Avoid These Common Mistakes When Finishing Your Basement

Finishing your basement is much different than remodeling the above levels of your home. The basement finishing mistakes happen because the environment is much damper and humid, creating issues with moisture. Your basement is also where all of the mechanicals of your home is located, such as your water heater, furnace, sump pump, and more, which all take up space in the basement as well as create obstacles such as wiring and piping that you need to workaround.

The combination of all of these obstacles makes finishing your basement a more difficult process when compared to the rest of your home. To avoid damage to your home, as well as to protect your financial investment, here are our top 7 things to avoid when finishing your basement.

Sturdy Flooring

Not getting quality flooring in a basement is a disaster waiting to happen. If the basement experiences flooding, which isn’t unheard of, this can result in repairs that can cost thousands, of dollars. It’s always better to select some type of commercial carpeting or vinyl flooring that can take a beating from flooding.

Problems with Moisture

Moisture issues should be taken care of before the project even begins. If the issues cannot be corrected, basement renovation will be put on hold. There are many solutions that should be taken advantage of, which includes better drains, gutters, downspouts, sealing the paint, and more. Dehumidifiers are also an option that helps. If you are unsure of what the best way to correct the moisture problems is, get in touch with an expert before it worsens.

Basement Heating

Basements are known to have cooler temperatures, even in the scorching heat of summer. Sufficient heating in the basement is very important. It can get old fast when using a blanket each time you need some alone time with a movie.

Too Much Insulation

Did you know that there is such a thing as too much wall insulation? This is something that should be avoided because it’s highly absorbent. The insulation can hold moisture which causes mold growth and can cause major problems later.

Equipment is Blocked

Building a wall around the water heater or fuse box can drastically increase repair costs when they need servicing. If you prefer to cover access points and equipment, plan on installing doors, even if they are hidden to blend in with the wall.

Importance of Power

The most common mistakes that homeowners make when finishing a basement is not making sure there are enough power outlets. It can become quite frustrating when a beautifully finished basement has only one power outlet. Keep your power needs in mind and the right amount of outlets should be installed in the early stages of renovation.

Window Framing

It is a bad idea to ignore the window framing in a basement. Windows should be sealed properly to keep out unwanted pests and moisture. The last thing any homeowner wants is to find out window leaks during a hard storm after putting up new sheetrock and paint

Add a Touch of Style

The finishing touches are a reflection of your preferred style. Wallpaper, custom paint, enhanced light, or ceiling fans can make a basement much more inviting. You can even add furniture to turn it into your own little thinking space.

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