Finishing your basem*nt involves more than just throwing a rug over a concrete floor. To be considered truly finished, a basem*nt must have a permanent heating and cooling system, be easily accessible, and match the rest of your house. In other words, a finished basem*nt should be an extension of your home’s living space. That’s why you’ll need to hire a basem*nt finishing contractor like Basem*nt Trust for professional results.
In this blog post, we’ll break down each element of a finished basem*nt to help you better understand what needs to be done during remodeling.
Heating and Cooling System
Most unfinished basem*nts are cool year-round. While this may be wonderful in the summer, remember that in Michigan snow is fair game from October to April.
In any given year, Michiganders may experience up to 7 months of snowy weather! For this reason, it’s vitally important that your basem*nt has heat. Otherwise, you and your family won’t want to spend any time in the chilly basem*nt.
A finished basem*nt should be warm, cozy, and inviting during the winter months. But it should also be cool and comfortable in the summer (without a window A/C unit).
Your basem*nt is not considered finished until it has a permanent heating and cooling unit with a continuous power source, such as electricity or natural gas.
Think of it this way. You wouldn’t heat your entire home with a wall heater, would you? A finished basem*nt deserves the same amount of care and consideration as your main living areas.
Matches the Rest of the House
Aren’t sure if your basem*nt is finished? An easy rule of thumb is to compare your basem*nt to the rest of your home.
Do you have concrete floors in your living room? Do you have exposed pipes and beams in your kitchen? These questions can help you understand what standards your basem*nt must meet to be considered “finished.”
For this reason, a concrete floor is not considered to be “finished.” Not even if you paint it or throw a rug over it. Instead think about the types of flooring you have on the ground and upper floors of your home such as hardwood, vinyl, tile, or carpet. These types of flooring are much softer and warmer underfoot than concrete. That’s why we recommend them for your finished basem*nt.
Related:How to Choose the Best Basem*nt Flooring
Direct Access
Do you access your bathroom through a trapdoor in the ceiling? Do you enter the bedroom through an exterior door? While these questions may seem ridiculous, they help us better understand what it means for a space to be truly finished.
Your basem*nt needs to feel like a natural extension of the rest of your house. A basem*nt is not considered finished if you can only access the space by a trapdoor, ladder, or exterior door. A truly finished basem*nt must have stairs leading up to the main living area so it’s easily accessible. If you plan on having a basem*nt bedroom, you should also have emergency egress windows.
Adds Value to Your Home
A finished basem*nt will add value to your home, especially if you’re adding another bedroom or bathroom. Anytime that you can add square footage to your home’s living space, you’ll be able to ask for more money when it’s time to sell. That being said, finishing your basem*nt will also add value to your life by giving you more space for work, play, and other facets of everyday life.
Conclusion
Sometimes you can tell that a basem*nt is finished just by looking at it. But other times, it may not be so obvious. A finished basem*nt has heat, air conditioning, and direct access to the rest of the home. It should also look like a natural continuation of the rest of your house’s interior design. For help on that, be sure to check out our blog post that outlines our 5 tips for designing your finished basem*nt like a pro.
If your basem*nt lacks any of these features, it may not be considered “finished.” But our basem*nt remodeling contractors would be more than happy to help you get it there.
Request a Free In-Home Consultation From Basem*nt Trust
Our basem*nt finishing contractors in Grand Rapids, MI, have experience turning client ideas into reality. To request a free in-home consultation from Basem*nt Trust, call (616) 608-9716. We hope we hear from you soon!
This blog post has been updated.
