Basement Renovations, New Ideas for Old Problems

There is a growing trend in Canada towards purchasing houses with basements. Almost 95 percent of Canadian homes have basements, which could either be used for a recreational room, home theatre room or perhaps renovated into an apartment and rented out for extra income. Basements in most houses take up approximately 25 to 35 percent of the total space for a single-family home in Canada. If the basement building technology were to significantly improve, it would greatly increase a homes value and contribute to the affordability and improve the quality of available living space.

The Canadian housing industry faces the challenge of how to advance basement technology through innovative construction practices, systems and materials. People are fed up with the dark, damp basements that are of no use to them because storage becomes moldy and the extra space is not inhabitable.

Beginning with the floor, a basement subfloor should offer three things: moisture control, floor insulation and comfort. Covering a concrete floor with just any type of floor covering is not a good idea. Professional basement remodelers know that the concrete must be prepared and then layered with the different materials in order to achieve not only the look a homeowner wants, but the real foundation of a good, workable basement.

Even if your basement has never experienced so much as a drop of moisture, a professional could tell you this does not mean that it wont happen sometime in the future. A build up of snow, with icy rain on top that and a clogged drain pipe forces the winterly mix to leak down into the basement, ruining the drywall, wallpaper or paint in addition to the hardwood floor panels, tile or carpeting.

There are many subfloor systems a professional basement renovating company will work with instead of laying down an old-fashioned moisture barrier, insulation and plywood.

Make sure there is no presence of mold or radon – which is both hazardous to a persons health.  If detected the appropriate measures must be undertaken. Basement not properly insulated may become health hazard by exposing occupants to dangerous levels of these toxins.

A finished basement is like a clean slate and could be organized and filled to reflect any type of person who lives there. A recreational area with a small bar and kitchen combination would be nice for entertaining; a flat-screen television and maybe some stadium seats for a theatre feel to a large open space for a ‘movie night’ room or a simple couch and love seat for a family room atmosphere could be what a homeowner would like. The details are up to the homeowner and the design is done by the contractors who will frame, paint and lay the ground work for any reasonable idea they can come up with.

Space Converters Ltd. has a team of licensed and experienced craftsmen. We are committed to build not only functional but healthy basements for the families of Canada. This may be achieved by using proper building materials and quality workmanship.