When you hear the word “basement,” what comes to mind? I’m willing to bet that a certain eerie image flashes into your mind: a creaky, rickety set of stairs, clouds of dust shooting up with every footstep, a harrowing descent into darkness where the only thing that shines in the meager, gray light is an ominous spiderweb that threatens to cling to your hair and never let go. What do we shout in the movie theater when the girl decides to check out the basement? Don’t go in there!
Maybe your own basement isn’t as terrifying as all that, but it’s probably cluttered with a bunch of junk. Am I right? Maybe it’s hard to maneuver down there for all the boxes of dishes that have been replaced, old sports equipment, the treadmill you never got around to using, boxes and boxes of VHS tapes and CD’s that you don’t want anymore, loads of toys the kids don’t ever play with, boxes of clothes, toolsets, holiday decorations, on and on and on.
Space is a precious commodity. Everyone needs it, the more the better. If you’re living in tight quarters with a bunch of people, you know just how torturous it can be when you need alone time but can’t find it anywhere in your house. Aside from that, what good does it do to accumulate a bunch of junk? If you have to move, the biggest hassle is deciding what to take, what to give away and what, regrettably, to send off to the dump.
These are just a few of the considerations that lead people to finishing their basements. What you lose in storage space you gain in real, livable space—a whole other vista within your home to devote to any number of activities. Some people use the space to create a guest bedroom for traveling friends and relatives. Some people build home theaters complete with stadium seating and surround sound. Others offer the basement up for rent—a relatively sweat-free way to help you cover your mortgage, if you find the right tenants. Basements have been converted into family rooms, arts and crafts rooms, exercise rooms (think of it—your own private gym with no membership fees!), you name it.
That all sounds nice, but what about the added construction cost of doing the room up right? Well, that can be easily offset by organizing a yard sale to sell off the excess stuff that’s clotting up the place to begin with. Get in touch with your local Goodwill, church, and other organizations to see if they can use some of it—there may be an opportunity for tax deductions, and you’ll make sure that perfectly fine clothes and other items go to people who can put them to good use instead of the landfill.
Storage space is a huge industry in the United States. Self storage now accounts for more than two billion square feet of space in the US, and that number continues to grow. People are renting that much space for their stuff. If you’re currently renting a storage unit because you simply don’t have the space in your house, consider the savings of clearing that space in your basement. In the end, you know what’s right for you—but definitely consider your storage needs in as objective a manner as possible. Is it really all that important to keep those old newspapers, or the musty tennis shoes you wore when your high school basketball team won the championship?
If you’re currently renting a storage unit because you simply don’t have the space in your house, consider the savings of clearing that space in your basement. In the end, you know what’s right for you—but definitely consider your storage needs in as objective a manner as possible. Is it really all that important to keep those old newspapers, or the musty tennis shoes you wore when your high school basketball team won the championship?
Even if you’re not a pack rat, you can factor in the fact that finishing the basement can add value to your home, so long as the quality of work matches the rest of the house. What do you think? Are you going to be finishing your basement soon? Got a yard sale coming up? Have you finished your basement and have stories to tell? Don’t keep us waiting—leave a comment!
I agree finishing a basement is a wonderful way to add value and usable space to a home. In the nearly 5 years I spent in home construction I completed well over a dozen large finished basements for customers and every one of them was thrilled to have what felt like an entire additional floor.
ReplyDeleteOne client being a connoisseur of wine saw an opportunity to have his very own tile floored wine cellar (don’t drop!), IMO a much better use of that dusty, musty area with the unused soloflex covered in wine boxes. Other examples I’ve always appreciated were the adding of a bathroom to the living space, one even put in a wet bar for entertaining, another a home theater, some just wanted a play room for the kids. All were very useful growths of space without the added footprint or cost of a full scale addition.
Things to note: outside of a flood prone area; a simple plywood floor is an incredible upgrade for a basement, its quieter, easier on the feet, knees, kids, and really adds a ‘homey’ feeling compared to a concrete slab. Plus don’t forget to insulate the walls and put in plenty of electrical outlets and switches, you won’t regret it. I also recommend access panels to under the stairs for storage and the remaining unfinished areas (most left room around their heating unit). One word of caution, limit the use of MDF in basements, it’s simply too absorbent for the area, use real wood for trim and anything else. Happy Building!
Hi Pappy,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for commenting! And that's a great tip about MDF--moisture control definitely becomes a concern when we're dealing with basements. But I think homeowners will find that with a little pre-planning, and with the help of knowledgeable professionals, moisture is not a huge hurdle on the path to better utilizing your space.