Last Updated on January 20, 2025 by teamobn
A basement is a space in a house that is just so full of potential. You could convert it into an extra room. You can use it as extra storage space. Or, best of all, you could turn it into a man cave for some midweek hideouts. Or what about a game center for the kids (not to mention those Super Bowl weekends)?
Getting your basement ready for a complete overhaul, though, does take quite a bit of preparation work. From removing all of your stored items to inspecting your basement for damage, this preparation phase can be a real pain, but it’s obviously also an important precursor to remodeling. But the good news is that all this doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are several budget-friendly tips that will pave the way to a brand-new basement.
Contents
- 1 Create a Temporary Space
- 2 Make a List of Good Basement Contractors
- 3 Consider Hosting a Yard Sale
- 4 Waterproofing Your Basement
- 5 Insulation Tips
- 6 Portable Light Options
- 7 Filling in the Cracks
- 8 Shelves, Shelves and More Shelves!
- 9 Your Cheapest Floor Options
- 10 Drywall Preparation
- 11 Mold-Proof Your Basement
- 12 Wrapping Up
Create a Temporary Space
Like most people, you are probably already using your basement for something. Whether it’s for laundry by keeping your washer and dryer there or for storing your machine tools, you’re going to need to be sure to prepare a space somewhere else in your home where any essential items can be used while your basement is being renovated. This may end up causing some clutter in your home, especially if you tend to collect items, but it’s a great opportunity to do some spring cleaning.
Make a List of Good Basement Contractors
While the preparation of your remodeling can be easily (and cheaply) done by you, for the best results, it’s probably best to make use of reliable basement remodeling services if you want it done right. Go online and list the top three contractors with references. Look out for basement remodeling and choose the one that gives you the best quote.
Consider Hosting a Yard Sale
This is the perfect time to get rid of all that stuff you know you’ll never use again, but what to do with it? Well, along with simple spring cleaning, you can also hold a yard sale for your unwanted possessions, which is a great way to make a few extra dollars that can go toward the renovation and decorating costs. Get your family and friends to help you haul everything out and set it up outside so that people can buy some of the stuff you don’t want anymore. You don’t need to charge much, but it’s a perfect way to de-clutter your home, while also doing up your basement.
Waterproofing Your Basement
If there’s one thing you really don’t want in your man cave or games room it’s massive water damage coming from unseen leaks that will become very noticeable once the rains start. Spotting leaks in your basement wasn’t easy before, but now that it’s empty, you can easily check for leaks, water spots or damp walls. If you do happen to find a compromised section, it’s actually not that hard to fix up. Simply grab some waterproofing materials from your local hardware store and seal them up. It’s as simple as that.
Insulation Tips
If you’re converting your basement into a liveable area, especially one in which you want to spend a lot of time, regardless of the season, insulating it is a great idea. You’ll be more comfortable all year around and also save on energy costs.
Hardware stores carry affordable insulation panels which can be screwed onto your walls. These will prevent cold winters and overly hot summers, which is especially helpful if you plan on using your renovated basement any time of year.
Portable Light Options
Basements are dimly lit by default, so if you want to make it more inhabitable, make sure to get a decent light source. Don’t bother with rewiring your entire house just so that you can have good lighting in your basement. This is totally not necessary. All you need to do is purchase a few portable lights! You can even consider hooking up a few to a solar panel outside. There are a lot of affordable options out there so find out the best one to fit your budget and lighting needs.
Filling in the Cracks
With a well-lit basement, you can now start to inspect it for cracks in the walls. These are even easier to miss than potential leaks. These should be filled in before you begin the renovation process so that they don’t get worse later on. A tin of wall filler is enough to mend your entire basement wall, so add this to your hardware list.
Shelves, Shelves and More Shelves!
Even after converting it, there’s no reason you shouldn’t continue using your basement as a storage space for things that won’t fit in your house. But you don’t want things to get out of hand again, so you’ll want to tidy up your storage options. Most simply, to prepare your basement for tidy storage, install a few sturdy shelves on the walls. These are affordable if you opt for something simple that can be put together in less than an hour. And remember that yard sale you held? You’ll often find shelves and bookcases at other’s yard sales, at markets and also advertised in online marketplaces. Also consider using salvaged wood which you can often pick up in the same places.
Your Cheapest Floor Options
For a complete overhaul of your basement, you might want to consider changing up the floor. A good and affordable option for this is poured concrete flooring. It’s cheap, looks great, and will last you much longer than wooden, vinyl, or tiled floors. Stay away from carpets if you want your basement area to be easy to clean, and get on the phone with a good poured concrete service provider.
If your existing concrete floor is in good shape, you could also consider using a concrete polishing service or even hire the machinery to do it yourself. The result looks good, is very easy to keep clean and offers the additional bonus of being light reflective.
Drywall Preparation
Are you planning on dividing your basement up into sections? If so, drywalling is probably the plan you have in mind. You can prepare for drywall installations by setting up the frames in the meantime. This will not only outline the sections in your basement but also save you time and money when you decide to put the drywalling up.
Mold-Proof Your Basement
Basements tend to form mold, especially if they’re exposed to humidity throughout the year. Mold-resistant primer is a great way to prevent this from happening. Grab enough to cover your entire basement BEFORE you start painting the walls during the decoration phase.
Wrapping Up
Now that your basement is finally ready, all that’s left for you to do is to contact your contractor and get started on the remodelling process. And when your contractor is all done with the renovations, that’s when you can get started on the fun part of decorating, painting, and setting up your furniture items. Enjoy!
