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! The Ultimate Guide to Remodeling in Massachusetts! Massachusetts winters can be harsh, cold, and snowy, making any indoor real estate in the of prime importance. If you have a basement, you may be eyeing it with the idea of expanding the indoor space to include a home office or an entertainment area. However, there are special considerations you must take into account before you can convert that extra space into something usable. tend to be cold and wet, especially in the Northeast, and are not ideal spaces for a living area without some additional work. For instance, your basement may be unfinished and lack moisture protection or insulation. Exposed pipes, no , a bare floor, or unfinished can require construction experience to modify them. Plus, you will also need to make sure your basement remodel is up to code so you don’t have to re-do it or tear it out when it comes time to sell. Is it worth all the trouble? The Benefits of a Good Basement Remodel! For those who are wondering whether it a remodel would be worth it or not, consider the following benefits: Additional Living Space Without Out - If you consider that most basements take up one-third of the living space in a , then by recovering some of that square footage you will find more comfort and functionality in the home. You don’t have to create a new , with a new ceiling and walls, because it is already there. Year-round Underground Comfort - Since a basement is underground, it doesn’t have the same temperature fluctuations that the upstairs experiences, making it easier to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It won’t add much of a heating or cooling load on the existing systems. It can also help to insulate the rest of the house from noisy activities. Page 2 of 6 Utilities Are Already Available - Most basements are already wired for some electrical outlets and have a nearby. Even if you have to add some wiring or piping, you won’t have to go far to tap into an existing utility. The Is Already Laid - If you were to build out, you would also have to lay a new foundation. Using the basement, you can use the foundation laid when the house was built. Increases Resale Value - A properly done basement (with correct permitting) will increase the value of a home when it comes time to sell. On average, you can recoup 73% of the cost of the remodel when you sell the house, according to the online magazine Remodeling in its 2015 Cost Vs. Value survey. However, that doesn’t count the years of enjoyment you get from having a much larger footprint in the house while you live there. How to Plan and Design Your Basement Remodel! To avoid any unpleasant surprises during a remodel, it’s always best to plan on paper first. If you know enough about construction and remodeling, you will want to know the location of your utilities and whether they need to be modified in any way. If so, you will need someone with construction experience to help you with the layout designs. Otherwise, you can start to daydream about your fantastic or home office on paper without getting too technical at first. You will want to consider both the functionality of the space as well as the overall design. Functionality! Functionality includes why you want to remodel the basement as well as the conditions that will either limit or impair getting full use of it for your specific purpose. Include the following in your planning stage: Purpose - Let your imagination wander. Check out other basement remodels online to inspire your dreams. What can you use the additional space for that will fit your lifestyle needs? Figure out whether you need a multipurpose room or one with just one purpose. You may want to create a home office or additional living area and nothing more. However, if you’re hoping for a and a living area, these are two different purposes and you will need to plan accordingly. Adding a to the mix to make a downstairs in-law apartment can increase costs substantially too, but it’s definitely a possibility. Weather Protection - Is your basement already moisture-proofed or will it need to be included in your remodeling budget? A cold, damp, basement is not only uncomfortable, but a health risk. Molds can grow in them and cause allergies and make people sick. Thus, it’s crucial that the basement be finished, with moisture proof barriers and even sump pumps, to keep it dry and be able to use it as a living space. Insulation or weatherstripping may need to be added to keep the room warm in the winter. Page 3 of 6

Obstacles and Structural Limitations - Take measurements of the room, including the height. If you use a drop ceiling to cover pipes in that area, you will lose headspace. If you you have a weight-bearing in several places, you won’t be able to remove them and have to work around them. If you install a bathroom, it may need to flush upwards to connect to the sewer system. Take note of your particular structural limitations and find creative ways to get around them so that you are happy with the results of the remodel. Play around with the dimensions on paper to see how they might be by adding a to separate an area or by including the fixed column as part of your design. This will tell you how much room you have to work with later for and decor. Once you have an outline of the purpose and some of the ways around the specific challenges of the project, you can then fill in some of the fun details of your overall plan. Design Considerations! Start with the layout you want and brainstorm the different design possibilities from there. As an an exercise in imagination, you can try several designs on paper and it won’t cost you anything. The same is not true once you start the project, so take your time now to get the details right. It’s supposed to be a fun process, so don’t stress about it. Here are some design criteria to include in this process. Materials! The type of materials you use will impact the cost of the project. If you’re adding a bar with a stone or copper countertop, obviously that will cost more than just a laminate top. There are places that you may want to skimp on quality because it won’t have much of a functional or visual impact and there will be other areas that you don’t want to use cheap materials. Moisture-Proofing/Weather-Proofing - Don’t skimp on weatherproofing materials or any structural items, and certainly don’t let a contractor do that either! These are important elements that need to last years and should be done right the first time. You will need your foundation inspected both inside and out to make sure cracks are sealed and moisture barriers are added correctly. Grade the foundation outside away from the basement to keep water from seeping in after a heavy snow or rain. Add insulation to the walls to weather-proof it more. - Basements can be dark and need special attention to lighting. That may mean additional wiring will need to be added to be able to put in more lighting. Recessed lighting is an excellent design choice because it does not obstruct the space and provides good coverage. However, don’t let that limit you. Check out the lighting section at a local Home Improvement store for lighting design ideas. To run new wiring, you may need to get a permit to make sure the electrical is up to code. Fixtures - The ease of adding a bathroom is dependent on where you locate it and how far down your existing pipes go. The pipes have to have enough of a fall to engage a good flush. If not, things will have to drain upwards, and that makes building a basement bathroom much more difficult, though not impossible. There are special upflush toilets you can get, but have someone knowledgeable review your basement and existing lines before deciding where to add your bathroom and whether it will be Page 4 of 6 worth the extra cost. You can decide on simple half-bath for a smaller project. Pedestal sinks are great for small half-baths. Decide on whether you want a shower or a tub, or whether the is sufficient. There are an endless variation of tiles, if you want tiling work too. Just remember to check the permitting needs for any plumbing projects first. Position the bathroom close to the existing bathroom plumbing located upstairs to save money on plumbing modifications. - Special attention needs to be paid to the ceiling because basements often have exposed beams, piping, and wiring hanging loose. You will need to cover it up to make it look finished. The quickest way to do this is simply to paint everything one color. You will need to prime the ductwork so that the paint takes and use a spray painter. Dark colors work better to cover structural items although all white can lighten a space considerably. This will give the space an industrial feel. Another cheap and easy way to do this is to add a drop ceiling. This gives a more conventional and contemporary look and can include recessed lighting panels. Plus, you have your choice of ceiling panels. However, a drop ceiling does take valuable headspace away. If you want to conserve space and have a flat ceiling, consider building a soffit with paneling that will keep the ductwork hidden while providing additional room for standing in other areas. If you design it right, it can even be made to look like a trey ceiling. One last option is to just create boxed beams and put the wiring and plumbing within them, for architectural interest and camouflage. These are more expensive options, but have a high visual impact. Flooring - You will need to put a moisture barrier down and check it after a few days to make sure water isn’t pooling before you lay a floor. However, for the purpose of design, you can let your muse be your guide. Page 5 of 6

Basement floors are typically concrete, which is hard and cold. This may be perfect with a little staining and an epoxy coating for a man cave, a bathroom, or an entertainment area, but not for or living . You can add carpeting, wood flooring, ceramic tiling. or even rubber matting. The choices are really only limited by your imagination. The cheapest option is again paint or a concrete stain. This can work well with an industrial or modern look. However, for more contemporary interiors, you may want to try laminate that looks like wood to get a more finished look at a fraction of the cost of real wood floors. You will need a special kit to install these floors over concrete, but they are certainly design possibilities. Luxury Items - Maybe you really want that pool table or surround-sound home theater space? These luxury items need to be included in your budget or you could end up in a finished basement without any furniture for a while. However, don’t let that stop you. The best basement remodeling projects start with a big vision, whether it is a second with home theater system or a bar with pendant lighting and lounge area for entertainment. When you go for high-end materials like stone, metals, and wood, you can create a dramatic statement that amps up the vibe in the space where it can become the most favorite room in the house. To Outsource or Do-It-Yourself (DIY)?! Before you get done with the planning and started with the project, you still have one major decision to make: Will you hire a contractor or attempt to do-it-yourself? If you are finishing walls, modifying electrical or plumbing lines, or aren’t sure about your permitting needs, it can pay to hire a contractor. Contractors also have access to quality materials at a discount, unlike a regular homeowner and can provide a better quality job for less, even if they have to add in their contractor fees. However, even if you hire a contractor, you should compare several contractors in your area carefully. What types of materials do they use? Do they have references or a portfolio of other similar projects? Are they insured? Check their business online and see what people are saying about them. The best contractors will estimate a budget and stick to it. Make sure you are available when they are doing work so you can keep tabs on the materials and labor that go into the job and ask questions, if needed. ! If you are confident you can do some of the work, you can outsource the tough items to a contractor and do some of the work yourself. They can be responsible for pulling permits and making sure plumbing and electrical are up to code and you can do painting and laying floors or installing ceilings. It’s really up to you to decide what part of the project you need help with and which you can reasonably do on your own. You can save on labor costs, but remember that contractors have access to tools, materials, and expertise that you are unlikely to have and this can make a huge difference in the final results. Page 6 of 6

With concrete walls and a floor, you will need specialized power-actuated fastening systems or glue to affix needed insulation or flooring to a space. If you haven’t worked with concrete and wet spaces, it’s often best to leave that part of the project to a professional while you concentrate on how to decorate and arrange the space. In the end, you will be happier with the results and they will give you years of enjoyment. Choosing Contractors: What To Ask BEFORE You Put Your $$$ Down! What work are you licensed to do? ! Are you licensed for the work this job entails?! Can you provide me with a copy of your license?! Are you insured?! Can you provide me with a copy of your insurance?! How much experience do you have doing basement contracting work?! Are you experienced with the permitting process in this region?! Will this job require permits? If so, what kinds?! How do you choose your materials?! Can you provide me the contact information for references regarding your work?! How long do you estimate this job will take?! What payment process or schedule do you use?! To learn more about basement remodeling, or to get a free expert estimate, visit Shiretown Home Improvements online or call 800-696-1955 toll free.