| Finishing your basement can almost double the square | | | | room for the drain lines and pump-up system.Lighting |
| foot living space of your home. A finished basement | | | | is another important aspect of finishing a basement. |
| can include new living space such as a recreation | | | | If natural light can be installed, via the installation of |
| room, a game room, a bar and even bedrooms and | | | | windows, then I highly recommend it. Besides letting |
| bathrooms.Finishing a basement or remodeling a | | | | light in, windows also add character to the finished |
| basement is also a relatively inexpensive remodeling | | | | basement. In addition, ceiling lights should also be |
| job as frequently outside construction is not required. | | | | included in the finished basement plans, and the more |
| And since it is not a critical living area it can be | | | | the better. Finally, workspace lighting should be added |
| completed at a leisurely pace. Consequently finishing a | | | | where necessary and each set of workspace lighting |
| basement is a project that do it yourself | | | | should be controlled separately.Ceiling height is |
| homeowners can tackle.Prior to the start of finishing | | | | another major concern when finishing basements. |
| a basement, a do it yourself homeowner should first | | | | Frequently homeowners elect to go with dropped |
| develop a well thought out finished basement | | | | ceilings; however dropped ceilings can significantly |
| construction plan. To help in formulating a basement | | | | reduce ceiling height if not carefully planned. A |
| construction plan a homeowner should carefully | | | | drywalled ceiling can preserve more ceiling height and |
| evaluate the condition of their home's existing | | | | give a better finished look to the basement, |
| basement and what type of living space they want | | | | however careful planning needs to be made for |
| to achieve in the finished basement. Frequently when | | | | access points to valves and to kitchen and bathroom |
| finishing a basement, the mechanical equipment such | | | | plumbing traps.Frequently finished basements include |
| as water heaters, furnaces, and water and oil | | | | home theater systems. Particular attention should be |
| storage tanks will need to be moved. With careful | | | | given to electrical wiring for basement home theater |
| planning some of this movement can be | | | | systems. Besides electrical wiring, there is speaker |
| minimized.When finishing a basement a homeowner | | | | wire, cable wire, and Cat-5 wiring that is typically |
| should also consider any water or moisture problems | | | | required for a quality home theater system.With a |
| that do exist or could exist in the basement. | | | | well thought out basement remodeling plan a finished |
| Perimeter drains may be required. In addition the | | | | basement can be major plus to your home, both in |
| exterior and interior concrete walls of the basement | | | | personal utilization and resale value. Addressing up |
| may need to be sealed.If a bathroom or wet bar is | | | | front key items such as basement water and |
| to be installed, then plumbing will need to be carefully | | | | moisture issues, as well as lighting and ceiling heights |
| considered, particularly if the home is on a private | | | | concerns, can help to ensure you get the finished |
| septic system. A pump up waste water system may | | | | basement you have been dreaming about.For more |
| be required and if so a portion of the existing | | | | help on finishing your basement, see |
| concrete floor may need to be removed to allow | | | | HomeAdditionPlus. |