Essentials For Basement Refinishing

Refinishing a basement can be a rewarding task. For most people, the basement is a dark, dreary place where everything in the house that gets categorized as "not useful but might as well store it for later" gets tossed. What most people don't realize is that a basement is simply another room of the house! If you're going into home improvement you may want to touch up your basement so that you can put it to use as more than just a storage space for forgotten items. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to go this route.

Proper Flooring - the flooring of a basement should be waterproof. Avoid any organic materials like wood. Even hardwood paneling can be subject to deterioration because the air in a basement tends to be moist. Tiles seem to work best, as does the use of rubber mats over concrete if you want to go on the cheap. Assuming your basement is being converted into something like a workshop, however, plain concrete flooring works best since tiles tend to chip when you drop things on them. Avoid using metal flooring even if you want your basement floor to be heavy duty, as the moisture in basement air will eventually cause metal sheet floors to corrode and rust.

Basement Dehumidifier - as said earlier, basement air has a higher concentration of air moisture than normal, above-ground rooms. Because of this, you'll want to use a basement dehumidifier, which is a machine that basically uses condensation coils to take the moisture out of the air and collects it in a bucket. A good dehumidifier can also double as an air conditioning system if it's properly equipped with temperature regulators, so you can keep the air in your basement fresh and clean.

Back Up Pumping System - for houses which experience a lot of rain, this is definitely a requirement. Even without a lot of rainfall, water pipes which burst will cause your basement to flood. You don't really want to convert your basement into a subterranean swimming pool now, do you? Unless you have gills, it's a good idea to have a water pump in your basement to clear it of a lot water in case of emergencies.

Waterproofing Treatment - think about using sprays or adhesive waterproof coverings for your walls, beams, supporting posts, and ceiling in your basement. Air moisture in a basement will eventually damage most things, and even with an air dehumidifier to keep it generally dry, well, water runs DOWN. Leaky plumbing and inefficient rain gutter systems may cause some water to seep down into the lowest levels of your house, so waterproofing everything in your basement is definitely another good idea to keep your home's foundations intact.

Thermal Insulation - thermal insulation in the form of panels on the walls and ceiling is a way to keep your basement cozy no matter the season. One thing about basements that is a royal pain is that they're hot and stuffy in the summertime, and glacially cold (but still stuffy) in the wintertime. Thermal insulation keeps the basement from getting severely affected by atmospheric temperature changes.

Good Ventilation - being underground, basements can be a bit claustrophobic even if furnished with a lot of light and warmth. Keeping a good ventilation system lets fresh air in and keeps the room from getting stuffy. Since windows aren't usually applicable for a basement, you have the option of either using a system of air vents that lead upstairs, or an air conditioner inside the basement itself.

Proper Furnishings - lastly, keep in mind that your furnishings for the basement should be applicable to it's environment. Avoid thick carpets as these will be prime breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Keep your furniture comfortable but avoid anything organic like leather bound sofas. The rule of thumb when selecting stuff to put in your basement is, if it can be damaged by mold or moisture, forget about it. This may limit your options a little but then again, by utilizing things from the other ideas given above like the air dehumidifier, you can still use plush carpets and huge, comfy couches and recliners in relative safety.