Based on years of experience, we are providing informative posts on home services to help homeowners make the best choices for their home renovations. First-time homeowners will find this helpful as they encounter the problems and decisions for the first time. Longtime homeowners will find fresh ideas for renovating their home. We hope you enjoy our posts!
So You’re Considering a Basement Remodel
Many of us have memories of our childhood in basements. Whether this was a place to escape from the outside world and hang out, or a place to play with our friends, they are as American as hot dogs and baseball. Now that we are adults, we have the opportunity to create this experience for ourselves in the way that we see fit. If we decide to do a basement remodel, there are a lot of factors we have to keep in mind in order to make sure that it is up to code, and provides the level of safety and comfort that we have come to expect from most ideal basements.
Advantages of Basement Renovation
The primary advantage of basement finishing is to add more space and value to your property, without having to build a new addition. By adding an extra room like abasement man cave, a basement home theater, fitness area, home office, game room, or a bedroom, you are adding something of significant value to your home. The average remodel offers a 70% ROI, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2017 “Cost vs. Value” analysis. However, more immediately, you’ll be adding something to your home that provides entertainment or utility, something we can all use more of.
Necessities In Any Basement Remodel
However, when you decide to do this, there are some factors you have to keep in mind. First thing to do is to determine what you want. Will it be a space that includes many facilities, like a mother-in-law suite, with a kitchen, new bathroom bedroom, living room, and a laundry room? Or will it have a more centralized purpose, like a home theater, entertainment room, or home gym? Do you want a private office so you can be more productive at home? Depending on what you want, you need to take different factors into consideration. These are some of the many elements that you may want to consider.
Basement Windows
If you don’t have any windows, your subterranean layer can feel very confined, dark, and dull. Therefore, adding an egress window or two is a must. Not only will it make the place feel better, most building codes require one as an emergency exit. Make sure to use double or even triple pane windows as lower levels get colder than other parts of the house due to cold air sinking.
Lighting
Since you’re underground, there won’t be much, if any, natural light. You could have some windows that let in a degree of light, however that is usually not enough. Some easy additions could be track lighting, recessed lighting such as can lights, pot lights, or high hat lights, or auxiliary lamps.
Flooring Options in a Basement Remodel
You can stick with your concrete floor, however, this is rather dull, and doesn’t provide the best level of insulation, leaving the ground chilled. If you’re planning on turning your cellar into a recreation area, it’s a good option, but otherwise, it may be best to explore other options. A good option is carpet. It’s easy to maintain, and provides a solid level of insulation. If anything happens, it can be replaced in sections for a relatively low price. Professionals recommend that you don’t install hardwood in your basement remodel, since it won’t add too much of a return on your investment. If you are planning on adding carpet to your new room, see our post on carpet cleaning.
Insulation
Basements are naturally cold, due to heat rising and cold air sinking. The best way to solve this is with proper insulation. Proper insulation will reduce your energy bills by over 40%. Another good reason to use insulation is if anything was to flood, insulation absorbs a good amount of the damage and can be inexpensively replaced compared to, let’s say, a wall. The best option is spray foam, as it’s the best at moderating temperature. However, it is also the most expensive. Whichever option you choose, there are proper and improper ways of installing it so that it meets code designations.
Waterproofing the Basement
This is one of the most crucial steps in any basement remodel. Since basements are typically the final resting place of most water, over 90% of homes with basements will have water problems at one point or another. You will need to waterproof the walls, the basement, and the ceiling with a combination of plastics, insulation, tarps, and cauks. It’s not about the aesthetics here, it’s about the longevity of your investment. While expensive, it’s not nearly as expensive as having to remediate mold, and then redo the whole thing. This is why it’s required in most codes.
Plumbing
This is only necessary if you are adding something that requires it such as a laundry room, kitchen, or bathroom. Doing this in a basement creates its own set of hurdles, so it’s best to consult a plumber in this situation.
Top 5 Reasons You Should Hire a Painting Contractor
If you are looking to refurbish your home, office, or warehouse, hiring a professional painting contractor is an absolute must.
You want a painter who not only understands your needs, but is able to deliver on those needs. Hiring a non-professional painter is never a good idea. Not only are they less likely to have the proper licensing, but they are also less likely to be able to deliver exactly what you want.
If you want to get the job done the first time around, do yourself a favor and hire a professional painting contractor.
With that being said, here are five very important reasons you should hire a painting contractor.
Reason #1 – They Will Get The Job Done The Right Way
Applying color tint is not easy. It’s actually more complicated than most people realize. To avoid discoloration and mismatched spots, all coats must be applied evenly.
When you hire a professional painter, you will be hiring someone that knows what they are doing. Painting contractors will have the experience, as well as the proper tools for the project at hand.
Painting contractors also know what the local requirements are, and will ensure they paint within those guidelines.
Reason #2 – They Use State of The Art Technology
The type of technology used is what ultimately determines the output of the painting job. Using state of the art technology ensures there is standardization throughout the process.
Professional painters tend to be up to date on the latest technology. They use it in combination with their many years of experience to provide you with the best possible outcome.
When state of the art technology is used, it will enhance the overall appearance of the home, or building, being painted.
Reason #3 – They Will Save You Money
I think it’s safe to say we all love to save money. And one of the best ways to do that, is to hire people who know what they are doing.
Most painting contractors have been in the business for many years. As a result they have inside knowledge that you and I might not know.
They will be able to recommend the best type of paint to use for your project. They can also help with colors as they tend to know what will work well in certain situations.
Reason #4 – They Will Save You Time
Saving time and money go hand in hand. The sooner a project gets done, the less money you will end up spending.
When you hire a painting contractor one of the first things you should discuss is timeline. You need to be very clear about the time frame in which you expect the project to be completed. If painting is part of a basement remodel project, you may be interested in our post on the necessities of basement remodeling.
Professional painters pride themselves on getting the job done on time. And the best part is they will get it done on time, without compromising on quality.
Reason #5 – They Are Trustworthy
Having a trustworthy painter is extremely important. Working with a non-professional, untrustworthy painter can end up costing you way more money in the long run.
On the other hand, a trustworthy painter will save you both time and money. So now the question is what makes a painter trustworthy?
It first starts with them having the proper certifications. Painters that aren’t properly certified can expose you to a host of unwanted liability issues.
A good painter will have all needed certifications, and will be properly insured. This gives you an extra layer of protection should something go wrong.
When it boils down it, the biggest reason you should hire a painting contractor is to ensure you don’t waste your time and money.
How To Hire A Professional Carpet Cleaner
While many companies say that they can provide a solid clean for a reasonable price, this is not always the case. Like with a lot of services, there is sometimes a disconnect between what their marketing says, and what they are actually able to deliver. The following tips will allow you to make the most informed decision when hiring a professional carpet cleaner. They will help you understand the process, and the industry so you won’t get ripped off when the time comes.
Is The Carpet Cleaner Certified?
There are a few certifications on the market. However, the most recognized is theCarpet Cleaning Technician from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. Additional certifications from the IICRC include Rug Cleaning Technician, Carpet Repair and Reinstallation Technician, Water Damage Restoration Technician, and Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician.’
Is The Carpet Cleaner Insured?
If they aren’t insured, they open you up to a serious amount of liability. It’s remarkably easy to damage fabric if not properly serviced. Therefore, you could incur excessively high costs if they aren’t insured. Additionally, while it’s not the most dangerous job, if someone was — God forbid — to get injured on the job, then this could lead to some serious costs that could have otherwise been avoided with proper insurance.
How Recommended Is The Carpet Cleaning Service?
While this should be obvious, you’d be surprised how often people just take a company’s word without delving deeper into it. Check their Better Business Bureau rating. Do they have any outstanding complaints? Check their Google Reviews. Do they have at least above a 4 star review? If not, it may be worth trying someone else if the local market is competitive. Their social media may also have some clues to their competency. If you know someone who has used them before, asking them is a good idea. A great place to get a more nuanced recommendation is on NextDoor, which is a community board for individual neighborhoods, filled with home owners.
Is The Price Too Good To Be True?
Carpet cleaning requires a lot of certification, equipment, marketing and insurance. Therefore, it’s not cheap. If you see a price that’s too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you find out if they have the aforementioned things like insurance, and certification. Chances are they don’t if the price is really low. Proceed at your own risk if you decide to go for serious cost savings. Another way to freshen up your home is to paint inside and out – see our post on hiring a professional painting contractor.
Do They Use The Proper Carpet Cleaning Methods?
The IICRC lays out guidelines for best practice carpet cleaning. If they aren’t following these steps, you are getting a substandard service for what you are paying. This is why carpet cleaners should be certified. It’s a smart idea to quiz any potential hire on the following process.
Dry Soil Removal
This basically means a thorough vacuuming to remove dirt from the fibers.
Soil Suspension
By applying the industry approved pre-treatment agents, professionals will break hard to remove dirt from its fibers. The IICRC defines four characteristics of soil suspension: First, is applying the pre-treatment chemicals. Next is applying heat to make the chemicals react faster. Then they stimulate the fibers to distribute the agents more effectively, and let it set to finalize the reaction. By following these steps, they will be able to remove dirt far more effectively than a simple vacuuming.
Soil Extraction
You probably know this as steam cleaning. They use hot water in order to pull the grime and dirt out of the fibers.
Grooming
Grooming is accomplished by using a specialized rake, or brush to move the fibers back and forth. This prevents unnecessary matting, and also loosens any additional dirt that may be left behind. They may also use grooming to agitate the chemical solution in order to stimulate the reaction.
Drying
If the service is properly done, under common temperature and humidity conditions, everything should dry within 24 hours. If the drying process needs to be sped up, air movers, fans, and even opening windows can help. Most fabric, even without these methods, should be dry within six to eight hours.
If all of these factors are in place, then you should hire the carpet cleaning service. They clearly know what they are doing, and can prove it with certification, experience, and recommendation. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about liability, since they will come insured.