Renovation Prep: 5 Must-Dos before You Renovate Your Basement
Renovating a basement creates extra living space in the home and adds value if you ever consider reselling. Basements can be made into unique home offices, game rooms or home theaters. Although homeowners might be eager to start renovations, some things need to be taken care of before the project begins. Homeowners should consider these five things before tackling that basement project.
Inspect the Foundation and Walls
The first thing to do is to inspect the foundation, walls and floors of the basement before starting renovations. The things to look for are cracks, exposed areas of earth and piles of dust from crumbling mortar. These can all indicate settling or sinking that will damage the finished basement in the future. Any damage to the walls or foundation needs to be repaired. This is also the time to identify structural and load bearing walls or beams.
Test for Hazardous Gas
It is critical to test the basement for harmful gasses before starting renovations. Homeowners should test for carbon monoxide, methane and radon. Accumulations of any one of these gases can make the basement unhealthy and unsafe. They could even cause problems during the renovation process. High levels of hazardous gasses will require the installation of some type of mitigation system before renovations can begin.
Remove Everything Possible
Every single item that can be removed from the basement should be taken out. Homeowners will want to rent space at a facility like Extra Space Storage to store all of the items from the basement until renovations are complete. Any appliances in the basement should be removed as well. This can include utility sinks, refrigerators or even unused hot water heaters. Anything that must remain in the basement like ductwork or a heating system should be protected during the renovation.
Deal With Water and Moisture
Water and moisture can cause many problems in the basement. High levels of moisture from the walls can trigger the growth of mold and fungus while also lowering the air quality. It could cause problems during renovations since humidity can affect materials like drywall. Homeowners should check for leaks or signs of water pooling. Installing a sump pump or repairing leaks will ensure the basement stays dry once finished.
Check Building Codes
Homeowners should always check the local building codes before starting a renovation. Many codes require certain distances between plumbing and wiring. Others dictate what materials can be used in certain area as well as structural requirements. Checking the building codes will make certain the new basement passes inspection and does not need to be redone later.
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