Basement Remodeling

At GCMM Home Improvement LLC, we take our job very seriously. Basement finishing is all about moisture. If you can successfully manage the moisture, you can build practically anything in the basement. Even features that traditionally are not supposed to go in a basement—wall-to-wall carpeting, for one—can be added with no problem. If there is any significant moisture, it may not even be able to finish your basement. Moisture is the factor that disqualifies most basements. Minor moisture problems can be treated with water-lock paint. Cracks can be sealed with special caulking for this purpose. Dehumidifiers draw in moisture-laden air and collect a great deal of that moisture before it can condense on the basement walls and ceiling.  GCMM Home Improvement LLC can perform moisture control and start renovating your basement.

Decide on the Basement’s Purpose

Prioritize Wall System Planning

Walls are installed in basements for a few reasons. They make the space more aesthetically pleasing. They make it easier to run electrical wires and provide spaces to install receptacles. And walls enhance temperature control. Walls often have no structural value in the finished basement. Because of the inherent moisture problems, you may want to choose steel studs because they do not rot and because each stud possesses perfect dimensions. Foam insulation is preferred in basements, too. Fiberglass insulation can develop mold.

Develop an Electrical Plan

When finishing your basement, we at GCMM Home Improvement LLC provide a certain number of electrical outlets to comply with the electrical code. If a bathroom is part of the basement plan, that bathroom needs the full complement of electrical work, just like you would install on upper floors: a lighting circuit; a circuit for the bathroom exhaust fan; and GFCI outlets.

Plan Heating and Cooling in Advance

In some homes, heating, and cooling work perfectly well on their own. During summer, the basement stays cool since it was located below ground. During winter, the basement remains warm since the earth is a good insulator. But most homes’ basements will need some type of supplemental heating and cooling system. Electrical baseboard heaters are a good way to provide fast heat. Also, consider the fact that existing HVAC ductwork may be running through the joists of the floor above, which you can tap into for your basement space.

Incorporate Egress Requirements

Egress, or the exit point besides the doorway, is an important consideration if you wish for the basement remodel to include a bedroom. Most local building codes will have egress requirements for finished, habitable basements. If there aren’t sufficient egress points already, we may need to create a window to fulfill this requirement.

Create an Effective Lighting Plan

Most basements have only minimal lighting. But with the height restrictions, you may not be able to install any kind of lighting you want. For this reason, recessed or can lights are popular in basement remodels. Recessed lights provide a significant amount of light, and they tuck neatly up into the space between the floor joists of the level above. Because basements cannot rely on natural light, the bulk of the lighting duties is borne by artificial lighting. Plan for more lighting than you think you’ll need. After all, you don’t have to use all of the lights: just the ones you need.