Wonders a Professional Contractor Can Do With Your Basement

Basement renovations, if done correctly and efficiently can be a blessing for each member of the house. We all know that basements have been traditionally used for storing junk. Then basements turned into laundry rooms and now your basement can be anything you want.

Hiring contractors for basement renovation or any renovation for that matter is always the right decision. A professional contractor can offer countless possibilities for your basement. There are three possible course of actions you can take with basement renovation:

Convert The Basement Into Your Personal Paradise

If you take the wise (and right) decision of hiring basement renovation contractors then you’d have a wide range of avenues to choose from for converting your basement into something beyond awesome. Whatever you think and desire your contractors will make it possible – well, provided the basement’s space allows it. Here are a few insane things you can transform your basement into:

• Home theatre
• Basement bar (if you love to throw parties)
• Wine Cellar
• Game room
• Guest house (with a little kitchen, cozy living room and bathroom for your guests to feel literally at home)
• Man/Woman Cave (or maybe your kid’s playground)
• Basement pool with an arched ceiling
• Family’s private getaway (a little something to do for each family member)

Increase the Storage Space With Panache

Basement renovation contractors will provide you with multiple options if you intend to let the status quo of your basement prevail. But the least you could do with a basement renovation is to style it up a little bit. Contractors will assist you with various techniques to organize and enhance the storage space. Some of us don’t realize the vast space that we let unorganized storage occupy. So make sure that after the renovation your basement can store more and is organized with perfection.

Who Said You Can’t Have Your Cake And Eat It Too?

With an enormous basement space (or just big enough) and skilled contractors you can without a doubt eat your cake and have it too. It can be effectively transformed into the room of your dreams all while being able to stock whatever you need.

Transform Your Old Basement with These Tips on Basement Renovations

Many homes have basements but it is quite common to find such spaces not being used to their fullest potential. A vast number of families use the basement only for storage purposes. As a result, it becomes a gloomy and dark room where nobody wants to go.

If your basement also happens to be one such area, then you could transform it into a more productive space and increase the value of your home.

Basement renovations can convert your old and rarely-used basement into a brighter and more usable space for you and your family.

Here are thus some basement renovation tips which can help you in this regard-

The first approach should be thinking about how the basement is to be utilized.

Do you plan to change it into a living or entertainment room which can be frequented by your family members?

Or do you want it to become a room which is used for getting together on special occasions?

You can even use it as an additional guest room.

Once these aspects have been thought upon, then the renovation process can be initiated.

These include considering whether there will be a vapor barrier, insulation or framing installed.

Are there any other structural formations which you would like to retain?

Building codes of the area you live in also need to be considered if the structure of the basement were to be updated.

Once these important structural aspects have been decided, the next step, which is designing the interiors as well the budget can be discussed.

Next, comes the lighting.

It would be best if the basement could be lit naturally as much as possible.

This will depend on the location of the basement.

If your basement is a walk-out one, which has direct access to the outside, then windows must be included for lighting and ventilation as well.

If your basement is underground, then you can consider getting window wells made to make up for the absence of windows.

For basement renovations, colors are another aspect which needs to be thoughtfully decided upon.

If the room is dull and dark, then try picking shades which are bright like brown, orange, gold and yellow. Try not using colors as such beige and gray.

Colors add warmth and if chosen wisely, they can make your basement a bustling den for your family and friends.

Home Renovation Trends for Baby Boomers

According to the US Census Bureau, the population of baby boomers in 2012 was estimated to be 76.4 million, which is nearly one-fourth of the total US population.

While some aging adults plan to gain new experiences in their golden year, statistics reveal that over 60% of the retirees decides to stay in their current home as mobility becomes a crucial factor in old age.

However, old age requires special care and attention to maintain health and comfort which involves various changes in day-to-day lifestyle.

Therefore, the most comfortable alternative for elderly homeowners is to undertake home renovation which includes creating and updating the home to make it more comfortable and safe for older people.

Although installing easy to operate faucets and appliance, grab bars, higher toilets, and slip-resistant floors are some primary upgrades that most retirees include in their home renovation project, one can also trace other definite trends in such renovations.

Regardless of the age, improving the appearance of the home is the single most effective reason why people undertake home renovation in the first place. One plausible reason could be to build a structured and orderly environment in the home to experience a sense of calm and comfort that every aging adult craves for.

Since bathroom and kitchen are the most used (or cluttered) rooms in every home, the retirees’ expenditure on the renovation of these spaces is also worth noticing.

Studies reveal that an average boomer spends $18,000 for a minor and over $50,000 for a major kitchen renovation compared to millennial’s average expenditure of $6,000 and $21,000 for a minor and major kitchen renovation respectively. Boomers’ average spending on bathroom renovation also cost twice the millennial’s expenditure for the same.

This difference in expenditure might well be the result of the approach taken to accomplish renovation. Since renovation projects demand detailed attention to every aspect of design and construction, it is imperative for the aging adults to hire professional bathroom and kitchen renovation contractors to accomplish such complex task whereas younger generation might resort to DIY approach.

It is note-worthy that over 80% of the homes in the United States are owned by baby boomers who tend to spend more on home renovation projects compared to younger homeowners.

As per the National Association of Home Builders, most contractors undertake home renovation for baby boomers with the purpose to make them ‘stay put’ i.e. to remodel the house meeting the unique requirement of older people to avoid mobility.

Another essential factor that considerably affects the home renovation for baby boomers are the geographical location of the house. Homeowners living in Northeast and Midwest invest more on interiors of the house such as bathroom and kitchen renovation, while residents in south and west focus on outdoor projects.

Finishing Tips from Basement Renovation Contractors

Home renovation contractors report a growing realization among homeowners regarding the possibilities and benefits that basement finishing offers. A finished basement significantly adds to the livable square footage of the house and also has a positive influence on the resale value of the house.

While hiring an established basement renovation contractor would certainly add a professional element to your basement finishing project, there is a long list of activities that homeowners should consider before the commencement of the project. Some of them are-

Water Leakage

A damp and leaky basement promote the growth of mold and mildew, causing serious damage to floors, walls, and other valuable items stored in the basement, and resulting in a moldy basement finishing.

Before commencing the basement finishing, it is imperative to make sure that your basement does not have any water leakage.

Basement water issues can be easily resolved by taking appropriate measures such as grading the soil to slope away from the foundation and waterproofing the walls or installing a sump pump to prevent any major flooding issues.

Radon Test

Radon, the radioactive gas forms naturally during the breakdown of radioactive elements like Uranium found in soil and rocks.

According to the US Environmental Agency, an elevated level of radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking in the United States.

Since this gas enters the house through the foundation, a basement with higher radon levels might cause serious health-related issues to the homeowners. If you are also planning to convert your basement into a game or movie room, basement renovation contractors recommend getting a Radon test done to check the radioactive soil and to ensure the safety of homeowners.

State Permit and Inspection

Although it has been made mandatory in many states to acquire a local permit prior to any construction or renovation project, most homeowners often skip this essential stage during basement finishing. While a permit ensures local guidelines are followed by homeowners till the completion of the project, the follow-up inspection confirms the safety of the structure.

Furthermore, remodeling the basement to add extra living space without acquiring the necessary permits might also affect the resale value of the house. Therefore, it is recommended to hire professional basement renovation contractors to ensure an easy attainment of state permit.

Effective Ideas for Exterior Home Renovations in Queens

A clean bathroom, a well-lit living room, and a properly maintained kitchen may be essential for making a home beautiful, but impressions matter. Don’t they?

After all, that is the very purpose of doing home renovations in Queens or any other area for that matter.

To leave a long-lasting impression, the exterior of the house also needs to look appealing, and the only way to ensure that is by protecting the exteriors from mildew, pests, and mold.

The question then is, how should you begin the exterior home renovation?

Many homeowners might be tempted to take up the project as a DIY job, but making the slightest of errors can result in the biggest of disasters.

Consequently, it is essential to obtain the help of an expert of home renovations in Queens or your locality, who will help in creating new design elements that can greatly enhance the appeal of your residence.

However, before dashing off to get in touch with a contractor, make sure you have a list of things ready which you would like to renovate.

A great idea would be to search for exterior home renovation ideas in New York and the surrounding areas online.

Next, meet a couple of contractors before finalizing.

It is essential that you discuss your priorities with him/her so that the outcome will meet your expectations.

Now, the only aspect left is – which are the areas of the house that you should consider when renovating the exteriors of your house?

The Front Door

The door is the first thing which catches a person’s attention when she/he visits your house. A dull door looks uninviting, and thus, painting a door will make it look more welcoming.

If it is broken, then it needs to be replaced, for safety reasons.

The Driveway

An unmaintained driveway leaves a negative impact on visitors. It needs to be repaired by installing new pavers to make it look appealing.  If it snows in your area, you can also install a heated driveway to remove excess snow.

The Walls

Walls tend to become dirty and dull with the passage of time. This leads to the formation of mildew and mold, which can cause health issues. They need to be cleaned, repaired and painted so that they look beautiful. Painting also protects walls from the effects of weather.