Basement Renovation Ideas
Need more living space, but can’t afford a bigger home or just simply love your neighborhood? Explore the underground! Most homes in Canada have an unfinished basement. Remodeling this commonly under used space might give you the needed exercise room, extra family room, a relaxing entertainment space or just an extra playroom, game room for your kids. Whatever your need might be, finishing the basement is always the most effective way to extend your living space.
When considering a basement renovation, start by making a floor plan. Remember to mark the existing location of your furnace, sump-pump, washer and dryer (if applicable) and any large appliances. Take notes on:
- Location of windows and doors
- Location of support columns and bins
- Current location of Rough-in plumbing and where you wish to have your extra bathroom
- Stair locations – from upstairs and outside
- Electrical panel location
- Duct pipes location and their heights
Basement renovations can be often more challenging then what first meet the eye. Before you start your basement finishing project you should check for any cracks that could cause water leaking. Before you finish your basement, you should fix any drainage problems around the perimeter of your house. This should relieve pressure on foundation walls and prevent further cracking. Existing cracks then should be sealed from inside using hydraulic cement or silicone caulk. Professional Basement Renovation Contractors can help you take appropriate measures to ensure your basement is free of moisture.
Many basements have low ceilings and few small windows. But this doesn’t have to limit your basement finishing plans. A professional electrician can help you to explore many creative ways to make your basement a bright and joinable space. Always use a licensed electrician who will use appropriate electrical lines and outlets to comply with building codes.
The following basement finishing ideas can help you transform your unfinished basement into a beautiful, functional living space.
- Stay away from dark wood paneling and instead consider drywall painted in light tones to make the room brighter. Semi-gloss paint will gently reflect even more light into the room.
- Open up the visual space. Double doors—even glass double interior doors—take away the typical cubicle look. How about a rounded archway or pass-through area from one room into another? Glass blocks are great to let the light in while still giving enough privacy to separate and office room. Mirrors can be used to give you the visual of a bigger room.
- Check to see if existing windows can be enlarged. Or, consider installing a small boxed window for a mini-garden to grow herbs or start plant seedlings. This will greatly increase the amount of light coming into the basement and provide a view to the great outdoors.
- Built-in bookcases and entertainment units add a richness and depth to a room. Light them with either interior lights or from the top to cast light upwards.
- Disguise vertical support beams, and horizontal ceiling pipes or floor joists by boxing them in. Or, you might decide to actually use pipes and beams as interesting accents by painting them with bold colors or with subtle earth tones.
An unfinished basement is much like a diamond in the rough—unexplored and awaiting your discovery! If you have any questions about basement renovation options, don’t hesitate to contract our top rated contractors and service professionals from our Contractor Directory.
If you are not a hands-on person and don’t feel comfortable to begin your DIY basement finishing project or you might just not be familiar with certain basic code requirements just take few moments to post your basement renovation project for free and have local quality contractors compete for your project.
Which basement finishing ideas turned out to be the best choices for your family in the long run and which ones where overprices extras you never really used to their maximum benefit?
Happy New Year – Welcome 2011
We are few hours away to saying good-bye to this year, but we are nowhere near the end….the Best is ready to Begin.
The New Year is full of promise, though you may also get a fair share of tough times. With each progressing year, you find yourself growing confident, experienced, and wise. That’s the gift of the New Year. Raise a toast to the year that holds many promises.
To help you cherish the spirit of New Year in a better and a special way, here is an exhaustive and awesome collection of New Year Quotes.
Share these quotes on New Year with your loved ones and wish them health and happiness in the coming year.
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin
No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam. ~Charles Lamb
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Continue reading “Happy New Year – Welcome 2011” »
Christmas Decoration Ideas and Tips
December gives us the perfect excuse to pamper ourselves and our loved ones with holiday cheer. Christmas is without a doubt one of the most cherished and celebrated times of the year. One of the best ways to anticipate, celebrate, and make the most of the holidays is the use of Christmas decorations. Decorating your home is even good for you. Psychologists report that change, planning, and entertainment make people happy.
There is nothing lovelier than entering a house at Christmastime that is filled with beautiful Christmas decorations that reflect the love of the family and the values of the season.
Putting up Christmas lights, both inside and outside, is a tradition for millions of families across the globe.
Whether your outdoor Christmas decorating ideas include decorating so brightly that your yard and home can be seen from space or are more modest, an easy and fun way to decorate your home with holiday cheer is with light decorations. Continue reading “Christmas Decoration Ideas and Tips” »
Is Your Home Ready for Winter?
When the first frost hits the ground, many Canadians simply turn up the thermostat and hope for a short season as winter approaches. But experts say that doing a few things around the yard and home now can make the months ahead more enjoyable – and affordable.
Winterizing a home is usually performed in the fall before snow and excessive cold have arrived, and it protects against damage due to bursting water pipes, and from heat loss due to openings in the building envelope.
Homeowners often may not realize how many places in their house may lose heat. To maintain warmth, these areas use more energy during the cold winter months.
There are ways to keep your home comfortable, while cutting back on its energy consumption. Seasonal renovations are good way to make sure you are ready for winter.
The primary heat loss in most homes is caused by air leakage and infiltration. Preventing leaks, as well as performing yearly maintenance on your home will help ensure your home is prepared for the first frost and beyond.
Here are some easy tips for how to be ready for winter months: Continue reading “Is Your Home Ready for Winter?” »
iPod Nano Giveaway
The holiday season is almost here and we thought it would be nice to have a year-end giveaway for the readers and members of MyCanadianContractors.com
It is easy to enter and no purchase is necessary. Tell all your friends to sign up as the more people we have sign up the more likely we will repeat the giveaway.
The NEW iPod nano with Multi-Touch is designed to be easy, intuitive, and fun — just like music. And it’s even smaller, so music can be an even bigger part of just about everything.
iPod nano has been completely redesigned with Multi-Touch — the same technology that makes iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch so amazing.
Now it’s half the size and even easier to play.
And everything you want to hear is just a tap or swipe away.
You can win one NOW! Here is HOW Continue reading “iPod Nano Giveaway” »
