3 Renovations That You Have to Plan for Your Old Basement

Your basement is more of a messy storage locker right now than a livable space. You want to change that. 

Before you start buying new furniture or picking out paint swatches, you should consider these three important renovation projects first: 

1. Waterproofing

One project that should be at the top of your renovation to-do list is waterproofing. You will want to make sure your basement is waterproof to guarantee that it’s completely safe from water damage and the problems that come with it, like mold, mildew, and pest infestation. Not to mention, water damage can sabotage the beautiful results of your renovation. That would be such a waste of time and money. 

What would waterproofing services entail? You could seal up foundation cracks and install vapor barriers to prevent water intrusion. You could grade your front yard to make sure that it’s not sending water toward your foundation. You could get a sump pump or backflow valve installed to protect you from common plumbing emergencies and flooding. You could do all of these.

2. Flooring

Basements present a few tricky problems when it comes to flooring. Since basements are below grade, they deal with more temperature fluctuations than other levels of your home. The wrong flooring material can’t handle these frequent changes. They’ll buckle and warp over time. Look at the best basement flooring materials so that you know what’s safe to get and what you should stay far away from.

Another problem you have to consider is that the basement floor will be cooler to the touch since it is right up against the foundation. So, what can you do?

First, you should waterproof your floor. Moisture will make it chilly and damp. Once that’s done, you can get a floating subfloor — this will add an insulating barrier between the flooring material and the foundation. And if you want to warm up, you should consider getting a radiant floor heating system.

3. Lighting

Basements don’t get a lot of natural light because they are below grade, limiting space for windows. With such little access to natural light, you can see why your old basement looks so dark and grim all of the time. 

So, what can you do to fix this? That’s easy. The solution is to upgrade your lighting. 

Here is how you can do it:

• If you have a single overhead light per room, you need to get rid of it. Replace that one light with multiple recessed ambient lights along with the ceiling. 
• Consider task lighting to help you accomplish activities like reading and working. Pendant lights and lamps are great for this. 
• Have dimmer switches installed in rooms where you’ll want the atmosphere to be a little darker (for example, any room with a TV).
• Bathrooms should have wall sconces as well as overhead lighting. It offers better visibility for activities like shaving, grooming, and putting on makeup in the mirror. 
• Consider interior design tricks that brighten a room to help you maximize the reach of your basement lighting. 

Don’t let your basement sit there and collect dust. Renovate it and put it to good use!