Start Your Basement Remodel with Best Choice!
Reasons To- and Benefits Of- Remodeling your Basement:

Do you feel like your home is shrinking? Are the kids growing up and accumulating more stuff? Is your teenager demanding a room of their own? Or maybe your home office just isn't what it needs to be? Regardless of the reason, the space solution may actually be right under your feet.
Basements are typically about one third of the entire home’s available space, 600 to 800 sq. ft. in the average home. And while some basements have been finished to create more living area, the majority of these spaces are used as makeshift laundry rooms, home offices, and storage spaces for everything from spare freezers to pantries, paints, and paperwork. In other words, most basements are underused. There are definitely benefits to considering a basement remodel: • Unlike a room addition, there is no need to excavate for new footings or worry about structural loads. • Utilities (including water, electricity, gas and sewer lines) are typically close at hand, further reducing costs. • Heating and cooling loads are relatively light for basements. • Basements almost always have stairs leading to them, unlike many attics.
Even if it's currently cold concrete and crammed with boxes of off-season duds, the lowest floor of your home probably has loads of potential. Treat it just as you would any of the rooms aboveground, and it might just become the most popular spot in the house—for a lot less cash than adding on. What Should Your Basement be Used For? Every family is different, so pinpoint how you spend your time and cater to those hobbies and interests. If you host parties or family gatherings often, a home bar could be a good investment. If you're looking for a kid-friendly hangout, ship them and their mess downstairs with a bigger living space that the whole family can enjoy. Or be practical above all else by adding extra bedrooms and another bathroom. (If adding bedrooms check out our blog post on egress windows!)
As you get ready to take the remodeling plunge, take time to map out your basement and determine all its separate functions. Think about what your family needs the space for, and pick a layout that best suits those needs.
Now That You Hav a Plan...
Once you finalize your plan, there are a couple things to consider.
Determine whether built-ins could help your ideas take shape. In a vast, undefined space, they're an easy way to differentiate one space from another — the extra storage space doesn't hurt either. Also, built-in cabinets beneath those small basement windows can act as a visual anchor , making their high placement seem just right.

Decide how you're going to fill the room with furniture. Unlike other rooms in your home where space might be tight, basements can offer large open areas - so the bigger the better. Think sectionals and over-sized pieces.
And finally, a dim basement is a real turnoff, so you'll need more fixtures than you've got elsewhere. Recessed cans broadcast light in a cone shape that's wider at the base; if you're using them, space them closer together to avoid dark spots. A good rule of thumb: Divide the ceiling height by 2 to get the maximum distance between cans.
Converting a basement, however, is not without its challenges. Below-grade spaces are subject to water and moisture, two common enemies of home construction. Mold and mildew are also common, and the natural light is limited. So call Best Choice Siding - discuss your ideas and options with construction professionals - and get your free quote today!

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