subject: Renovating For Added Space [print this page] Renovating For Added Space Renovating For Added Space
Once the closets are full and the garage no longer has room for the car, you begin to wonder where else to keep family things they do not use daily. If building on an additional space is not in the budget, perhaps the answer lies below your feet. You can use the basement for more than a furnace room or spider habitat. It may require a few renovations, but with the right tools, a handy do it yourself, can finish the project.
You will need a building permit for any home renovation. You need to decide before applying for the permit if you are going to use the basement solely for storage, or an extra bedroom. The permit must state the purpose of the renovation.
Basements present particular problems for renovators; moisture, lighting, and air circulation, all are fixable issues. To begin with measure your space; the height must be six feet or more to accommodate ceiling fans, if less you can use can lighting in the rafters if needed. Clearance around the furnace is also a safety issue, be sure to consider this when planning shelving or closets.
To improve moisture resistance when putting in new walls, use a moisture barrier between new insulation and existing interior walls. Utilizing steel studs to integrate additional walls will provide resistance to moisture. They will also have drilled holes for running electrical wires. These new walls will provide an added advantage of temperature control. The placing of new wall receptacles will ensure that building codes are met, as well as being useful.
Floors should have moisture barriers for protection. A covering of polyethylene placed over the existing floor, and covered with new flooring, will provide moisture resistance and stay warmer. If your home is prone to flooding, the use of carpeting and padding is not recommended. Instead, use tile or linoleum, both are relatively inexpensive to replace.
Once the floors and walls are in, it is time to verify airflow. The use of adequate heating and ventilation systems to improve air quality is essential for your health and safety. Proper ventilation will prevent the buildup of organic compounds, and let your basement be used safely. Simply test to see that ventilation ducts and air return vents are located in the basement and available for circulation. If not, it needs to be corrected by installing new ones.
You should make one final adjustment, place fire and smoke alarms in the basement. For safeties benefit these items are necessary. Once these things are done, you can place shelving and move all the items downstairs, and free up the closets.
