How To Make Your Basement More Habitable
Most of the time, your basement is only home to rodents and dust. It’s not a place you care to visit, and you tend to just let it flow from your mind. But, have you ever realized what a waste this is? Basements can be quite large, meaning they have lots of potential. A basement renovation can give you a brand new room that brings a lot to your home. It could become an extra bedroom, a designated washroom, or even a second lounge. I wish we had a basement! However, I wanted to talk to those that do to let you know some quick fixes that can immediately add extra square footage to your home.
You can renovate your basement in loads of different ways. Before that, you have to make it habitable. So, let’s see what you can do:
Bring in some light
I would say the biggest problem with a basement is the lack of light. Thankfully, this can be addressed in two ways. Firstly, see if you can install windows to let in natural light. I know this isn’t possible for all basements, but some will be slightly above ground at the top of the walls, so it could be achievable. Natural light will give it a more homely atmosphere. If you can’t, then install bright lighting that keeps the place well-lit. You don’t want it to be some gloomy room with lots of shadows - it has to be bright!
Keep it dry
The problem with many basements is that water drains down there, creating lots of wetness. In some cases, you may even have slight flooding during rainstorms. So, work on keeping your basement as dry as possible. This begins by fixing any plumbing or drainage issues. You may also need something like the Tsurumi submersible pump to help pump out drained water and move it away from the basement. Either way, a dry basement is far more habitable and will be much easier for you to convert.
Deal with any pests
You can’t convert your basement if pests like to hang out there. As such, this will be one of your biggest challenges. It’s well worth getting a pest control service to help you remove any pests that might already be living there. Then, it’s a case of preventing other pests from coming back. This can be done by blocking any entry points or using various sprays to ward them off. Generally, the presence of human life in the basement can keep them away as well. There’s a reason pests are always found in basements or attics - it’s quiet and free from the human activity!
Make it breathable
Finally, you have to make your basement more breathable. Now, if you can fit windows, this will help you a lot. Opening the windows will allow air to circulate the room, stopping it from being stuffy. If you can’t install windows, you need some sort of vent or fan system. Effectively, these things can attach to the walls and let air in and out. Again, it makes it much easier to breathe down in the basement, creating a more livable atmosphere.
Essentially, these steps are the first things to do when planning a basement renovation. When all of them are done, you can work on actually renovating this room. Now if only I had a basement, I will just have to live vicariously through all of you :)
Cheers!
Janelle
