Before Working On The Basement

The basement of the home is an area that usually doesn't see much attention unless you have designed it so that it's functional for the family. It's best to find a general contractor who can complete the remodeling of the basement so that you don't deal with the electrical work, the flooring and any plumbing that you want to add. Before any basement project begins, you need to walk around the space to make sure the area is dry. If there is any mold or mildew, you need to find the source so that it can be repaired before adding any kind of flooring or doing anything with the walls. 

Look over the codes for your area to see if there is any paperwork that needs to be filed before any remodeling begins. This is usually seen more if you are doing anything with the plumbing or the electrical components. Examine the foundation of the home to see if there are any cracks. You also want to look at the grading that is near the base of the home. If there are grading issues, then you need to get them fixed so that moisture and even animals don't get into the basement area. 

Most basements are made with concrete or another sturdy material as the base. The proper fasteners need to be used when working with the flooring and other components that are added to the basement because a simple nail won't go through concrete or brick. This is where the contractor will come into play as he will know the best way to fasten everything together. The basement also needs some kind of moisture barrier. This will help keep mold and mildew from forming. Even if you use the room as a game room or a den, it can still develop moisture easier than the rest of the home because it's underground. Insulation needs to be added to keep the temperature regulated so that the basement will stay comfortable as most basements tend to be a bit cooler. Spray foam insulation is often the easiest material to work with.