Basementing is a fun way to transform your home into a storage unit for all things large and/or valuable. There are many companies that offer Basement systems, where you purchase a foundation, lumber, and supplies to build a base upon which you can store items.
These systems are great for getting more out of your home and space. Some people even put excess items or belongings they do not need immediately (like recently-used clothes) while others store more serious items, like sewing supplies or electronics.
Reading the notes on each system is an great way to learn some good tips on how to finish a basement on account of the materials used, how much you can store, and what effects each might have.
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Insulation
Another important element to finishing a Basement should be insulating your home. This is especially true if you have little or no insulation in your home currently.
As we mentioned earlier, the colder the temperature, the more outgoing insulation you need. Insulating windows and doors is also a good way to reduce cooling and heating energy needs.
If you have an al-round door, buying an al-round doorstop can help protect your door from getting damaged by the cold air coming in when it is closed. If you have a sliding or standard door, there are some products that can help protect it from frosted views from outside due to low window exposure.
Drywall
As the name suggests, drywall is used to construct a wall between two areas of space. These walls can be vertical or horizontal, and they can be natural or modified- natural or augmented with ceiling panels.
Parallel ridges are a common method of drywall construction. Using sheetrocking material as the framing, two layers of drywall are laid on top of each other and stapled together. Then more drywall is laid on top of that, and still more dried wall is laid on top of that.
The process continues until the wall is finished!
Tool-free installation is a great way to finish a basement because there are limited options for cutting materials required. You do not have to go through the trouble of putting in pipes or electricity, which is helpful when trying to determine if this area needs flooring or not.
Lighting
Choosing what lighting you use in your room is a large part of choosing how much light you need in your closet and under storage units. There are two main sources of lighting in your home-one natural, the other artificial.
In general, more light means better quality light. More powerful lights can be pricey, so most closet systems offer one or two low-quality lights for initial inspections and lockers. The rest of the lights can be high-quality, meaning you get more for your money.
In choosing how much light you need in your closet, it is important to remember that people are not equal distance from the floor. A person who walks with a slightly higher leg length will need a higher amount of space than someone who measures with the same foot length.
As mentioned before, starting with smaller items and working my way up helps find the perfect sized closet for you.
Ventilation
As mentioned earlier, your basement can become a storage facility or safe room. Both of these are great! The more storage space the better!
While working in the basement is not necessarily a priority for most, it is important for people who rent or sell property. For example, a landlord might want to put a utility room in the rear of the property, but not if there is also a large family room and living room upstairs.
As you can imagine, having enough ventilation in the Basement is key. If you have poor air quality in your basement, you will want to make sure you clear out any obstructions.
Heating
As the name suggests, a heating system allows you to use a device to heat your home. There are several brands and types of heating systems, so now is the time to decide which one works for you.
When looking at models, they should have some form of heating or cooling capability. This can include radiators, a refrigerator, a heater, a cooling system, or even a washing machine and dryer.
As previously mentioned, deciding which type of heating system you want in your home is an important part of this process. There are significant differences in cost, quality, performance, and user satisfaction that depend on what type you choose.
There are many different websites dedicated to offering reviews for specific types.
Coaxial cable wiring
Using coaxial cable is a great way to finish a basement. You can pick up some very useful tools and devices, such as the Basementfloor Connector, the Nail Gun, and the Paint Brush.
Some devices cannot be installed directly into a closet or under-floor-storage unit. These include power strips, television cables, and the like. These must be routed through an attic or another room in your house.
The easiest way to install these is with roofing nails (or glue-mounting nails), but you can also use regular ones if you do not have access to a roofing company.
Power outlets
Having power outlets are essential to finish the basement. You can use a power strip or an outlet strip to organize your supplies. Both of these offer convenience by being able be tuck away in a location or as an extension of your home system.
Many homes have a switch off-grid system with power strips and outlets in the basement for when the main house is used. These are useful to have around, especially if you have family members or relatives who stay over often.
The depth of the power strip you use depends on how much storage your home has and how much you want to organization your supplies. Some organizations like to group small lights with large decorative rings together while others like them grouped by size of source.
Painting
Remodeling a basement does not begin until there is space to move into. Once that happens, there are a few tools that need to be on hand.
First, there is a tool for every job. These include: rags, powdered cleansers, tapes and other material coordination supplies, and putty or sealing compounds. Many trades require at least some of these items.
Then, there are the big-ticket items: four-poster beds, old Egyptian furniture, and other heritage stuff. All of these must be stored in good condition so they are available when needed.
Then, last but not least, you need space blankets if the winter weather is predicted! These are great for keeping warm and hidden while remodeling the basement or transforming a previously unused room into something useful.