2. Things You Need To Do Before Starting on Your Basement Finishing Things You Need To Do Before Starting on Your Basement Finishing Low-Cost Basement Finishing Ideas Getting the Best Value for Money When Going for Basement Finishing or Remodeling Getting the Best Value for Money When Going for Basement Finishing or Remodeling 10 Important Things To Consider Before Starting On Your Finished Basement 10 Important Things To Consider Before Starting On Your Finished Basement How Basement Finishing Experts Can Warm Up Your Basement Why It Is Important to Select the Most Experienced Basement Finishing Expert? Why It Is Important to Select the Most Experienced Basement Finishing Expert? Why Avoid General Contractors for Basement Finishing? Important Things to Do When Hiring a Contractor for Basement Finishing Important Things to Do When Hiring a Contractor for Basement Finishing

3. Declutter your basement Donate or sell everything you haven´t used in a year, and throw away those broken objects that you know you will never repair. Make a plan for your basement When planning your basement finishing consider the purposes of your remodeling. Find out about required permits Many people often refinish their basements skipping licenses and taxes increases associated with an expanded house. However, that´s a big mistake. Electricity and plumbing installations need separate inspections and approval. Check drainage You certainly won´t enjoy having to walk through a cellar covered by a few inches of accumulated water. Consider fumigating your basement Get rid of spiders, ants, termites or any bugs that might be inhabiting your basement before remodeling it. Consider weather insulation And don´t forget about noise insulation if you will use it.

4. Cheap Flooring Stained concrete is among the cheapest. What about stencilled flooring? You could create amazing colourful mosaics using beer bottle caps. Do you like wood? Use pallets for your floor lining. Low-cost Wall Finishing Wood pallets can be used to create cozy walls. Simply don´t overdo it if you used pallets on the floors. Painted concrete blocks can make great walls. Painting one wall with chalkboard paint is a very good idea that will look beautiful in a playroom, an art studio or on a kitchen wall. For an industrial and modern look, you could use corrugated metal paneling on any of your walls or You could cover a whole wall with a mirror!

5. Be sure to conduct some research and shortlist a few contractors before finalizing your decision. Interview them and ask them all for quotes. Compare their quotes considering what they have included in their offer. Be sure to check the rates they give in conjunction with their overall reputation in the industry. Do not try to cut corners here or you may end up hiring someone who is cheap but is not a specialist in basement finishing. Decide only after inquiring about the materials they are going to use. This is especially important if you are interested in remodeling your basement. Some contractors can offer low prices because they use inexpensive materials to remodel. Keep in mind that low-cost materials, such as paper-faced drywall, wood studs, fiberglass insulation, and plywood sheathing will not work great in a typical basement. These materials can absorb moisture and leave you with a damp, dirty, and moldy basement. Therefore, do not pay attention to the quote alone, but also consider what is included in the offer.

6. 1. Check if you need any permits from your local municipality. 2. Check for humidity. 3. Check the outside to verify the ground is not affecting your foundation. 4. Find if there are any cracks in your foundation´s wall that need to be repaired. 5. Think of adding a vapour barrier to floors and walls before framing and finishing such surfaces. 6. You will most likely need a fastener and anchors for your wall type, or a regular nail or screw. 7. Even with a vapour barrier, it is suggested to add thin slats of metal or wood to the wall. 8. Don´t neglect insulation. 9. Consider using suspending ceiling, such as removable tiles. 10. There´s some utility space you should better keep unfinished, such as where water heaters are.

7. The professionals may help dry up your space first. Whether you do any finishing work on your own or you call in a pro, it is important to dry up your wet or damp basement. In order to correct the water problems, you will have to look for the root cause first. In most cases, grading the soil in a way that the water flows away from the foundation of your property will help resolve the issue. Sometimes, repairing or adding downspouts and gutters may help as well. If the issue persists, you may have to think of waterproofing the walls. It will certainly take some effort to fix your wet basement, but a professional can help here and prevent a moldy basement. Professionals will help you understand the importance of sealing the rim joists, especially if your goal is to make your basement more energy efficient. You need to insulate these joists and seal them correctly. Some professionals may seal them with rigid insulation. Others may have some different strategies, but they will all ensure that rim joists are insulated properly to prevent any energy loss.

8. Some pros may also recommend installing drainage mats if you want a drier, warmer floor. In most cases, you can use plastic drainage mats, but dimple mats also work great because they do not restrict the flow of air under the flooring. Having these mats installed is a great idea because they provide another layer of insulation to prevent any energy loss. Lighting plays a big role in basement finishing. Professionals can give right suggestions here. They may recommend the use of different types of lighting. You can have lighting fixtures for general illumination and you can also have some dimmer switches added to control how much light you want. You can also go with ceiling fixtures, recessed can lights, and even fluorescent pillow lights. Professionals may also make use of heating cables to help warm up cold floors. This step alone can help turn your cold basement into a dry, warm, and inviting space.

9. Hiring an experienced contractor is also a good idea because they will have complete knowledge of building codes in your local area. This will prevent any serious problems after you have started finishing or remodeling your basement. Moreover, their experience will help them determine the best strategy to make your basement look exactly the way you have imagined. They will also be in a better position to find a design for your basement that is consisted with the rest of your home. Their experience will make it easier for them to make everything look inviting and fascinating with the right use of lighting and other equipment. It is also important to point out that you should be hiring an experienced contractor because they will have a good idea of what materials to use. For instance, a general contractor might insist on installing drywall for the ceilings and walls and go with a carpet for the floor, whereas an experienced contractor would never make this mistake because this would lead to sagging ceilings, moldy drywall, and musty smells.

10. They Make Wrong Material Choices The thing they usually do not realize is that the environment of a basement is different from the rest of the house, which is why it requires different building materials. Similarly, general contractors usually recommend installing carpeting on a concrete basement floor, which is never a good idea. They are Less Reliable in Every Way A general contractor may work amazingly well in any other area of your house, but they may fail to deliver the same level of satisfaction when taking care of basement finishing. This is mainly due to their lack of experience. Moreover, the estimated cost and time they give will not be as reliable as given by someone who specializes in basement finishing. In fact, you should expect more than 10% cost overrun by the end of your project. This is another reason why you need to avoid hiring a general contractor for basement specific job.

11. Be Ready to Compare Quotes You will be better off asking multiple contractors for quotes. Keep in mind that the amount of money you end up spending on your basement depends heavily on what you want done. A typical refinishing job may not cost a lot, but you will have to spend more when you want to remodel your basement. Make No Compromises over Experience Hire a specialist for basement finishing because of their extensive knowledge of regulations and codes that you have to follow when remodeling or finishing your basement. Someone with little experience can always make a serious mistake that would cost you a lot.