Basement Finishing Ideas

With just a bit of TLC, you’ll be able to transform your basement into an amazing room you will want to spend lots of time in.  Basements can be either very functional or they can be a lot of fun.  If you want to have fun in your basement then you should look at the possibility of creating a basement bar.  When it comes to basement remodelling, you can’t get much better than a bar.

Starting off looking for basement bar plans that match the size and shape of your basement is something that you should do.  There are actually a lot to choose from and you might not have considered how many options there actually are.  Here are just a few basement bar ideas to have a look at.

Straight bars are the simplest of all the basement bar options and you will find that there is enough space for you to have a sink, a foot rest and also a place to have bar stools.  You can by the bars in different widths, normally about 6 to 10 feet or so.  Just ensure that you have properly measured the area you will be installing your bar into other wise it might not fit properly.

L-shaped bars, as the name suggests look like the letter L from above.  The materials used for this type of bar will be the same as the straight bar.  Basically the only reall difference is the shape.  It might be said that if you have friends round, they will be able to chat away with each other much better with an L-shaped bar because they end up sitting closed together.  Again, measuring the basement area is important otherwise you could find it doesn’t fit.

Keggar bar designed basically are like a square with one edge removed.  The reason they are called keggar bars is simply because they are the prefect design for storing a keg or beer.  Not to mention a nice refrigerator to put your drinks in.

If you don’t want a basement bar to be a permanent feature then you should look at portable bar options.  They are pretty large so you might find that they aren’t all that portable after all.  However they can be dismantled and moved to another part of your house if you decided this is what you wanted to do.  Also, you might have plans in moving home at some point so you will have the option of taking your portable bar to your new home.

If you have a lot of space and want to entertain more than just a few close friends, then you can opt for a monster bar which has everything you could possibly want from a bar such as beer gutter, lots of seating and ample drinking space.

Sinks are very important in a bar so you will need to actually have some sort of plumbing system installed in your basement.  Plumbing generally goes down into your basement anyway so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Shelving for the drinks is also needed because serving drinks is simply something that needs to be done in a bar.  You will want the temperature to be constant too as liquor tends not to like fluctuations in temperature.

Coolers and keg are also important because you don’t always want to be serving room temperature drinks all the time.  You might even want to have a keg or beer under the bar so look out for bars that have this all built-in.  Of course, you could just serve bottled beer and many people prefer this anyway.

For large parties and functions you might not want to play bartender yourself so you could see if someone can be hired in for the night.  Of course, if you want to be the host who serves all the drinks this is fine.  Learning a bit about cocktails can help a bit too.

Hopefull this guide has answered some questions about basement bar plans and basemnent bar ideas.  There are so many ways that you can enjoy yourself in a basement.  In addition to thinking about the basement bar area, you’ll also want to think about the general décor and lighting.  It’s all about creating a warm and enjoyable atmosphere.

There is more to investing in a waterproofing system than the money.  It’s so important that you spend the time to have a waterproofing system installed in your basement.  You will find there are different options available to you shuch as a sump pump, perimeter drain and also a French drain.  Keeping your basement safe from possible flooding will be something that you’ll be very glad of.  Flooding can happen to anyone at any time so this sort of precaution is well worth it.  You should never ever consider skimping on your basement’s waterproofing system.

If you’re wanting to go ahead with the work on your basement then it’s worth taking your time to ensure that you are working this all perfectly as you should and avoid disappointments along the way.

If you want to have the professionals in do see to your basement waterproofing system then you might want to find yourself a specialist contractor who knows all about this area and has plenty of experience and expertise.  You might think that it’s OK to get a local plumber who carries out a variety of plumbing tasks but this might not be wise if you want to ensure that the job is done correctly and efficiently.

Dealing with a company you can trust is easier said then done.  There are simply so many people setting themselves up as being contractors but they don’t have the skills and experience that you would want.  The result is shoddy workmanship and you’ll only wish you had the skills so you could do the work yourself.  Many of these companies then go bust and whre are you left standing if there end up being a problem with your basement waterproffing system?  You might not be covered by insurance and you could end up having costly repair bills to pay for.  So finding a contractor who has many years in business is probably something worth considering.

A sad fact is that many poor quality contractors will charge plenty for their services but provide very poor quality products.  They buy these materials in at trade prices but then charge you the customer an arm and a leg for both the materials and the time.  They might try to convince you that old-style French drains and plastic sump pumps are actually very good for your basement but in reality these will actually cause you problems.  Any contractor worth their salt will install a good quality sump pump made from cast iron and the liner will be very long lasting.  If you’re contractor tries to convince you of anything else then be very wary.

When it comes to making sure that yur basement is protected from water then it always pays to be extra cautius.  This means that you will want to look at ways in which you can add an extra line of defense against water.  If your sump pump fails because of electrical problems then you will want to have a battery backup for your sump.  If there is a power problem at the same time you suffer a flood then the battery of the sump should kick in and allow your basement to stay dry until the power comes back on.  This is the idea anyway.  Hopefully your power outage won’t last too long.

Another line of defence is to have a rubberized coating that is applied to the basement’s walls and floor.  There will be a primer, base coat and also a sealer which is very good and affordable way to help waterproof your basement that you can do yourself if you don’t want to pay for a contractor to come in.  It’s a fraction of the cost so ideal for those who are on a strct buget.

Due to the location of basements, water is often a problem even if you have made sure there are no leaks or cracks about.  Unfortunately you might still be experiencing a nasty smell which is caused by damp in in these circumstances you will want to look at buying a dehumidifier for your basement.

I fyou have water in your basement then this is something you will want to attend to urgently.  You don’t want to have to deal with musty smells, mold, mildew and other problems associated with damp such as rot which can badly affect your home in more ways then one.

When we refer to an egress window we mean a window that allows you to escape in the event of an emergency such as a fite.  It used to be that the windows you found in basements were very very small and only allows minimal amounts of light into the basement.  Now because of safety regulations, these small windows are no longer allowed and egress windows are requied for basements that are living spaces.

In the past some people decided to try and get around these regulations by claiming that their basement would be used as an office but then they would actually turn it into a bedroom.  This trick on longer works so be careful about this.  If you want to use your basement for living purposes then you need to use an egress window.  When using your basement for other living purposes then you need to have two escape routes and this includes an egress window.

The installation of an egress window doesn’t have to be difficult and it can all be done normally in a day.  The area that is in front of your window will need to be dug out so that there is enough space for your window.  You might also dig a hole beside your foundation which is about 6 inches depper tha where the bottom of your window is situatied.  So that most adults can climb through the egress window you will want to have is about 48 square inches so that this can happen.

After you have done the above in terms of clearing the front of the window you will then need to score the concrete and hole will be cut so that you are able to put the egress window in place.  After you have done all the necessary cutting you should use a good heavy hammer and a chisel so that all the needed concrete can be take away along with any bricks you need to discard.

You can elect to build a window box frame that is made from some lumber which has been pressure treated and this is then slid into the appropriate place.  You will then want to attach your wooden frame using some nails made from concrete and then slid into the best place.  You will need to have someone help you with this as it’s too difficult for just one person.  One of you should hold the window box in the best place whilst the other will nails it in/

It is important that you follow the advice and if you don’t know what you are doing you should have a professional contractor out to do the job for you .  Using a caulk to seal the window opening will be needed.  If you find any gaps caused by knocking in the hole then this should be filled in with some mortar.  After all the repairs have been carried out you should then plce the trim in.  To finish your egress basemetn window then you will want to use some more caulk to make everything just right and prefect.

To ensure that a good drainage sytmem is in place then using what is known as a window well is essential.  These are premade and very simple to use.  Creating a slope so that water runs away from your home will be needed because unfortunately basement aren’t that great when it comes to water.

Because egress windows aren’t your typical window you will have them underground for your basement.  This means that using much stronger glass is required than typically thought of for windows.  Remember safety is always at the forefront of your mind when it comes to basement egress windows.