One of the best things that you can do in regards to updating your home is to finish the basement. We know this quite well, and have made sure to create compelling resources to help any homeowner get a handle on this upgrade. When considering finishing the down stairs of any home, it’s important to look at a few tips and tricks along the way. The more you focus on the basic ideas, the better the project will turn out. Over the years, there are common elements that need attention, and the following are just four of many tips that have come through the years of working on basements small and large.

Keep Everything Dry

The reason why we do not recommend any “weekend warriors” attack this type of project is because of this problem. Keeping everything dry is not just about letting humidity out and streamlining ventilation. The goal is to create a barrier between the outside world and any sort of water that could come through. Even a small drip between raw materials and concrete or a small crack in the foundation can end up causing mold and water damage. If you finish a basement without focusing on protecting from all water leaks, you could end up dealing with a huge problem down the line.

Taking Care of Permits

Homeowners that are doing improvements don’t usually need to call the city for permits. However, when you’re going to do a finishing project, it matters. The necessary permits are required to work on plumbing electrical, and construction work within a home, even if you own it outright. That’s where we come into play as we already know how to navigate these seas. You could try to do it on your own, but you may be in for a shock when you have to come up with a lot of answers for the questions asked. This is not just something you look up on the internet and work with; you need to know the code.

Insulating Properly

Finished basements don’t just need to look good, they need to have the form and function of the rest of your home. That isn’t a matter of visual design flow, as much as it is a construction element. With that in mind, consider that insulation is absolutely important. It will keep the cold out and allow for warmth within the area. Alongside this, we also create vapor barriers, and ventilation elements to ensure that the moisture levels in the air do not rise to certain levels. There needs to be balance here or else the slightest push in moisture could produce mold spores. Insulating is not just about putting up barriers between drywall either, there’s more to it than that.

Dropping the Ceiling

A dropped ceiling is one of the best tips that you can adhere to when thinking about finishing a basement. When done right, this can allow for better electrical wiring, and lighting. The ceiling will not look like a solid piece moving forward, as there will be tiles, but with lighting and other fixtures, you won’t even notice. Some compare this to an “office”, but it can be customized to fit a great number of design ideas.

The above are just some tried and true tips that we’ve come across from many years of finishing basements for homeowners. Of course these are just some of the common things we work with. They do not represent the entirety of the options that you can flow with. However, they do point towards common grounds in terms of this type of construction project to increase value or to improve living conditions. Call us to discuss your options regarding our basement finishing processes. We have offices from Chicago to Rhode Island and several points between. Choose the number nearest you and give us a call to talk about finishing your basement.