Basement Remodeling Ideas – Bob Vila – BobVila.com

Photo: premiernj.net

Do you feel like your home is shrinking? Are the kids growing up and accumulating more stuff? Is your teenager demanding a room of his own? Has the college grad come back to the nest? Are you looking to provide room for an elderly parent or rent out space to help makes ends meet? Regardless of the reason, the space solution may actually be right under your feet.

Basements are typically about one third of the entire homes available space, 600 to 800 sq. ft. in the average home. And while some basements have been finished to create more living area, the majority of these spaces are used as makeshift laundry rooms, home offices, and storage repositories for everything from spare freezers to pantries, paints, and paperwork. In other words, most basements are underused.

Related Galleries

10 "Neat" Garage Storage Solutions

7 Ways to Avoid Basement Flooding This Spring

Guy Stuff: 10 Must-Haves for the Ultimate Garage Makeover

Life Underground: 10 Beautiful Basement Makeovers

There are definitely benefits to considering a basement remodel: Unlike a room addition, there is no need to excavate for new footings or worry about structural loads. Utilities (including water, electricity, gas and sewer lines) are typically close at hand, further reducing costs. Heating and cooling loads are relatively light for basements. Basements almost always have stairs leading to them, unlike many attics (another popular house expansion candidate).

Converting a basement, however, is not without its challenges. Below-grade spaces are subject to water and moisture, two common enemies of home construction. Mold and mildew are also common, and natural light is limited. Overhead pipes and ductwork can add further challenges, and if you didnt anticipate a bathroom when the house was built, the basement toilet may have to flush up.

Link:
Basement Remodeling Ideas - Bob Vila - BobVila.com