Remodeling A Basement - A DIY Guide

Of all the projects you may have planned for your home, remodeling a basement should be very high on your list.

There are several reasons for this. For starters, it's a great way to give your home more liveable space. It will also make your home more valuable. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it is a relatively easy project for any do-it-yourselfer.

Think about it for a second. With a basement, more often than not you are starting with a clean slate. In other words, a large and empty room. That means there's no demolishing like there would be in other rooms. Plus, chances are you don't have those difficult plumbing fixtures to deal with. That's something you can't say for the kitchen or the bathroom. Remodeling a basement is much easier.

So let's start this project, as we would any other, with a plan. Get it down on paper. It doesn't have to be an architectural rendering, just make a sketch of what you want to accomplish.

Now, before you do anything else, check with your city or county about the building codes. You'll find they vary but could be anything one thing that may be of concern is anything that has to do with the size, type or number of windows that should be installed. This is usually more of a factor in a bedroom, but it's always better to be sure first. It may not be a problem if you will never sell the home or if you aren't financing it, but if you are, these will need to be adhered to. Of course they should be anyway because they typically involve exits in case of fire.

Now that you've got all that straightened out, let's look at the walls. Your first step should be to put on some kind of water sealant. Without it, damage to the paneling or sheetrock will surely happen. Most basements do have issues with water and dampness. Check yours carefully. Repair and treat any existing issues first, or you'll have a much more difficult and costly job later. Removable floor coverings are recommended for basements that have water issues. This way you can remove them during those especially troublesome times of the year. You may even want to consider painting the concrete floor to match the rest of the colors in the room. The use an area rug to cover. There are plenty of good concrete paints out there and you can get just about any color you desire.

Once the waterproofing, floors and walls are take care of, the rest is up to you. You'll find that by remodeling your basement you'll add a lot more value to your home than what you invest. Plus it can be an exciting family project. And when it's done you'll have an additional room for entertaining or doing whatever you want. Have a plan, do it right, and enjoy the extra space for years to come.