In almost every home you will find the basement used in different ways – as extra storage space, an extra guest room, or a small living space that has its own kitchen and bathroom. Unfortunately, if you live in an old house, you will find that the basement is also the moistest part of the house and that more often than not you will need to renovate it and equip it with the newest technologies available for home improvement.
When we talk about Basement Remodeling - New York, the first thing that comes to mind is waterproofing. Several studies have proven that 60% of old basements as wet basements. Moisture seeps in from the walls, the floor and even the window. The problem is even more aggravated with poor drainage and cracks, and the best solution to this problem is concrete waterproofing. You might be asking: why the need to make a basement dry? Well for one, wet basements breed fungus which could not only cause damage to your home; it also lowers the resale value of your house and is a potential cause of sickness. Some people say that waterproofing is the healthiest investment you can do for your home and should be the first consideration when you are remodeling your basement.
Before doing any waterproofing, you need to insure that you have proper drainage so as to eliminate one source of moisture. After this, you can start filling in the gaps on the floor and the cracks on the wall with the proper concrete waterproofing sealer. You will also need to locate the source of moisture, and some basements are in the area with a high water table. For this, you will need a sump pump to redirect the water, and then you will need to seal the foundation of your home with concrete waterproofing.
Aside from water proofing, you might also want to consider changing to egress windows so you can have a way for escape in times of emergencies. This will take a little planning and you will need to consider the foundation of the basement.
When you are planning refurbishing your basement, it is best that you let in the light and air to ensure proper ventilation. You might also want to consider insulating the basement as this works as soundproofing and helps in the retention of heat. This way, people living in the basement can still live normally without getting disturbed by the usual racket of a home and they won’t be cold especially during the hurricane season and winter time. For the lighting and cooking facility, you might need the help of an electrician as this can be hazardous if not done properly. In some homes, you might also need to upgrade the breaker panel to provide enough power for the whole basement. In most cases, you need to upgrade to at least 125 amps.
Basement Remodeling - New York can be a do-it-yourself project but if you encounter trouble with several aspects of the construction, it is best to hire a contractor. If you need to breakdown the walls to install the windows or you need to redo the flooring, you might as well hire someone to help you to make the work load easier.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Eugene Makeev 1
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