Is Finishing a Basement Part of Remodeling?

Assess the Need for Living Space

• Define the square footage of your home's living space. If it's less than 2,000 square feet, you may want to add a family room or bonus room in the basement. For example, a house with only 1,800 square feet might be fine for a few years, but when children become teenagers, both parents and teens enjoy the extra living space a family room in the basement provides.

Fix Leaks and Cracks

• The condition of the basement is important. If your basement is dry and has a good concrete floor with no cracks, this is a good beginning for adding rooms there. However, if the basement has significant moisture and water leaking through the walls, the upgrades needed will be more involved. You'll need to ask a professional to offer an opinion on mitigation techniques.

Design Space to Construct

• The decision to remodel can depend on what's already in place. For example, if you already have a laundry room in the basement, you might want to construct a living space to relax and watch television while doing laundry. Building a family room is handy for watching small children while washing or folding clothes. Moving up and down the stairs can be very time consuming.

Accommodate Hobbies

• Family hobbies call for added basement space. If you like to sew, refinish furniture or play board games, a basement area will accommodate this easily. Leaving clutter, tools or card tables in the upstairs living space is too cumbersome. Instead, design a large space for hobbies and arts and crafts in the basement. Lumber for framing, drywall and light fixtures will comprise much of the remodeling material. Flooring can consist of simple vinyl sheeting if your budget is limited.

Create Finished Storage Space

• Storage space in the basement is unbeatable for certain items. If you like to store large quantities of canned foods, camping gear or sports equipment, you'll want to install lots of shelving in a basement room. By actually finishing the walls and flooring, you can organize the items with greater expertise. Items stored randomly or in a poorly-lit basement take on a neglected look over time. By painting the walls white and installing oak shelving and large florescent light fixtures, you'll make the space much more pleasant to use.