Thinking of renovating your basement? Consider the fact that updating a basement could net you 72.8% return on investment, according to Remodeling magazine!
But just how do you go about transforming your basement to a comfortable rec room, stylish spare bedroom, or swanky home theater? Simply follow these renovation tips for some ideas.
Assess its potential
First, spend some quality time in your basement and make sure it has potential. Signs you should maybe save your renovation dollars are “low ceilings, few windows, and a closed-in or poor layout.” You won’t be able to do much with that. But basements with a comfortably high ceiling and at least a couple of windows are fair game.
Get floored
Most basement floors can be best described as cold and dark with concrete. How do you warm it up without spending a fortune? If you have a dry basement with no moisture issues, wall to wall carpeting is among the least expensive and easiest to install options. Installation for a 250-square foot space will run you about $1,000. If your basement is prone to flooding, check out modular carpeting tiles that are easy to replace in case of water staining or damage.
Banish mold
You know that moldy, musty smell that screams basement? That comes from mold. Whenever you have a room below ground level, you risk having water seep in. Just behind a layer of wall is the perfect place for these spores to flourish beyond your reach. However, there are alternatives. When renovating a 200-square foot basement, you can have the option of installing walls made from fiberglass with a Teflon-coated fabric. Since these walls are designed to breathe, they don’t trap water and create breathing grounds for mold. Best of all, the entire remodel can cost around $15,000.
Let there be light
Get rid of that dark, shiver-inducing feeling some basements have by adding natural light with an egress window. These large windows that allow for an easy exit in case of a fire will run about $500 to $3,000 for a professional installation. Other inexpensive options to transform a basement include adding reclaimed wood to the walls and hanging faux beams to the ceiling.
Pick the right paint
Basements are not exactly known for great ventilation and fumes from fresh paint can put a real damper on activities down there. A great toxin-free option is milk paint, such as RMPC, which emits zero odor during application or drying. Plus milk paint is porous, so moisture in the walls won’t make it flake off.
Upflush
Throwing up a few walls is one thing, grabbing a sledgehammer to install a bathroom is another. But while you’re in the basement, do you want to trek upstairs to use the bathroom? We didn’t think so. Enter upflush toilets, which can be installed on top of any finished surface. Since water flows through the back of the toilet instead of through pipes under concrete, there’s less renovation mess and lower overall installation costs.
Go for multitasking
You could make the basement a permanent museum for your furniture and electronics, or you could go for a flexible, multiple-use area you will actually use. The most impactful basement renovation is one that provides an area for entertaining and family activities. Build walls to form a guest bedroom, kids’ playroom, or home office – all are in high demand with home buyers. Just maintain the larger portion of the basement for an open living space.
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