Turn your basement into your favorite room
Some homeowners look at their basement and see wasted space. A concrete floor, exposed ceiling and boxes of old stuff could become a game room, home office, workout space or even a place for mom and dad to move in. But turning your basement into a real living space takes more than painting the walls and throwing down some carpet.
“Most people want to use every inch they can, but they forget they still need room for the furnace, hot water heater and all their storage,” said Doug Hilf, who owns DRH Construction in Zelienople and has been fixing up basements for 30 years.
“Your basement has to work as part of your house, but it's got to be practical first,” he said.
That's why smart homeowners start with good planning. Your basement needs to fit your new living space and all the stuff that keeps your house running, like the furnace, electrical box and water heater. Plus, you'll still need somewhere to put your holiday decorations and old furniture.
Hilf said the biggest mistake people make is trying to save money on planning.
“Don't cheap out on getting it designed right,” he warned. “Spend the money upfront to have it properly planned out. You might need an architect or interior designer.”
Getting professional help now means your contractor knows exactly what to build and can tell you if your dreams match your wallet, he said.
Even with great plans, basements can be tricky to work with. Water problems cause the most headaches. If your basement gets damp or wet, you need to fix that before you do anything else.
“Sometimes foundations weren't waterproofed right when the house was built,” Hilf explained. “Some builders just do the minimum to meet code, but that's not always enough, especially around here where we have hills that push water toward houses.”
Another big expense comes when people want to add a bathroom. Most basements weren't built with plumbing, so adding it means either tearing up the concrete floor to run new pipes or installing a special toilet that grinds up waste and pumps it to your existing plumbing. Breaking up concrete makes a huge mess — dust gets everywhere — but the pump system costs more money.
These practical problems get even more complicated because of building rules. If you want to put a bedroom in your basement, it must have two ways to get out in case of fire. That usually means installing bigger windows that people can climb through, along with deeper window wells and ladders. Hilf said many new home contractors are opting for this design to meet code.
Your electrical system might need updates too. Adding a finished basement is like adding a whole new floor to your house, so you might need more circuits or even a second electrical panel, he said. Same thing with heating and cooling. Your furnace and air conditioner must be big enough to handle all that extra space.
Once you solve the big problems, choosing the right materials makes all the difference. For floors, Hilf recommends something called luxury vinyl plank.
“It's like an improved version of snap-together laminate flooring,” he said. “It handles water from above and below if you have moisture issues.”
Other good choices include epoxy floors with little stones mixed in for better traction, or ceramic tile if you don't mind it being cold and hard. Regular carpet only works if you're certain you'll never have water problems. If you do use carpet, pick the kind that's easy to clean, such as Berber, he suggested.
Don't forget about humidity control. A good dehumidifier keeps the air dry and prevents mold. You can add one to your heating system or buy a separate unit just for the basement.
Today's basement makeovers look different than they used to. Sure, children still want play areas, but parents want grown-up spaces too.
“Basements aren't just for the children anymore,” Hilf noted. “Popular additions include bars, small kitchens, home gyms and even complete in-law apartments for aging parents.”
Bigger houses mean bigger basements, so families can fit multiple uses in the same space. You might have a workout area on one end and an entertainment zone with a big TV on the other.
Most basement projects take about a month to finish. When delays happen, it’s usually because homeowners change their minds about what they want.
“People see how something looks and want to change it,” Hilf said. “Then we have to order new materials, which can add weeks to the job.”
The good news is that working in the basement won't mess up your daily life much. You might need to move stored items and let contractors use your garage, but the work stays downstairs. When they need to shut off water or electricity, they try to do it when nobody's home.
All this work pays off when it's time to sell your house. Sandy Bracken, a local real estate agent, said buyers will pay more for houses with finished basements.
“You won't see the value immediately,” she explained, “but it builds equity and you'll get your money back when you sell.”
But the work must be done right. Cheap jobs that let water in or don't meet building codes can hurt your home's value, she warned. That's why spending money upfront on good planning and quality work matters so much.
If you're ready to turn your basement into real living space, it can be a great investment. Just remember to plan carefully, follow the rules, budget realistically and hire good people to do the work. The result will be a space your family can enjoy now and extra value when you're ready to move.
