The 2008 Census found that 5.9 million Americans worked at home. That number is sure to rise with the 2010 tally of where we work, and millions more occasionally telecommute to offices. For tax purposes, most people create a separate room for a home office. If you haven’t finished the basement, why not create a basement office?
Obviously the first step is the make sure your basement is dry, free of mold, and has accessible plumbing and wiring to create a comfortable and functional work setting. Even if you design the office yourself, you may need to call in a basement remodeling contractor to ensure that your space is suitable. Moisture-proofing should be an integral part of any basement finishing scheme. This is one area where you don’t want to skimp–cheaper sealants and waterproofing agents may not hold up to the heat or humidity in your climate zone.
Basement Remodeling Ideas: Home Office Must-Haves
Not everyone wants to spend their working week underground. On the other hand, if you’ve worked in a cubicle, a basement office might be a terrific alternative. Make a list of features by necessity, then luxury. Start with a must-have list, then a nice-to-have list. Most people would insist on:
- Adequate heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation
- Computer, printer, telephone, and fax capability
- A bathroom and mini-kitchen (fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, etc.)
- Attractive table and chairs for meeting clients
- Shelves and hard file storage
Nice-to-have options include a couch, workout bike or treadmill, and a music system and/or television. Don’t forget curtains and shades.
If your basement is near your laundry room, consider putting up a wall to spare yourself the noise and spare your clients your dirty socks. You might also put soundproofing on your list if the rest of the house is busy during the day.
Air and lighting should also be a high priority. Do you want natural ventilation during fair-weather months? Do you have adequate entry and exit passage? Perhaps you want to install a set of steps and a door to head outside to clear your head during spring, summer, and fall. If it’s possible to add a few small windows for light, they can make longs days at your desk far more comfortable.
There’s really no need to go it alone in performing a start-to-end basement remodeling project. We’ve already done homework for you, from making a plan to finding the right basement remodeling contractor.
A Healthy Basement Renovation: Build Yourself a Home Gym
March 5th, 2010 by admin
Among the more energetic basement remodeling ideas floating around now is the use of a qualified basement remodeling contractor to build a suitable space for a home gym. Basement waterproofing leads the list for completing this basement renovation the right way. Can you imagine breathing in dust and mildew while amping up your heartbeat on a treadmill?
If your basement has adequate drainage, lighting, heating, ventilation, waterproofed floors, pipes, and walls, you might consider completing the gym transformation on your own. But in most cases, you should call in a qualified basement remodeling contractor to design, bid, and complete the project. There are plenty of benefits to finishing a basement.
The Health-Related Basement Renovation, Simplified
Having a basement gym is a great idea. It can increase your home’s value and bring the workout to you. No driving to the gym on hot or wickedly cold mornings. No membership fees. No excuses.
Before you do anything, can you claim that your basement is dry enough? It may not suffice to install a dehumidifier alone. Have a remodeling contractor conduct a thorough inspection. One thing you may not want, despite how appealing it may be, is a carpet for your basement gym. Instead, consider concrete floors or rubber flooring with adequate padding when finishing a basement.
Even outdoor or tough carpeting may show its wear under the stress and weight of workout equipment, and you may spend more time working out the mildew problem than you do working off fat.
The first step is to determine your workout routine and equipment needs. Are you going for cardio or installing a weight room, too? If your space is too confined for a treadmill or elliptical trainer, perhaps a stationary bicycle will do. Is the electrical supply adequate to power gym equipment, new overall lighting, task lighting, alternate heaters, air conditioners, fans, stereo equipment, televisions, water coolers, refrigerators, etc.? A good basement remodeling contractor can help you answer these questions.
You don’t necessarily need a huge basement to consider adding a home gym. Even a small basement can benefit from some fun basement remodeling ideas.
More Basement Renovation Considerations
Is there room, ample electricity, and plumbing to add a bathroom stall or small shower? Or, do you want to add a hot tub or sauna? Perhaps you’ll just put in a small workout room and segment other sections of the finished basement for laundry, a children’s gaming center, or basement office.
After your basement renovation is finished, it’s time to furnish your new space. When it comes to workout equipment, you can always shop for used gear to help cut the overall basement renovation cost. You can add better-quality treadmills or weight sets when you know that you’ll use the gym.