the next step is to install a vapor barrier and insulation. After this, you will install the flooring, the drywalls or wood panels, the baseboards, the decorations, the lighting fixtures and others. You may do these things yourself. However, hiring a professional to do these things may be more cost effective if you do not have sufficient experience regarding these matters. Having the appropriate guide to finishing a basement would allow you to avoid mistakes that may ultimately be more expensive in terms of the time and money that may be wasted. After all of these things have been completed, you will benefit from the additional space and the improvement in the market value of your home.