Basement Remodeling

February 24, 2010

Basement bars

The top three items people want when remodeling their basement. Home theaters, bathrooms and bars. A basement bar adds a nice touch to a finished basement. It can make a simple snack area for your home theater or an exciting place to entertain friends and hang out to watch a football game on the big screen. Whatever it is you need, it can be done. The biggest factor when creating a basement bar is budget. By time you add cabinets, countertops, tile, appliances, etc the cost can add up very quickly. You need to figure out what the primary use of the bar will be and try to set your budget accordingly.

A simple basement bar could be made up with several different cabinets choices for the floor and the wall cabinets. You could use a midrange quality cabinet with a laminate top. You can use an inexpensive sink and faucet to make it a wet bar. Depending on budget you can add a tile floor or backsplash.  If that’s not in the budget just paint the drywall behind the bar and carpet up to the cabinets. You can always add the tile work later down the road. The average cost of a simple basement bar would be around $2,500-$4,500 depending on your selections and feature

Basement bar

Basement bar with undercabinet lights, a mini frige and wine fridge but no sink

Simple basement bar
Bar with mini fridge, wine fridge, and sink

An custom bar would usually consist of higher end cabinets, granite countertops and be slightly larger or have an actual wrap around bar for seating. The cabinet choices for this type of bar would vary greatly. You could also dress up the cabinets with different types of decorative moldings. This would be the type of bar for entertaining guests at a party. You would basically have all the features of your kitchen. This bar would not only have a sink and faucet but it would have a disposal, dishwasher, refrigerator, wine fridge, microwave and more. You would complete the bar with floor tile and an interesting tile backsplash accent complete with under cabinet lighting to highlight the features in your design. You could have different levels to the bar or add pendant lighting above. You could build in flat screen TV’s or fish tanks in the wall. There is many different ways you can make your bar stand out above the rest. the average cost of a custom basement bar will start around $5,000 and go up from there. For more information on basement remodeling visit BasementSource.com

Custom basement bar

Basement bar with full fridge, microwave, wine rack, undercabinet lights, tile backsplash, and more

February 14, 2010

If you need basement remodeling ideas try google images or a basement remodeling book

If you are getting ready to finish your basement ? check out google images for ideas but try this basement remodeling book for all your answers.

basement remodeling home theater dublin ohio

They are both a great place to find ideas for finishing your basement.  If the project is a ” Do it yourself ” remodeling job or your hiring a contractor you should really check out the following book:

Basement Ideas That Work

I recommend it to customers who are still looking for ideas and its a must have for anyone who is planning on finishing a basement on their own.

This book has all types of tips, tricks, plans and more about finishing a basement

Otherwise you need to hire a basement contractor or design expert to guide you through the process.

Whether its google images or the book you will be able to see what some of the latest trends in basement remodeling are along with samples of home theaters, bathrooms, wet bars, playrooms, fitness areas, built ins, basement flooring, basement remodeling plans and much more. You can find other basement remodeling books at the BasementSource.

Both are helpful tools for creating the layout of your space because you can see ideas that have  worked for others. Helping you choose style, colors, textures and much more.

If you need a basement remodeling contractor in Columbus Ohio and surrounding areas contact us.

Thanks.




Your Ad Here

November 19, 2009

Tankless Water Heaters and Energy Savings

     Today’s homeowners want energy-efficient appliances. What better way to do that than with a tankless water heater. You can get an endless supply of hot water while saving money and our precious natural resources. Basement remodeling companies have been installing more and more of these systems. Why not, they take up less space, they are more efficient and they last twice as long.

     Tankless water heaters  are small wall mounted  units that heat water only when needed by using an electric coil or natural gas to heat water passing through a network of copper pipes inside. This eliminates the risk of a tank failure and the energy lost by constantly reheating water. Two of the most popular tankless water heaters are the Bosch AquaStar 2700ES NG (natural gas) and Bosch AquaStar 2700ES LP (propane) .  Typically the gas-fired tankless water heaters will produce higher flow rates than an electric tankless which is why I use and recommend the Bosch ones you see above. Some of the smaller tankless systems you might find cheaper online or at Home Depot cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous usage in a large household so be careful when making a selection. The Aquastar 2700ES delivers 7 gallons per minute( enough to run several fixtures at once), electronic ignition( no standing pilot light), direct vent combustion, remote thermostat, and a 12year warranty on the heat exchanger with a 2year warranty on parts

     For your installation make sure you check local building code requirements and/or have a qualified plumbing , heating, or general contractor help you with your installation. Whether you choose gas or electric they should be able to help you make sure the gas venting requirements or the electrical wiring requirements are met. Remember the proper installation/maintenance of your system can optimize the energy efficiency and help it last for decades.

  
  Guidelines for the Tax Credit can be viewed on the ENERGY STAR website. 

     The average life expectancy of a tankless system can be over 20 year where a standard tank might last 10-15 years. A tankless system can have an energy savings of up to 50% and most are energy star rated. To make things even better this item qualifies for a Federal Tax Incentive equal to 30% of the purchase and installation cost up to $1500. Theses home improvement tax credits are available for energy-saving home improvements that are placed in service in your primary residense from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.  

     You can also check   http://www.dsireusa.org/. DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. There you find information for all state and local Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency.

Click here for information on how to apply for the energy tax credit

(IRS) guidelines for consumers can be viewed here: IRS Notice 2006-26 

September 17, 2009

Plans and Ideas for your Basement

Why not take advantage of  the usable space in your basement. Create a finished basement your family can enjoy and increasing the value of your home.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

There are unlimited uses for a basement.  With the proper planning and design you can create a basement that is more fantastic than you ever dreamed.  Of course there are the costs of a basement remodel which can sometimes deter people from finishing their basement.  This is where many people decide on the do it yourself (DIY) method to save some money.  As long as you have a clear set budget of what you can afford then you have a good starting place for hiring a professional contractor.  Most basement contractors will give free estimates and will usually offer advice on what will work for your space.  This is always a good place to start gathering information and details on how the space will be put together and give you good ideas on what you may want to include in your basement. The best place to start is with the book Basement Ideas. It will help you with all aspects of your basement remodeling project.

The first question to ask yourself is who the space is for.  Is it for a kid’s playroom? An entertainment area for the parents? An in-law suite? or add a basement bathroom  Figure out who the space is for and from there you can start to figure out the layout and how the rooms will flow together. Most basements are cut up and have mechanical’s and  things you will have to move or design around.  Your basement contractor can help with this or you can always hire a basement design expert if you really need help.

Below is a list of basement ideas that you check and see which of them you would like to have when you finish your basement.

 

                          Wine bar                              Basement with wine bar

Home Office, Closets & storage, Sauna, Bedroom, Children’s play area  ,Bathroom, Exercise room, Home Theater  , Hobby area, Workshop, Laundry room, Wine storage, Wet Bar, Pool room, In-Law suite

This is just a fraction of the many ideas for your basement plans

February 1, 2009

Finished Basement Climbing Wall

Basement remodeling  – Add  a kids climbing wall
 
I thought this was a neat idea to share with everyone. We were finishing a basement in Dublin Ohio and the customer wanted to install a climbing wall for the kids. We left a section of the poured basement wall unfinished when framing and just painted it white. Using 3/4 mdf kids climbing holds
were mounted to the boards. The ones we used were 2′x4′ but you could make them any size.  The homeowner wanted to paint the boards and afterwards we mounted them to the wall. We drilled into the concrete and fastened masonry anchors to hold the boards in place. After everything was finished the homeowner installed mats on the floor in case the kids were to slip and fall. Its a fun idea for the kids on a rainy day and very inexpensive to do. For more basement finishing ideas check out http://www.aribuilding.com/basement   If your looking for a contractor in the Columbus Ohio area give us a call.

 

 
 
finished-basement-climbing-wall
finished-basement-climbing-wall

 

July 1, 2008

Do you have rough plumbing for a bath in your basement? If not we have an easy fix

Many people want to have basement remodeling done to add extra living space. Do you want a bathroom in your basement? Many times what they find out is that the house they live in the basement was never roughed in for a bathroom. Normally you would have to have your basement contractor or plumber jackhammer or saw cut the concrete floor to run the new sewer lines into the existing system and then put the concrete back. Doing that is not only costly but its also very messy. There are new systems that can save you money and spare you from the dirty work of tearing up the concrete. The Saniflo Saniplus can be built into a wall cavity in the basement concealed behind the framing system. The Saniplus is a system that is used to install a complete bathroom in a basement up to 9 feet below the sewer line, or even up to 100 feet away from a soil stack without breaking up the concrete. You can have a toilet, vanity, and shower unit all hooked up to this unit. To find out more about the system including the cost or to purchase your own systemread below.

The Saniplus includes the macerating unit toilet tank and bowl but no seat.Since the reservoir, the macerating pump and the pipes are hidden from view, this type of installation gives you the lean and clean look of a European bathroom or powder room. The toilet uses only 6 liters (1.6 USG) of water per flush. The Saniplus is simplicity itself to install; there are just four connections:

  • The macerating pump is connected to the discharge pipe coming from the toilet.
  • The toilet tank is connected to the water supply.
  • The macerating pump is connected to small diameter discharge pipe work.
  • The macerating pump is connected to electrical supply.

If you want to conceal the unit in the wall you will need the extension also.

The Saniplus macerating system is comprised of a pressure chamber, which starts and stops the unit, and the motor, which drives the stainless steel macerator blades and pump. To learn more about the macerating process please refer to What is a macerator? A normal operating cycle for Saniplus takes about 10–20 seconds depending upon the discharge pipe run configuration; power consumption is therefore minimal.

You can find out other detailed information, specs, and other helpful products at Saniflo.com. If you are interested in purchasing one, Amazon.com carries both the SaniPlus Macerator Toilet with Elongated Bowl and the SaniPlus Macerator Toilet with Round Bowl.

Remember when doing basement remodeling always do you own research before choosing the products you will use and make sure
that they are right for your job. If you need help try this book or hire a competent basement contractor to help you with these decisions.

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