If you have an unfinished basement in your home, finishing it can add value and living space to your home. It can also present many challenges such as repairing waterproofing, dealing with plumbing, situating rooms and many other things. But, if you know how to deal with these problems, you will easily be able to overcome any basement finishing challenge ahead of you. Here are some things that you may face, and some tips to help you with your project:

1. Dealing With Water Problems And Installing Drainage

Water can be a major problem when finishing a basement. You may want to have your basement inspected for any leaks or damage to the waterproofing. This can also include repairing drainage systems inside and outside of your home to help protect your home from water damage.

2. Ceiling Heights And Mechanical Systems That Are Below Joists

Ceiling heights are another issue that you will face when finishing a basement. You may have limited ceiling heights and mechanical systems that are below framing. If possible, you may want to have things like AC ducts and other mechanical systems installed above cabinetry work. Custom ceilings can also be built to help hide mechanical installations in your basement.

3. Choosing The Right Location Of Rooms And Windows In A Basement

Another issue that you may have to deal with is the location of windows in your basement. Anywhere there is a bedroom, you will have to have windows that meet egress codes. This means that you will probably want to have any rooms located on outside walls of your basement, and the center and areas without windows can be used for things like kitchens, bathrooms, and home theaters.

4. Dealing With Electrical And Mechanical Challenges When Finishing A Basement

Mechanical systems can also bring a lot of challenges in a basement. For electrical systems, you may want to have the basement on its own sub-panel that will separate the electrical in the basement from the rest of your home. For the AC, you may want to consider using ductless AC to limit the need for installing ductwork and new AC units. Since the basement is already cool, ductless AC will be sufficient for your cooling or heating needs.

Finishing a basement can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding when you see results. You can contact a basement finishing contractor (such as Hopley Builders Inc) to get help with finishing your basement and adding the valuable space you want to add to your home.