'Tis the Season For Extra Space - How to Finish Your Basement the Right Way

As Thanksgiving approaches and you start drowning in flight confirmations of visiting relatives, you might wonder what medication you were taking in June that led you to believe hosting Thanksgiving was a great idea. You also might wonder where you’re going to put everyone.

Your basement can be a diamond in the rough when it comes to expanding the usable space in your home, but if you don’t finish it the right way, it’s worse than a lump of coal. So often, people think that finishing a basement is just a matter of slapping up some drywall, laying down some carpet, and calling it a day.

But drywall, wood paneling, fiberglass insulation, and carpet are all a dream for mold, which only needs organic material and moisture in order to thrive. Paper backing and other organic materials abound in all of these, so what’s perfectly find for your living room is a huge problem in the basement. Even basements that don’t have visible water leaks can have issues with humidity, and any ambient moisture can wreak havoc on “traditional” basement finishes.

If you’re thinking of finishing your basement, or maybe just want a finished look without the hassle, it’s important to use products designed with a basement in mind. We carry a full like of finished-look products that are water-resistant, inorganic, and built to keep your basement warm and dry. Well, as warm as a Michigan basement can be in the winter.

Brightwall panels provide a clean, bright white look for your basement walls. They can be installed over top of your existing walls, and if you have water problems, they can tie right into our WaterGuard system to ensure that water is directed away effectively. Looking to keep a little warmer? Our ZenWall panels have an insulated core. Both are inorganic and washable, making maintenance a breeze and eliminating any chance for mold growth.

     

If you’ve ever had to pull up carpet after a basement flood, you know that once it gets wet there’s very little hope of salvaging it. But we offer mold and moisture resistant, inorganic flooring options ranging from wood-look laminate to carpet in our ThermalDry line that not only prevent mold and mildew, but keep your basement floor 8-10 degrees warmer. ThermalDry floor tiles install quickly and, in the event of severe damage, it’s easy to replace a single tile rather than the whole system.

           

Whether you want a fully finished look in your basement so your mother-in-law doesn’t complain when you heave her bags down there, or just a spruced up area to make laundry time less depressing, make sure you use products designed for basements and installed by a basement company. Like us. Call us today.