How to Finish Your Home's Basement - What Questions to Ask

There are many questions Columbus homeowners ask (and should ask) before starting a basement remodeling project. There are many companies out there who will take you and your money for a ride if you do not ask the right questions. Here's a compilation of answers to those commonly asked questions about remodeling your home's basement.

Q: What does a Columbus basement finishing project cost?
A: Since each basement is different, there are many factors that influence the cost of your finished basement. If your basement is 800 square feet and your neighbor's is 1600 square feet, you should not get the same cost estimate for both basements, right? Right, because each basement is a different size, probably has different dimensions and the homeowners probably want different things in their own basements too. So it doesn't make much sense for a responsible basement finishing company to give you a cost estimate for a remodeled basement without first seeing it and speaking to you about your goals.

Q: Why shouldn't I use drywall to remodel my basement?
A: Drywall is a dry (pretty obvious) and porous material used in countless remodeled basements around the world. One of the reasons for its popularity is the relatively low price of drywall and ease of installation. Many people simply install drywall over a weekend and their project is finished.

This approach is acceptable, but the dry drywall is made of natural ingredients, so it absorbs moist and humid air. This means mold and mildew may very well grow in the home's walls - where you can't see its presence. The reason this is bad is because mold and mildew can cause health problems like allergies and they can deteriorate the infrastructure of a home. The home may not come crumbling to the ground, but if mold and mildew are literally feeding on it, the home is not as strong as it should be. Even if you get drywall with a mold-resistant finish on it, it's still drywall and if a spot is missed with the finish mold and mildew could eat the drywall for lunch.

Materials that are not made of natural materials, like drywall, can not sustain mold and mildew growth. This means where you have these non-natural materials mold and mildew will not grow. And you guessed it... no allergies and no compromised home infrastructure either - it's a win-win situation.

Q: Do I need a basement dehumidifier in a remodeled basement?
A: The short answer is yes. The long answer goes something like this. Basement dehumidifiers work to wring water out of the air. The reason they do this at all, is so critters like mold and mildew can not grow. Plus, high humidity usually ruins any personal belongings you might have stored in the basement space. You know those boxes and photos that are kind of damp to the touch? That's the work of high basement humidity on your home's contents.

That's just where humidity gets started though. When left unchecked for an extended period of time, high relative humidity can allow mold and mildew to grow all over your basement. It will grow on anything natural, which means anything made of wood products for example. This includes the wood beams your home is made out of, cardboard boxes, drywall has paper on it, and other wood-based items you can think of. These items all over your basement can grow mold and mildew if they are not dried out consistently over time. The tool that does the drying out is... you guessed it... a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers do a great job taking water out of the air and that's why practically every homeowner has one. It does the job and when used properly can keep your home mold and mildew-free.

Q: Do I really need an ugly dehumidifier in my beautifully remodeled basement?
A: Yes and no. A dehumidifier can look ugly in an elegant, remodeled basement that's true. But you don't necessarily have to have the eyesore dehumidifier right in the middle of the room. Instead, you could opt to have the dehumidifier ducted to an unfinished portion of the basement.

Many people leave a small portion of their basement unfinished for maintenance items like the furnace, hot water heater and electric panel. After all, you probably won't want those things in your remodeled space. So instead they go in an unfinished room in the basement along with your dehumidifier. The dehumidifier gets ducted into the wall so the machine stays behind closed doors, but the remodeled basement gets the benefit of the dehumidifier's moisture-free air. With some preliminary measurements, you can be sure you buy the correct grade dehumidifier and be ensured that it will dry out the amount of space you have in the basement.

Q: How do I choose a good dehumidifier?
A:Here are a few ways to make sure you get the right dehumidifier for you. First, measure your basement so you know the amount of square footage you're dealing with. The actual measurement may be more or less footage than you had in mind, so make sure it's accurate. Then, compare the electricity it uses, amount of water output (usually specified in pints), and check whether it's Energy Star compliant or not. For larger homes, an industrial sized dehumidifier will work best because its larger size is literally able to dry more air. Be sure to check how much electricity the unit uses though as some dehumidifiers are more efficient than others.

Q: Why is a Columbus remodeling a good investment?
A: It's pretty simple really. Home buyers are looking for a home that makes sense and remodeling a basement is usually a lot cheaper than putting an addition onto your home. Because the basement space is created when the home is built, walls and ceilings do not need to be created from scratch. Instead, you build on what's already there. This means less work and less expense, and a beautiful space that can really wow a home buyer. It's a great "plus" for most home buyers when they realize they don't have to remodel the basement - it's already done for them. This translates into dollars and cents when you can sell your home for more than you bought it for (plus refinishing expenses). It isn't guaranteed that you will make money on your home because you finished your basement, but it's a great start.

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