Many of us own homes that have basements, and all too often,
these basements are left unfinished. We typically have the excuse of “we don’t
have the time” or something of the like.
Or maybe, your excuse is that you don’t know how to really get it
started. But even if you were just putting up a faux brick wall in your
basement, it’s actually not that hard, and this article will go over the exact
steps necessary in order to really get you ready to finish a basement.
Your first step, is to get creative. In order to actually
get your basement started, you need to figure out what you want it to look
like. Do you want a façade with a faux brick wall? Or would you like something
else? Something like this is what you need to think about. you might want to
focus on what you want to add to the walls, what areas you want in there, the
purpose of your basement. This is part of the planning phase, and it’s integral
because you can determine the resources you need. Doing this will help you save
time and money, and you’ll be able to figure out exactly what it is that you
want.
The second step is getting a permit depending on your
project. Most of the time in many cases, you don’t need on, especially if
you’re not doing a whole lot, such as putting a faux brick wall up to change
the home. However, you should still do your research on this. You will want to have these permits if you’re
thinking about selling your home, because if you don’t, it could classify as an
unfinished basement. Plus, with some basements and some work, it might be best
to make sure that all bases are covered.
You will want to get a home inspector out there as well to ensure safety
before you begin.
Finally, there are prep work steps that must be taken,
especially if you have moisture and water issues. The first thing you should do
is waterproof your home, and then, after that, you need to make sure that you
have a good living space, free from mold and toxins that could hurt yourself
and others. You will want to have
someone come in to inspect the basement for any signs of mold. You can also do
it yourself by getting a home test kit to ensure you don’t have mold. If you know you have some, get that removed
before you begin. Your final concern is
radon, which is an odorless and invisible gas that actually can be found at any
home. It’s poisonous, so make sure
before you begin, you check that.
Starting on your basement project might sound huge, but
these steps will help you determine exactly what it is that you need to do,
what you need to begin with, and everything else that you need to do for your
home.
