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Simple Renovations To Make An Unfinished Basement Look Awesome

Unfinished basements usually have excessive moisture, concrete floors and ceiling pipes which make them an uncomfortable environment. However, you can make that cold and uncomfortable basement more comfortable with simple renovations that cost less than a full basement remodel.

Here are six ways to renovate your unfinished basement:

Stop the moisture

This is the most common problem in most basements. You should remedy the problem before you start anything else because this moisture could initiate the growth of molds, mildews and odours which could be a health hazard. You can reduce the humidity in your basement by using a dehumidifier. All you need to do is buy the equipment and let it dry the room for some time to remove all the moisture.

However, if you have more serious moisture problems e.g. leaks or puddles, you need to install a waterproofing strategy in your basement which could cost between $200 and $500 if your basement does not require any further changes. If the basement needs to be repaired, you could end up spending $2,000 or more to remedy the moisture problem.

Add some area rugs

After you have made your basement waterproof, you need some rugs to keep the concrete floor warm and dry. If you have unused rugs in your living room, you can use them in your basement. Alternatively, you can spend some money to buy a few rugs if you don’t have extras in your living room.

Get some pillows

Depending on the type of rugs you’ve bought, you can get a bunch of throw pillows to make your basement look great. You can even get a second string sofa and cover it with cushions to make it cozier. In fact, since you’ve got a lot of space on your basement, you can get a bigger sofa to get cozy.

Add tasteful lighting

There is a broad range of lamps, string lights or even floor lamps which you can install in your basement to make it awesome. You don’t need to have just naked bulbs hanging from the ceiling to light up the place. If you do a little research, there are many options of tasteful lighting you can have in your basement e.g. an IKEA lamp which costs about $20.

Hide unsightly spots

You can use a room divider to separate different areas of your basement. This makes it easy to hide incomplete sections of your basement. Alternatively, you can use bookshelves, wine crates or even window frames as a cheap and widely available alternative to divide the room. You need to make the basement beautiful; hence, you have to hide all the ugly portions of your basement.

Paint the ceiling

You can use a dark colour to paint your ceiling to avoid seeing the joints, pipes and air ducts which may be on your ceiling. In fact, painting is less expensive than covering your basement ceiling with drywall, which could cost around $4,000 or more.

However, it is highly recommended you hire a professional to do the painting. This is because it is very labour intensive, as most of the painting is done by hands. Also, you need to consider electrical lines or heating pipes while painting and if you are not experienced or skilled, it is advisable to hire a professional.

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Considerations before starting a home renovation project

vancouver-home-renovation-225x300Whether you are embarking on a home renovation or you have hired a contractor to carry out the project for you, there are some things as the homeowner that you should be keeping in mind. Building new construction and tackling a home renovation are entirely different processes and it is these differences and complications that you need to be aware of before you initiate a remodeling whether or not it is a DIY project or you have hired a contractor.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND HOME RENOVATION

One difference that homeowners need to be aware of is the fact that new construction and renovation construction has a different set of standards. Further development is typically built to the minimum requirements from the ground up with generally minimal issues. While renovating an existing property usually has to be brought up to the current building codes which can create many issues and added labor to that project.

Another factor to consider is when building new construction, everything the builders need is laid out in front of them, whereas renovating an existing dwelling, the contractor or DIY homeowner has no idea what is behind those walls or under that floor. For example, when doing a bathroom renovation, contractors need to replace the subfloor due to moisture build-up which in turn damages the stability of the floor as well as may create a mold issue. Until the old level is brought up, however, it is near impossible to determine this.

Can you do the home renovations yourself or should you hire a contractor?

So when deciding to complete a home renovation, homeowners need to consider the following. If you are going to do it yourself, are you capable of handling those unforeseen issues and fixing the root of the problem with your know how? Secondly, if you’re hiring a contractor, does that company have experience with new construction or home renovations? The last factor to consider is, do you have a flexible budget so that you can financially fix these unforeseen issues that may arise and still get your dream renovation?

Still, have questions? Contact Caliber West Renovations for help with your Greater Vancouver home remodeling ideas.

Full story – Canada.com: Renovating vs. building

Home Remodeler Vancouver

Caliber West Renovations
Suite 600 – 1285 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 3X8
(778) 785-7395

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