Are you ready for some renovation this spring? Is it finally the time to clean up your basement and give it the glow-up it deserves? There isn’t a more suitable place than this to talk about renovations like that if you think about it.
Renovations and remodeling can be fun and exciting but to a certain point. Another side of the story is the constant stress and hard work you need to invest in a project. Sometimes people burn, and can’t handle all that it has to be done. Therefore, you should prepare yourself and your basement for remodeling, and you need to do it well.
If you would like to how to do it, we advise you to continue reading this article, because we’ve gathered a lot of helpful information just for you.
First things first
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Do you have an idea how do you want to remodel your basement? You can remodel the basement in many ways, from game rooms to laundry rooms, home gyms, or even guest bedrooms, or whole guest apartments, depending on the size of your basement.
If you don’t have a definite idea or don’t know what you want to do, you should think about your needs. What are your current needs? And what is your reality? According to jaquishbiomedical.com, it could sound like a good idea to turn your basement into a gym, but do you even exercise? If you plan on starting when you finish your home gym, are you sure you will exercise? Also, if you already have a fully functional laundry room, why would you want another? With every idea that you get, you should think like this. And it’s because one essential thing is for you to like your new remodeled basement and use it. You don’t want to spend money without a cause and throw it away.
Another crucial thing you should do is find a good contractor. Maybe you can do some things, but it’s always good to let professionals do their job. That way, you will lower your life’s stress level that we talked about in the beginning. More about what a contractor can do for you and your basement, you can see here: basementfinishingfredericksburg.com. Don’t forget that you can’t do all of the things yourself, and the final reveal is always nicer when someone else does the job for you.
What you need to do before the remodeling phase
When you’ve come to the idea of what you want your basement to look like and you’ve identified the best constructor for the job, there is only one thing left to do. Before you can completely relax, and wait for the job to be done, so you can enjoy your new basement space.
It would be best if you prepare your basement for remodeling. And what does that include? We are going to talk about it now. Here are the vital things you need to do before the remodeling phase starts:
Search for the permits you need
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Firstly, you will need to get a permit if your basement is not finished. Sometimes it is not mandatory to get it, but you will need to make sure that you don’t need it. Depending on your location, there will be fees included for the permit, and they depend from place to place. A permit for renovating something can guarantee you that you will quickly sell your house for a good price. If you don’t get a permit, and something happens in the basement, like a fire or a flood, your insurance won’t pay you up.
Research the building codes
Another vital thing is to research all of the building codes required for your state or your municipality. That means that you will need to have a certain ceiling height, and sometimes it’s hard to do it. But if you have a good contractor, he will know what to do so that your basement ceiling meets the code.
Inspect for moisture, mold, and other toxic substances
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Basements, especially the ones that are not finished, can be ugly looking and scary. But they can also be places full of moisture, dirt, and maybe mold, mildew, or some other questionable and toxic substance. Before making any decision or doing anything, you need to be positive that your basement is clean and a safe space.
To do that, and to be positive that your basement is safe, you need to check it for moisture. You can do it by taping squares of plastic sheeting to the walls and also the floor. Leave it like that, and if after two weeks there is condensation underneath, it means that you don’t have a sealed foundation. And if there are droplets on top of the plastic sheets, you will need to dehumidify the basement. If you come to the point that you need to remove moisture from your basement, you can use a dehumidifier, a sump pump, or vapor barriers.
And most importantly, you will need to inspect your basement for mold, especially black mold, which is highly damaging for human’s health. You can use mold kits to identify the type of mold, and when you do it, you will know how to remove it and if you can do it alone. Another critical factor that needs to be inspected is the level of carbon monoxide and Radon, and you should hire a professional to do it.
Consult your local experts
Text: Sifting through planning permission paperwork, local restrictions and party-wall agreements can be a total headache if you are doing everything alone. Not to mention you could be spending your time going down the incorrect route. Don’t feel shy about contacting some professionals in your area. Sometimes you don’t even have to pick up the phone because they post the information you need on their own sites. So get searching! From a quick Google, we found houseUP.co.uk, a construction company which shares conversion project guides on their blog section for free.
Often the initial cost of hiring an expert is far less costly than getting things wrong and delaying your whole project, not to mention the peace of mind. Whilst your own research and initiative is an absolute must for construction projects. At the end of the day, they’re the ones who do this day in and day out as a career. Local contractors who specialise in basement conversions will be all too familiar with your local area and the usual barriers, making your basement conversion so much smoother.
Inspect your basement for damage
And finally, you should inspect for rot and also for damage made by pests. If you have any damaged parts in your basement, you will need to fix them before starting anything else. Because you wouldn’t want to invest in renovating just to find that you have a problem after the renovation is done.
Did this article help you in planning your dream renovation? We hope it did and that you now know what’s the next thing you should do before calling the contractor and starting your long-anticipated renovation. We wish you good remodeling and that you will soon enjoy your brand-new basement.
