Basements can take on a lot of uses for your home. Sometimes the act as a storage container. Sometimes they are a playroom for your children. Depending on the year your home was built, the basement is likely also your laundry space. Often times they are all of them combined. Any renovation can be a big undertaking. And can be overwhelming for any family. Renovating your basement can be especially tricky as it is also the foundation of your home and it usually also houses all the mechanicals. Like the furnace, water system and electrical components, Here are a few things to consider when renovating your basement.
Test for Moisture
The one thing you really want to avoid is renovating in the winter only to have to flood in the spring. To keep that from happening, you must test for moisture. You can use a special moisture tester for this, or you can hire an inspector to come and take a look. You may be required to moisture proof some of the outer areas of your home if access moisture is located. It is so much more cost effective to deal with this now, then after you’ve finished the basement.
Design an Open Concept Layout
The lack of natural light in the lower level of your home already creates enough of a dark and dreary feeling. Adding walls and rooms are just going to increase that feeling. When you are considering the layout of the basement renovation, keeps walls to a minimum. Not only will this benefit you while you are loving there, but it will more of a draw to potential buyers should you ever decide to sell your home. With an open concept basement floor plan you can design and plan different areas to have different uses.
Incorporate Some Space for Storage
Your home needs storage. And one of the biggest bonuses of adding a storage dedicated room in the basement is that it doesn’t need to be finished like the rest of the renovation. You can save a little extra money here. Incorporating your storage room into areas near the mechanicals make sense in a basement renovation.
Remember the Lighting
Picking the wrong lighting can be a deal breaker for your basement reno. Before you begin you will want to strategically plan the right spots for pot lights in the ceiling. You can invest in lights that mimic sunlight to help keep your basement feeling light and airy. You will also want to give some thought to the placement of lamps and mirrors. Mirrors will help reflect the natural light from any of the windows located in the basement.
Stick to your budget
You decided on a budget for a reason. The majority of homeowners that say they have had an unsuccessful renovation is because they have not stuck to their original budget. It may mean you have to make some concessions in some areas. The best plan of attack is to price everything beforehand so you know exactly what it is going to cost. Keep a contingency budget. You never know what you will find when you start opening up walls.
If you need some help with your basement renovation or have questions about the Markham real estate market, contact Martin MacFarlane today. Martin is happy to help you in any way he can.
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