Submitted by: Christopher Behan
Finishing a basement is an increasingly popular way to increase the livable space a home, as it cost far less than building an addition and has no effect on the home’s exterior façade. However, basement remodeling presents a unique set of challenges, which makes it crucial to choose the materials you’ll use for your project carefully. You’ll need to consider your options and decide on which option is right for you given your unique budgets, basement and climate.
The most important choice you’ll need to make is the way you cover your basement walls, which generally is either done using traditional lumber and drywall or a specialized basement finishing panel systems. Of these two, lumber and drywall are usually less expensive; however, basement finishing systems have a much higher resistance to moisture, mold and mildew making them better for unsealed or flood-prone basement areas. Basement finishing panels may also be designed to work with other elements of basement finishing systems and have features such as insulation, sound proofing, wiring pathways and outlet boxes preinstalled, all of which would need to be installed by hand in a drywall construction. Whichever path you choose, make sure you maintain easy access to any plumbing or electrical connections that pass through your basement.
After walls, flooring is the next features to consider. If you’ve choose
wall panels, it’s possible that your basement finishing system also incorporates flooring, limiting your options. Some basement finishing systems do not incorporate a floor though, leaving it to you to install whatever type you’d like. In cases where flooring isn’t included with the materials you use for your walls, you’ll generally want to use a water-resistant flooring material like cork, non-porous tile, linoleum with a waterproof adhesive or an epoxy floor coating. There are also specialized subfloor systems available that create a gap and moisture barrier between the floor of your basement and the floor of your new room. While this allows for more flooring options like carpet and hardwoods, subfloors won’t fully protect against flooding and have weight limitations that can affect exactly what you can put in your new basement room.
Finally, you’ll want to choose a ceiling to make your basement remodeling project complete. While it’s possible to install a traditional ceiling, this is normally not recommended. Most basement finishing systems include the option for a suspended ceiling, using a grid hung a few inches to a foot below the joist and support beams to hold and array of tiles. While not the most attractive type of ceiling, this preserves easy access to any wiring and plumbing running along the underside of your home, making it the best choice even if you haven’t used a comprehensive basement finishing system.
No matter which materials you choose, moisture will be the biggest enemy to the long term success of your basement remodeling project. While sealing and waterproofing the walls and floors of your basement is a must if you’ll use traditional materials, it’s also recommended before installing a basement finishing system. The less moisture you allow into your basement, the longer you’ll be enjoying the space your remodeling project creates.
About the Author: Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=1711404&ca=Home+Management
Home Improvement - Garden Ideas - Home Making