6 Valuable Tips for Renovating Your Basement (Part 1)
Renovating your basement not only adds value to your home but can also be an efficient way to use the extra space. There are several different spaces you can create in your basement such as a home office, family room, guest suite, and more. To make the most of your basement finishing project, the team at DJL Builders Inc recommends following these six tips to help save time and money throughout your basement renovation.
1. Make Repairs as Needed
Before making any renovations in your basement, it’s best to make any repairs first. Three areas to check would be moisture, plumbing, and electrical wiring. If you have a notorious Michigan wet basement, you may need to hire someone to look at your property and figure out why this keeps happening. It may be as simple as grading the soil to slope away from the foundation or adding gutters and downspouts. If you plan on adding a bathroom or kitchen area in the basement, you’ll want to double-check the plumbing. With any type of remodeling, checking that the electrical is up to code and can handle the renovations you’re making will save you a lot of expensive trouble in the future.
2. Insulate & Waterproof the Walls
Once the basement is moisture-free, you can begin to insulate and waterproof the walls. There are waterproofing solutions that can be applied just like paint. They fill in any pores in concrete or masonry walls, keeping water from leaking inside your basement. Be sure to fill in every hole with the waterproofing material. It’s also a good idea to add a second coat after the first one dries. Adding insulation to your basement wall will help avoid energy loss and reduce your heating bills.
3. Install Drainage Mats & Heating Cables
Drainage mats serve a few purposes. First, they allow air to circulate under the flooring which will also prevent any moisture buildup. Second, they also add another layer of insulation separating the floor from the cold concrete underneath. If you really want to keep your family warm in your new basement, we recommend installing heating cables on the floor. While it won’t necessarily warm the air in the basement, it will make the floor very comfortable to walk on. The downside to using heating cables is that it can be quite expensive, and will increase your utility bills.
Contact the Basement Specialists Today
If you are thinking of renovating your basement, request a consultation from the basement specialists today at (734) 259-5355. Not only do we provide basement finishing and design services, but we also provide kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, whole home remodeling, home additions, and custom home building in Plymouth and beyond.
Source: “19 Tips for Finishing Basements.” Web article. Family Handyman. Home Service Publications, 16 Oct. 2018. Web. 13 Dec. 2021.