Basement Finishing Ideas

Some people may say that basements are just there to store all your old junk that you can’t be bothered to chuck out. However if this is your attitude, you’re really missing out on what can potentially be a really great room. Some ideas can include games room, wine cellar, living room and even a home gym. If this is going to be a room you want to spend a lot of time in, obviously you want to be nice and warm if it’s a bit chilly outside. Normally basements can be fairly cold places so having a source of heat down there is a must if you live somewhere prone to cold weather.

What Are The Best Basement Heating Options?

This isn’t a straightforward question to answer because there are so many basement heating possibilities. A fireplace is a distinct possibility if it’s suitable to have one installed. However in order to install one you should have a chimney flue which is functioning. If you don’t have a working chimney flue then it can be rather costly to install. If you don’t want to go to the hassle and expense of installing a flue you could elect to buy an electric heater, ceramic heater, propane space heater, baseboard heater or fan heater.

For larger basements there are heavy duty electric heaters which are perfectly capable of heating a room to a lovely warm 100F. Electric heaters are pretty economical to run and are very simply to use. Inside the heater is an element which heats the oil that then heats the air in your basement. Due to the lack of exposed element there isn’t any need to worry about the safety of your children or even pets.

Ceramic heaters have a fan inside which pushes hot air created by a ceramic heating element. You can even buy ceramic heaters which have two heating elements with an oscillating grill so that you can heat a larger basement. They also come with other features such as anti-freezing, temperature sensor, tip-over switch and air filter.

There are baseboard heaters which include heating elements that warm the air as it passes along. The cold air is also pulled down so that it can be heated and the warm air then rises. The great thing is that they take up very little space and don’t need any ductwork. They are very simple and easy to install and work well in many types of basement.

For smaller basements of around 300 sq ft you can use a propane gas heater which are great because there’s no need to bother with ductwork and electric cables.

Underfloor heating has really become very popular nowadays because of their ability to heat a room evenly. This means you’re not going to end up with one part of the basement warm but another part is cold. This is because the heat doesn’t come from a single source; instead the heat radiates through the flooring and is evenly spread out in your basement. It’s also a great option if you don’t like the idea of having a heating source that makes a noise as underfloor heating is completely quiet. The heating elements are also completely hidden from view so is ideal if you are the sort of person who likes their home décor to be as minimal as possible without unnecessary clutter. The main drawback however is the cost and the work involved in having it installed

So if you’re worried that you basement is going to be cold and uncomfortable you’re mind can be set at ease because you have a number of basement heating choices. It doesn’t matter what your budget or what size of basement you have, there will be a heating product that will meet your needs. In terms of pure function, under-floor heating would be the winner, however it is not straight forward to install and it does require you to lift up any floor coverings you may have laid. Go along to your local DIY outlet or heating shop and find out what products they have to offer and get as much info on them as possible.

At some point in most people’s lives there comes a time when the house they bought some years ago is no longer big enough to fulfil their needs.  The problem is that many people become attached to their homes; perhaps they really like the area or maybe they’ve spent a lot of time and money renovating it.  It can be heartbreaking to move to another house where you might really hate the décor or it’s too close too a noisy road.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.  There are a number of methods which will allow you to stay in your current home but make it larger so that you have more space.  One such way is to look for basement finishing ideas.

When finishing your basement there needs to be a lot of time a thought spent on the design of your basement and what materials you are going to need.  Some of the essential materials for finishing a basement are insulation, waterproofing and flooring, amongst many other things.  Flooring isn’t just something that looks nice; it also has to be practical which is why you take particular care in looking for basement flooring options.

One of the most popular flooring for basements is concrete.  You might be thinking “oh no, not that horrible stuff!”  OK, so concrete does have a pretty bad reputation in terms of looking horrible.  But that’s only because factories and warehouses use it and they don’t tend to put much care into laying it.  Luckily if you want concrete floors in a residential setting, there are ways you can make concrete look more attractive.  Actually, the treatments that can be carried out on concrete flooring will make your basement look a million dollars.  Some people think that it is on par with the likes of marble.

In the home, the most popular material for flooring is probably carpet.  It is one of the most affordable floor coverings you can buy plus it also creats a nice warm cosy feel.  Although it makes a wonderful floor for your bedroom, it’s not very well suited to your basement.  The problem is that many basements have to deal with excess moisture and carpeting isn’t exactly the most water-resistant material on the planet.  There are ways to make sure your basement doesn’t get damp, for instance you should always repair cracks, use insulation and waterproofing and basement dehumidifiers work very well too.  However no matter what precautions you make with your basement, there is still the risk of damp or flooding due to a leaking pipe.  Therefore buying a hard floor such as ceramic, marble, slate, rubber or engineered hardwood would be a much better choice.

Hardwood is a very popular flooring type in the home because it has a timeless elegance to it and will last for many generations to come.  However due to the moisture content of basements, hardwood is best avoided otherwise the wood will warp.  If you are a strong willed sort of person and just want to do things your way, then you can install hardwood floors but make sure that a vapour guard is installed underneath.  To do this you should lay a high density polyethylene sheet which has dimples that are 3/8″ tall.  This then creates a gap of air that traps moisture between the concrete and your sheeting preventing moisture from rising up into your wood floors.

A better alternative to real hardwood floors is to buy engineered flooring.  It is basically made up of different layers of hardwood with a high density fibreboard core.  Because it consists of layers, you find that the flooring is much more resistant to moisture.  They are also much thinner than solid hardwood floors which means you can afford to put more insulation under it.  Engineered flooring will give you the aesthetic appearance of solid wood but will give you many more practical benefits.

Ceramic tiles are a great choice for those who don’t want concrete but want a flooring material which can withstand a lot of wear and tear.  They are incredibly easy to clean with a basic broom or mop.  Some people like to have a utility room in their basement and of course with washing machines you have the risk of flooding.  Ceramic tiles will fair much better in a situation like this, but it’s always a good idea to ask the sales agent if the particular tile you are thinking of buying will be suitable for basements.  You should also ensure you seal the ceramic tiles if they are porous.

Rubber flooring is often overlooked when people are browsing different flooring options.  However they should be considered because they are low priced, highly functional and you don’t need to worry about damp and mold.  Rubber also has very good sound insulation qualities so this will help prevent noises from travelling about your home and annoying other people.  If you are using your basement as a home gym, rubber flooring is ideal as it can withstand heavy weights being dropped on it.

A lot of people want to use their basement as a living area and simply don’t like the idea of a cold hard floor to walk about on.  You might however think about compromising a bit by installing a hard floor but using rugs to create a more inviting look.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter what type of flooring you install if you haven’t dealt with the more practical issues such as repairing leaky pipes, filling in cracks and installing insulation.  By neglecting these issues you are simply asking for trouble with mold and mildew.  Mold is a very serious health hazard and you should do everything in your power to prevent and remove any traces of it.  If you allow mold to set in, you are just going to spend a lot of time and money trying to rectify it.  Remember, prevention is better than cure and this applies to basements too

If you’re feeling that it’s time you need more space in your home and that the basement is an ideal way to do this, there a various things you need to do in order for this to become a reality.  Insulation, humidity and flooring are all very important along with your basement ceiling.  You might not feel that the ceiling is that important because it isn’t the focal point of the room, however it’s still very important that you attend to the ceiling so that your basement is finished off just right.  If you are looking for basement ceiling ideas, keep reading.

Suspended Ceilings – If you’re having your basement converted into a useable room, you will notice that it will be presented to you in an unfinished state.  What this means is that you’ll see studs and wiring showing under the floorboards of your rooms upstairs.  If you are looking for the simplest option then a suspended ceiling is what you’re after.  This is because they are not difficult to have installed and is a quick way of making your basement feel less like an industrial warehouse.  Another practical reason for having suspended ceilings installed is that you can easily get access to wiring or pipes if you find that there is a problem with these in future.  A suspended ceiling consists of ceiling tiles which are attached to a metal grid and is then suspended from the ceiling joists.  The reason people prefer to install this type of ceiling is because the metal frame is very lightweight and so this makes it easy to handle.  This is very important when installing a ceiling because it can be quite an awkward task to complete.

Drywall – This is not the easiest option to choose for your basement because it isn’t as light as a suspended ceiling.  However drywall isn’t expensive so if a sheet does get broken you won’t have wasted a ton of money.  The good thing about drywall is that the appearance is often preferable compared to drywall.  However you should make sure that the drywall is installed by a professional who is going to do a good job.  However if you are quite handy with the old DIY then you will be able to find instructions on how to install a drywall ceiling in books as well as some internet sites.  Once in place, the drywall can be painted any color you desire.

Acoustic Ceiling Tiles – Another very easy and simply option is to buy acoustic ceiling tiles as they are relatively small and light which makes them incredibly easy to handle and install.  All you have to do is staple them to the furring strips, remembering that pipes and wiring should be moved so that you can enjoy a flat ceiling.

Paint – Although paint isn’t a basement ceiling material in itself, giving your ceiling a good coat of paint will really have a strong effect on the décor of your room.  It’s important that you think seriously about paint color because if you choose a shade which is too dark, this will make you basement feel very dark.  Remember that basements don’t usually have much natural day light, if any, so using light colors will help brighten the space up and make it appear bigger.

Mirrors – You might think it a little cheesy to have mirrors installed on your ceiling however if you are very careful you can actually create a very classy look.  The great thing about mirrors is that they reflect light around the room and make the place feel bigger than it really is.  This is a great solution for very small basements and is a very effective optical illusion.  Just make sure that your ceiling isn’t so low that you could accidentally smash the mirrors.

Lighting – Due to the fact that basements are underground and typically are very dark places, thinking about what lighting you are going to have is crucial if you want to create a warm and friendly atmosphere.  By placing floor lamps in such a way that the light shines up to the ceiling will look amazing, alternatively you could use wall fitted uplighters.  Lighting is not only practical but it’s also fun so be playful with it.

Ceiling Art - If you have ever been to the Sistine Chapel you may have felt inspired to create some of your own ceiling art.  It would be a tad ambitious to try and recreate anything on this scale however you can think of fun and creative ways you can paint your ceiling.  Having a local artist carry out the work is often very affordable.

There are so many options when having your basement ceilings fitted, it is well worth spending some time looking for ideas in home décor magazines and other websites.  You should also have a local builder up to give you a quote and also make sure you ask them about the different options.