Basement – Finishing / RemodelingTips

Some of my earliest remodeling jobs were basement finishes. Here in the Midwest, basements are very common. People finish them at a later date as families grow or space requirements change. For example, I am currently writing this bulletin in my basement office! Two years ago, this space was a dim basement area. It was transformed with a minimal amount of effort. If you have a basement or other unfinished space, you might be able to tackle this project.

Code Problems

Guess what? That basement of yours may not be 'legal' once finished. Many building codes place ceiling height, egress, waterproofing, etc. restrictions on basements. If you intend to secure a building permit for your project, you had better spend some time researching the local code in your area. You may find a surprise or two.

Waterproofing is a good example. Here in Cincinnati, you can build a home and not waterproof the exterior of the basement walls. Damproofing (sprayed liquid asphalt) will suffice. But, if you want to finish the basement a year after you move in, you must waterproof the walls! Fortunately there is a brush on cementitious compound which will meet the code. What happens if you wait until after your walls are up in your basement before you find this out? See why an afternoon at the building department might be worthwhile.

Plan for Future Needs

I know someone who once finished his basement. He was a true weekend warrior who lived on the lunatic fringe. Well, he had a full sized freezer in the basement. He left the freezer in an unfinished portion of the basement. The doorway he used to access this room was a standard 30 inch wide door. Too bad the freezer was 34 inches wide....

Think about furnaces, hot water heaters, desks, sofas, etc. You may have to install a 3 foot or a 2 foot 10 inch door to make movement between spaces possible. Planning ahead is everything.

Lighting - A Critical Issue

Basement or attic spaces often require special lighting solutions. Windows are often small or non-existent. If you can include a combination of indirect and direct lighting you should be in good shape. Some ceiling designs will allow you to install hidden fluorescent lighting which bounces off a drywall soffit or trayed ceiling. Use fixtures with electronic ballasts to save energy and money. You can also purchase light bulbs which produce more natural skin tones. Don't use the old standby cool or warm white bulbs.

Plan your lighting for special purpose areas such as billiard, ping pong or other game tables. A dart board setup may require a single track light that directs a beam of light to the board and not a glare in the eye of the dart thrower. All these subtle touches are what distinguish an average remodel job from one that is exquisite. Take the time and raise the bar of excellence on your job! Your friends, neighbors, and relatives will compliment you, trust me!

Built-ins, Bookcases, & Bars

Did you know you can order some standard kitchen cabinets unfinished? Install some quickly assembled shelves on top, paint, and you might have a great storage/bookcase area. With recessed lighting above, the look will be dramatic. The countertop for this area can be a modern plastic laminate that resembles leather, granite, or marble. Order the top without a backslash and build the shelves right on top of the counter.

Some people like to include a wet bar in their finished basement. I have done it no less than 50 times. These areas often require special planning to fully optimize the limited space.

Free standing bar walls often need to be secured to the cabinets beneath to eliminate wobble. To obtain a perfect bar height and design, you should take a tape measure with you to your favorite hangout. See what bar height and width is most comfortable. Don't simply guess. It could end up a disaster.

Try to plan for a mid-sized sink if possible. Those cute little 10 inch by 10 inch bar sinks are only good to fill a glass of water! Certain sink manufacturers make a mid-sized single bowl sink that works very well for bar applications. Standard double bowl kitchen sinks often overpower a basement bar. Visit a kitchen cabinet showroom for additional ideas.

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