My wife and are trying to decide whether or not to invest money into building a family room in our basement, as we both have reservations. My concerns are safety, while she feels it will always be a dungeon. Can you please help us out?
Thanks, Bob
A: Dear Bob,
I applaud both you and your wife for carefully considering whether or not you should pour money down the cellar stairwell, so to speak. While basements can provide a wonderful addition to one’s living space, they can also become an investment nightmare.
Here are some guidelines that everyone should consider when looking to finish off a basement. (Note: These guidelines should also be considered when looking to purchase a home, as it may influence the price you offer — if you make one at all.)
Safety: This should always be your top priority. Of course, anyone finishing a basement will want to get a building permit. Now, while some feel building permits are just for taxing purposes, the fact is, they also insure safety will be built into your project. Before a building permit is issued, town and or city experts will review your plans with safety compliance in mind.
Water/dampness: Remember that water will always take the course of least resistance. Unfortunately, this often means that it will end up in the basement. You will want to check your basement walls and floor for cracks, as well as a sump pump. If you have doubts about how dry your basement is or will be, I recommend consulting with an expert. Another consideration is dampness. While dehumidifiers can do a great job, it will be important for you to consider whether your basement has excessive dampness.
Height from floor to ceiling: Fact is, some basements are just not built to be a functional room. Remember that for generations the basement was built and used as a utility room. Newer homes are built with this in mind, but they are also built to accommodate a more spacious living area. You will want to have a ceiling in your family room if at all possible. You can bypass a ceiling and paint/stain your floor joist, however, you give up a lot in terms of noise, aesthetics, etc. As a test, I recommend hanging a piece of cardboard at what will be the finished ceiling height to see if it is acceptable to you.
Noise: Remember, your basement houses a furnace, pumps, filtering systems, etc. You will want to give strong consideration to what you will do for sound proofing, because you could agonize forever if this issue is not addressed up front.
A finished basement can be great — just be sure to fully consider all of the issues before spending your money there.
Kaile Warren of Windham is CEO/Founder of the national handyman franchise Rent-A-Husband. Kaile is also a national home improvement expert for the CBS Early Show, HGTV and Parade Magazine and appears locally on WCSH’s 207. When not on the road or working he spends his time teaching his newly adopted white shepherd, Maintenance, how-to ... Send your questions for Kaile to editor@themaineswitch.com.