From Basement to Beautiful with Total Basement Finishing

Posted by cynthia on Dec 6, 2011 in Basement Finishing Videos, Featured |

In a matter of days, you can create a beautiful, comfortable, healthy, dry, and mold free basement your family will enjoy for many years to come!

Winterizing Your Basement

Posted by cynthia on Dec 6, 2011 in Basement Finishing, Basement Renovations, Energy Efficient Basements, Featured |

by Jacques Bouchard

A Harsh Winter Is On The Way — Is Your Basement Ready?

No matter where you lived in the United States last year, the 2010-2011 winter was one for the history books. And with this year’s winter kicking off with a harsh Northeaster that left more than three million homes without power, you can be sure that more wintry blasts are on the way this time around.

While many homeowners are bracing their homes for the coming winter by insulating their attic, installing energy efficient windows, and by upgrading their utilities, many homeowners overlook their basement entirely when winterizing.

How A Basement Costs You Money In The Winter
A basement is where many homeowners keep the utilities in their home — including their furnace, water heater, HVAC system, air ducts, hot water pipes, and more. These utilities use energy to make heat, and they will need more energy if they’re in a cold environment.

Additionally, a cold, drafty basement means a cold floor and drafty environment in the floor above. Along with being uncomfortable underfoot, this will bring cold into the main area of the home, increasing demands on your heating system.

Creating a Kitchen in the Basement

Posted by cynthia on Jul 27, 2011 in Basement Design, Basement Finishing, Basement Finishing Contractors, Basement Finishing Permits, Finished Basement Ideas, Home Improvement, Uncategorized |

By Elizabeth Gormley

A kitchen, or kitchenette, in a finished basement has some great advantages.  Maybe you are housing guests, in-laws, a nanny, or you have a tenant living in your finished basement.

A kitchen downstairs allows privacy as well as extraordinary functionality in your home.

Also, a new modern kitchen is one of the most effective ways to add value to your home, and looking to the finished basement is a great way to go at a fraction of the cost an addition would be.

A new kitchen is a tall task for even the most accomplished do-it-yourself homeowner.  Much of the design and execution of the kitchen should be handled by a contractor.  This is particularly true when it comes to installing cabinetry, counters, and new appliances.

Because a kitchen of any sort poses some challenges such as plumbing, grease, smells, noise and cooking fumes, as well as some hazards concerning fire safety, consult your local building and fire codes to see what they recommend and what kind of permits you will need to build your basement kitchen safely and up to code.

One of the reasons homeowners are wary of a kitchen basement is the possibility of flooding.  The appliances are expensive, and the right amount of water can ruin your refrigerator, oven or dishwasher.  It is imperative to seal and waterproof your basement before getting started.  Also, consider that a kitchen is the most common place for a house fire.  There should be an easy escape route, aside from the main stairway.  If there is not, you will need to create one.

The proper ventilation is key in a basement kitchen.  Think about how cooking odors can linger in your upstairs kitchen, and realize the basement is below ground level.  It will be much more susceptible to trapping smells.  Plan on installing a ventilation hole in the side of the basement.  This will be effective against cooking scents and also condensation.  For ventilation and safety, the kitchen should not be tucked into an interior corner of the basement.  It should have at least one wall with open air behind it.

Even if you do not have a tenant or live-in downstairs, a kitchen basement is ultra-convenient in today’s modern home.  Particularly if you have a basement home theater, have friends over for movie night or Sunday football games.  You can fetch snacks and beverages in seconds, with the fridge and oven just a few steps away.

For help with your basement finishing project, enlist the help of one of our skilled Total Basement Finishing contractors! They offer free design consultation, offer full-service basement remodeling and will help you  obtain the necessary permits.

Basement Bathroom Tips: Shower Heads

Posted by cynthia on Jul 26, 2011 in Basement Bathroom, Basement Design, Basement Finishing, Basement Finishing Contractors, Basement Renovations, Energy Efficient Basements, Finished Basement Ideas, Uncategorized |

By Jacques Bouchard

When it comes to a quality basement finishing, it’s all about the details.  A basement bathroom is a fantastic way to improve on your home, and it pays back for itself by 80% or more when the

home is sold.  If you could greatly improve the quality of your space by adding another $50 on to the final cost of the job, wouldn’t you do so?

There are few ways to improve on your home that are more effective than choosing the best shower head possible for your basement bathroom.  You spend a lot of time in front of your shower head, and  the way the water is released makes all the difference.  Enjoying a soothing, comfortable shower is a guiltless

pleasure. And if your family is growing, it may be the only valuable moment of privacy and quiet you’re guaranteed every day.

To help you make the most out of your basement bathroom, Total Basement Finishing offers these shower head shopping tips:

1. Choose a handheld shower head.

Fixed shower heads give a sleek designer look to a shower, but they’re much more difficult to repair and often fall short of the quality of their handheld counterparts.  A handheld shower head is able to be mounted in a cradle that allows for all the advantages of a fixed shower head, but they also are able to be removed to aid in bathing with children and seniors.  Additionally, a detachable shower head allows for ease of use when cleaning the tub, cleaning objects placed in the tub, and bathing pets.  When selecting a handheld shower head, be sure to select one with a high-quality, durable hose that can stand high water pressures without blowing out and can endure daily use without wearing down or forming kinks.  If a handheld shower head is definitely not your thing, remember that you can also install multiple fixed shower heads in a single shower-including one on both ends.