Your Home Doctor

Finding the Right Finish Basement Designs For You

There are many things you need to consider when deciding on finish basement designs. What room do you want and why? Here are some things you will need to think about when deciding on finish basement designs.

The first thing you need to do is know what you want to do with the basement, in terms of what kind of room you want to transform it into. There are many things you can change a basement into, and all of them will bring a great improvement to the value of your home.

You can use your basement for a home gym, a home office, a home theater, a home studio, a home bar, a family room or a guest room. Those are only some ideas.

A basement office is a fantastic area for starting your own business or doing your work at home – it’s usually away from everyone and no one will get in your way. This is an advantage that works with all the things mentioned above.

Something many other people are doing these days is using their basement for their library. The space can be used incredibly effectively with bookshelves and a nice table and reading chair in the middle. If you get proper lighting in and do a good job with the décor this would be an excellent room for this sort of thing. It can also then be used as a studying area for the kids in school.

The room could also be transformed into a play area for the younger kids, as they will then be able to make as much noise as they want without interfering with everyone else.

Once you’ve decided on the kind of room you want you obviously have to look at your budget. All of the above ideas can be done for very little cost, or they can be done at an enormous cost. The state your basement is in now will also have an effect on how much money you need to put in.

Once you know your budget you need to consider the décor of the room. Will you go for tiles or carpets? Tiles are usually better because basements can be very damp. Tiles with rugs works well, though. You might also want to consider vinyl flooring as well.

The kind of walling you need would depend on what look you want and what you want to do as well. Some walls absorb sound very well, and these would be very effective for a home studio, for instance. Others can make the basement look very much like an office and this may be what you would want for a home office.

It’s important to keep furniture in mind. Many people don’t consider the overall look and practicality of the room with regards to the furniture. For example, a home studio requires furniture that is comfortable and that would do a good job of concealing all the cabling that needs to be in the room. A lot of people don’t think about that.

Then it’s the real practicalities, such as finding a solution to getting rid of the moisture in the room and how to keep it dry. Also, you need to consider how to keep it warm. There are many solutions to this, such as heated mats or underfloor heating; plus the sub-floor and flooring you use will make a big difference with the moisture. You will need to research your options here.

You will have to do a lot of researching but it is hoped that this article serves a great way to get you started in deciding the rightfinish basement designs for you.

-article by Lee Andersons, EzineArticles.com

If you would like to speak to a basement remodeling and home theater installation specialist please contact Select Basement Waterproofing and Better Homes and Basements toll free at 877-548-3889 at your convenience.

What you can do with NO Rough Plumbing in your Basement
By The Basement Remodeling Weblog

Many people want to have basement remodeling done to add extra living space. Do you want a bathroom in your basement?  Many times what they find out is that the house they live in the basement was never roughed in for a bathroom.  Normally you would have to have your basement contractor or plumber jackhammer or saw cut the concrete floor to run the new sewer lines into the existing system and then put the concrete back.  Doing that is not only costly but its also very messy.  There are new systems that can save you money and spare you from the dirty work of tearing up the concrete.  The Saniflo Saniplus can be built into a wall cavity in the basement concealed behind the framing system.  The Saniplus is a system that is used to install a complete bathroom in a basement up to 9 feet below the sewer line, or even up to 100 feet away from a soil stack without breaking up the concrete. You can have a toilet, vanity, and shower unit all hooked up to this unit.

The Saniplus includes the macerating unit toilet tank and bowl but no seat. Since the reservoir, the macerating pump and the pipes are hidden from view, this type of installation gives you the lean and clean look of a European bathroom or powder room. The toilet uses only 6 liters (1.6 USG) of water per flush. The Saniplus is simplicity itself to install; there are just four connections:

• The macerating pump is connected to the discharge pipe coming from the toilet.
• The toilet tank is connected to the water supply.
• The macerating pump is connected to small diameter discharge pipe work.
• The macerating pump is connected to electrical supply.

If you want to conceal the unit in the wall you will need the extension also.

The Saniplus macerating system is comprised of a pressure chamber, which starts and stops the unit, and the motor, which drives the stainless steel macerator blades and pump. To learn more about the macerating process please refer to “What is a macerator?” A normal operating cycle for Saniplus takes about 10–20 seconds depending upon the discharge pipe run configuration; power consumption is therefore minimal.

You can find out other detailed information, specs, and other helpful products at Saniflo.com. If you are interested in purchasing one, Amazon.com carries both the SaniPlus Macerator Toilet with Elongated Bowland the SaniPlus Macerator Toilet with Round Bowl.

Remember when doing basement remodeling always do you own research before choosing the products you will use and make sure that they are right for your job. If you need help have a competent basement contractor to help you with these decisions. This is just a fraction of many ideas for your basement plans.  Most basement remodeling and waterproofing professionals like Select Basement USA offer free estimates and tips on remodeling your basement bathroom. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Saniplus

How to Install a HydroTex Floor and Membrane Coating

The final step in waterproofing your basement in order to achieve a complete basement waterproofing system is installing a HydroTex Floor and Membrane coating to further keep away any unwanted moisture. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, over 60 percent of basements have moisture seepage in one form or another, while 38 percent experience mold and fungus growth due to an elevated moisture level.

HydroTex Floor and Membrane coating is a sealer that penetrated deep inside the wall and floor membrane and chemically reacts with lime and alkalis, expands into microscopic pores, and hardens as a mineral. This seals against water, water vapor and radon gas creating one product that combines concrete waterproofing, damp proofing, and concrete preservation with radon mitigation.

The final stage in waterproofing your basement can be applied to poured concrete, concrete blocks, cinderblocks, mortar and stone. Contrary to what  many homeowners believe, new construction homes are best to waterproof because it will often prevent future moisture problems by strengthening the concrete and reducing cracking.

Most basement remodeling professionals like Select Basement USA offer free estimates and tips on how to pursue your project. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.