Almost everyone who has an unfinished basement dreams of having it finished. Besides having some extra living space to enjoy, there are so many other benefits to a finished basement that it is hard to pass up the opportunity.According to he Remodeling Magazine's 2010 Cost vs. Value report, most of the cost of a basement remodeling project is immediately recovered in terms of added property value. A finished and properly insulated basement is more energy efficient, and will make your whole house more energy efficient as well.
Unfortunately, most homeowners, when investing is basement remodeling, make two big mistakes: they either a general contractor to perform the service, or they try to cut some corners by doing it themselves. In both cases there is a huge chance that they will be setting themselves up for failure, for a number of reasons:
1. Failure to detect, correct or prevent moisture problems.
There is a reason why there is such a thing as the basement finishing industry. It is because basements are like no other area in the house: they are prone to flooding and more likely to develop moisture and related problems than any area of the house.
They need to be treated accordingly. An expert in basements knows that better than any contractor because that is what they do. They know the signs of a wet basement; they can evaluate your current drainage system, your sump pump, suggest the needed upgrades, and ever perform or refer you to someone who can perform these upgrades.
2. Failure to provide proper permits, follow code and pass inspection.
In Nebraska just about every town, city and county requires that you get a permit to remodel your basement. Failure to comply with any of the local code requirements can land you in really hot water later on. Many of these requirements, such as Egress windows and adequate R-Value and fire rating for insulation materials, exist for safety reasons. Following them will not only guarantee you pass inspection and avoid future liability issues. It will allow you to safely enjoy your new basement. You local basement expert knows all these requirements by heart, because they do this all the time. They will help you navigate through paperwork, gather all the necessary documents and take care of the permits for you.
3. Failure to plan and design accordingly.
This is specially true for DIYers. There is a whole lot more to basement finishing than simply lining your walls and floor with some pretty finishes. Small things like proper lighting, the number of outlets to plug appliances and devices are very important and often forgotten.
4. Failure to use proper finishing materials.
Basements get water from more than one source. There is the ground water seeping through the walls, and moisture from condensation, which happens because of differences in temperature, between the basement, the outside and the above floors.
There are also water accidents: plumbing and water heater tank leaks, running faucets, backed up drains, sump pump failures. All of which have the potential to ruin your basement if you finish it using drywall, wood studs, fiberglass insulation, wooden sub-floors, etc. Only basement finishing experts have access to finishing materials that are developed to be waterproof, inorganic, mold resistant and withstand basement moisture and floods.
Thrasher Basement Finishing, a division of Thrasher Basement Systems, is the exclusive Total Basement Finishing dealer in Nebraska and Western Iowa.
For the past 30 years we have focused on cost-effective and high-quality solutions for all of our valued customers, which is why we install and recommend TBF basement finishing products. They are one 100% waterproof and mold resistant, built to survive a basement flood.
If you want a beautiful, high end looking, professionally finished basement that you and your family will enjoy for many years to come, contact us today and schedule your free design consultation.