No doubt, if you want to renovate your basement, it might be tedious and money-consuming. It’s not surprising that some old houses don’t have a basement. If that’s the case, where do you get the extra living space? But if you’re definitely going to go forward with the project, this article gives you some great advice.
It’s a simple case of knowing how to handle the scenario properly. When thinking about ways to renovate your basement there are many factors involved. Because you have a lot riding on this transformation, proceed smartly.
Hang on here. You’ll find out.
#1. Prevent Any Water From Entering the Basement
This is item #1 for a reason. Water is the enemy. You must ensure you don’t have any sort of liquid or water penetrating into the basement slab or foundation without your knowledge.
If you notice any stop… your first job is to find a professional to mitigate the situation. Stop the water, no matter what!
Find a reputable residential waterproofing contractor to come and assess your home’s situation. Preventing water from entering your basement will help prevent many kinds of mold and make for a more enjoyable space.
Taking this step will save you so many headaches in the future
#2. Plan Your Exit
Every building plan entails a safe exit in case of an emergency. This is especially true for any room where someone is sleeping, such as a designated bedroom.
If you’re putting in a basement window, you must ensure your opening window is large enough for individuals to exit. The egress must allow for an average-sized human being. It must also be near enough to the ground for it to be reachable.
Sometimes, this may require you to cut down your foundation to build the window properly, as it’s quite important.
#3. Check to See if Your Home Requires Additional Measures
It’s absolutely important for your home to have a solid foundation. Some structures require additional precautions, such as a shear wall if you live in an earthquake-prone country. If it’s recommended and you don’t add what the experts say you should add, things could turn ugly in the event of an emergency.
If you’re building your home from the ground up, including these additional measures during construction will save you thousands. It’s like they say, “You can pay me now or pay me later.”
#4. Eliminate the Noise
When you renovate your basement, consider how this space will also affect the rest of your home. There is a high possibility that your freshly renovated basement can affect the rest of your home with noise. Can you say “media room”?
Consider sound reduction insulation into your basement ceiling. It really can make a big difference.
Another great tool you can use to greatly reduce noise in your basement is resilient channels. Resilient channels are long pieces of metal formed like a hat when seen from the end. When you don’t have anything breaking and stopping sounds from moving out of the basement, the sound will get to the drywall through the wood.
We hope these tips will help you when it’s time to renovate your basement.
