Basement Remodeling Long Island
There’s a lot of unfair stigma attached to basements. Too often, people relegate these perfectly functional sections of the house to junk storage facilities or fallout shelters, presumably thinking that any room as cold, dark, and boring as a basement couldn’t really serve any other purpose. Of course, in reality, most basements are only cold, dark, and boring because no one has yet taken the time to tap into the room’s considerable potential.
This is all starting to change, however, as more and more homeowners are embracing basement remodeling as a fun and functional home improvement project for any season. As with any home remodeling project, however, there are many critical factors to consider before renovating your basement, including finding yourself a reputable basement remodeling contractor. Before any other step, however, your project must begin with a plan.
Getting Started
Obviously, the first step in basement remodeling, besides verifying that you do, in fact, have a basement in your home, is deciding what what you want to do with it. The options are numerous, and the best choice comes down to a matter of space, functionality, personal interest, and cost efficiency.
Many property owners elect to take a more conservative approach to basement finishing, keeping the room layout essentially the same, but converting a designated area into a laundry room, guest bedroom, or a more organized storage area. For those interested in going a bit further, sometimes out of necessity, a basement can also be redesigned as a permanent bedroom or bedrooms with an accompanying bathroom. This can allow a growing family to optimize the use of a house without having to break the bank to construct new room additions. There are a lot of great ways to transform your basement into a surprisingly appealing center for socializing and entertainment, too. If you have children, or if you’re a child at heart yourself, a basement can be easily converted into an ideal play room or gaming room. Whether you’re talking about stuffed animals and video games or pool tables, darts, pinball machines, and, well, video games, a basement game room can prove to be the perfect hangout spot for kids and grownups alike.
For those aforementioned grownups, you might also want to upgrade your new entertainment room by installing an in-house bar. What better way to host a gathering for a ballgame than with a cozy sports room and a working bar?! Or, if you’re more of a movie buff, your basement just might be the perfect place to install that home theater you’ve been dreaming of. A home contractor can help you set up an authentic theater design, complete with seating and proper acoustics, while an electrician rewires the basement to host your big screen, surround sound, theater lighting, pop corn machine, or any other amenities you might want.
Maybe sitting around watching television and drinking doesn’t sound your idea of a great time. Or maybe it does, but you’d also want a way to kill the calories you just took in. Well, not surprisingly, basement remodeling is also regularly associated with the creation of home gyms and workout areas.
Cost Effectiveness
Costs vary wildly on basement remodeling projects, of course, depending on the rates of each contractor, the scope of the project, and the type of materials being used. There are also a lot of peripheral costs to remember, including architectural design, engineering fees (if you’re planning to remove walls or drastically change the structure of the basement), and permit charges. To keep your budget on target, there are many ways to stick to your guns while making some economic compromises.
When it comes to choosing materials and brand names for counter tops, flooring, appliances, and other aspects of the basement remodel, you can save money by selecting more affordable choices, rather than the high end, big names. These seemingly small decisions can weigh heavy, so be sure to discuss material alternatives with your contractor before lending your approval to any and all suggestions.
Another way to save dough in your basement remodeling project is to work with what you’ve got. In other words, your basement already has electrical wiring and plumbing setups in place. To alter these, you’ll need electrical and plumbing specialists to do some considerable work, which will cost considerable cash. If your remodeling project is a radical one, there’s not much you can do to avoid this. But if you want to be creative, clever, and economical, consider adapting your remodel plan to the electrical and plumbing arrangements that already exist.
Finally, be sure you get a written, agreed upon estimate from your proven, licensed remodeling contractor before letting a single piece of drywall get touched. By staying on the same page with your contractor all the way through the process, you can avoid miscommunication and unexpected costs.
What To Know About Your Basement Remodeling Contractor
Do they do design work, as well as construction work?How do they stack up against the competition? Always get quotes from at least 3 reputable contractors. Are their licenses legit and up-to-date. Request to see the licenses every time.Make sure the contracting company has liability insurance and worker’s compensation.How long does the contractor estimate it will take to complete your project?What times day/week will the contractor’s crew be working?Get 3 references of RECENT, previous clients of your contractor, and speak with them directly to confirm the quality of the contractor’s work.Determine methods and dates of required payment.Can the contractor acquire the necessary permits, and if so, how much does this cost?What materials <paint, flooring, electrical fixtures, surface materials) does your contractor offer, and how do their costs differ from those at your local home improvement retailer?
By taking all the steps to game plan, stay on budget, and hire the most qualified professional contractor available, your basement remodeling should go off without a hitch, and you can forget all about that myth of the cold, dark, boring room of the house.
