Renovate Your Basement Using These 5 Tips

Renovating a basement can be quite difficult, especially if you live in an older home because those basements were not designed to be turned into fabulous living spaces. There are plenty of things that you can do during the renovation process to make it easier and many of those same things will make your life easier in the future too.

Here are 5 tips that will help you survive your basement renovation:

Plan the exits

Every livable space in your home must have an exit route, which means that you will need to determine how you would exit your basement once it is remodeled. Most of the time, this exit route is a window, so you will want to make sure that the ones in your basement will open far enough to allow a person to get out.

Check for hazardous materials

There can be numerous hazardous materials lurking inside your basement and you will want to have them safely removed before the work begins. If you choose to leave them in place, you risk having them disturbed during the construction process or having them affect how you can use this space in the future. We know that you don’t want to use a space where you can be exposed to lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials!

Prevent water damage

It is common for water to enter a basement space, which is why you will want to have your basement checked for cracks and water seepage before you start renovating. Taking the time beforehand will prevent a ton of damage in the future when that water can ruin the insulation, sheetrock, carpeting, and more.

Think about the future

Any projects that you are considering doing in other parts of your home will affect your basement in the future. We recommend thinking about these projects now and being proactive during your basement renovation by installing features that will be needed in the future or keeping certain areas accessible for necessary repairs. After all, you aren’t going to want to tear up all your hard work and do it all over again.

Reduce the Volume

The noise in your basement will be heard throughout your entire home, which is why we recommend soundproofing it or using materials that will absorb some of the sounds. You will thank us afterward when you have a half of a dozen kids down there playing and having fun.

There is a lot to think about when renovating a basement, but if you follow these tips and listen to your contractor, you will have a fabulous space to enjoy in the future.