Is your basement being put to good use? While you may be storing
furniture, canned goods, or tools downstairs, why not refurbish
your home's lowest level and add living space to your family
home? It really isn't terribly difficult or expensive if you
start with basic changes that will let you enjoy this extra
space.
Start by taking an inventory of the usable space in your
basement. How many rooms could be converted to accommodate daily
activities, and which ones would better serve occasional events,
like holiday celebrations or kids' parties? If you are storing
things in the basement, can these be moved to another area, or
will they need to be kept downstairs but perhaps in one of the
rooms rather than all? You also will need to work around heating
and cooling appliances like the furnace, air conditioner, and
hot water tank, as well as laundry equipment if you have it.
When you have an idea of how much area you can afford to remake,
you can start to shuffle storage and appliances to make room for
your remodeling plans.
Then decide which improvements you would like most to have. If
you can't afford them all at once, you can do the repairs in
stages. Do a survey of the basement to list every needed repair,
update, or improvement, including the simplest as well as the
most demanding. Work out a budget to see which ones you can
afford to start with. You may have to contact local home
improvement materials suppliers for the cost of supplies needed
for the repairs. If you need to hire the work done rather than
do it yourself, calculate this cost as well, estimating on the
high rather than the low side.
Begin with the most pressing needs. For example, water damage or
leaks, mold, cracked windows, and radon or carbon monoxide
testing should be done to eliminate safety hazards and problems
that will only get worse with time. You may need to have your
appliances inspected, repaired, or replaced.
When these have been addressed, the next step will be to take
care of structural damage. Plaster holes, cracked concrete
floors, electrical updates, and plumbing overhauls should be the
next set of repairs. These will bring your basement up to code
and prepare it for the aesthetic level of improvements that go
hand-in-hand with home decorating.
If your budget holds out, you may next want to look at adding
air vents, replacing window frames or the windows themselves
with glass block, and installing floor tiles, rather than
carpet, since they are easier to clean and maintain. You can
even put up wallboard or panel siding to make the rooms more
homey and inviting. Lighting fixtures or track lighting can
brighten dark or dim areas of your basement.
From there it is just a matter of adding furnishings to
complete your renovation project. To cut costs, you can buy
these second-hand at garage sales or thrift stores, or buy
seconds at furniture stores, since these items won't be used
everyday.
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