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Basement Remodeling for Style and Beauty

"Well-constructed basements have characteristics that make them suitable for daily living space. They are quiet, naturally cool and inherently private. And because the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning equipment is usually already located there, they are easily able to support an upgrade."
-Professional Remodeler, August 2006

When designing a basement finishing plan for a large area, it's important to plan the space out carefully. Clear out the basement, take some sidewalk chalk, and draw some rooms— it's much easier to visualize beforehand than during construction. Be sure to work around objects that are fixed in place, such as furnaces and staircases, and to position the rooms so that basement windows will not be cut in half by dividing walls. The current building fad of designing a "Great Room" is to combine rooms whenever possible- such as combination kitchen/dining room/living room setups. This is a great idea in theory, but the practical result of the design is an area that is easily overloaded with noise, activity, and visual clutter. Total Basement Finishing recommends designing rooms that can operate next to each other without feeling like they're pressing in on one another.

For homeowners who hope for a quiet, peaceful room, there are a great many ways to soundproof a home. Installing a thick, soft carpet underfoot (with a vapor barrier underneath to protect from moisture from the floor) is a fantastic way to help create a quiet, warm, and comfortable surface. You're in contact with your carpet more than any other fixed surface in a remodeled basement, and buying the best you can is a small investment when you consider the comfort you will find in it. To add additional sound-absorption properties to the basement, a drop-ceiling will quiet noise passing between the basement and upper floors, and soft, cushiony furniture will add a dampening effect to the room as well. Some basement finishers will also install soft fiberglass and cloth walls, but while these products do absorb sound, they also absorb moisture. Additionally, their soft material makes it difficult and very inconvenient to support the weight of heavy objects and pictures.

It's also a great idea to install basement lighting in all all areas of the basement — not just the ceiling. Duo Dickinson of Money reports "You don't need—and shouldn't want—all your lighting to come from the ceiling. Your room has three dimensions, s use the walls of your room as space for sconces while adding floor outlets so you can place lamps beside a love seat or table." Fill your basement with as many different types of light as you can- between ceiling lights, table lights, candles, fireplaces, basement windows, neon lighting and other options, there are many ways to keep this area bright and beautiful. And if you use fluorescent lights in the ceiling, you'll save money (on top of the money saved by insulating the basement!) and use bulbs that will not burn out early because of vibrations from the family walking on the floor above.

With low ceilings, basement windows, support beams, staircases, pipes, and a variety of other fixtures to work with and around, a basement finishing plan can be a challenge to create! Total Basement Finishing's experienced system design specialists have the expertise you need to make this project the best it can be. If you would like to meet with a TBF specialist for a FREE, no-obligation written estimate and inspection, call or contact us for a free basement remodeling consultation today!

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