Yes, remodeling a basement is a big challenge, but you can use that challenge to your advantage by taking a few common sense steps.
The worst thing about a basement is that it is cold. Get rid of the cold easily and inexpensively by using radiant heat designed for flooring. You are going to put up interior walls in your basement anyway, so wouldn't it be great to use them to heat the basement as well? Using the right kind of glue, or using nails around the edge, you can simply install the meshing used for radiant floor heating on the walls. You have to make sure you have no moisture or water leaks, but you should do that anyway.
You can just install the radiant heating mesh before you put up wood panels. Just be careful no nails go into the mesh. A drawback to basements is that they are usually dark, but that can make them perfect if for watching movies, or for a hobby such as photography.
To create a darkroom, you will have to have good ventilation, as well as running water. Make sure the darkroom is secure, to no one can "pop in" when you are in the middle of developing.
To create a mini theater in your home, you can start from scratch and put in good acoustics, sound muffling carpeting, proper seating and a great speaker system. Since you are starting with a blank space, you can use your imagination and creativity.
Lighting is critical in a room like this, but track lighting is easy to install with suspended ceilings. You have to be careful that you do not create a glare that will interfere with the show, but you can install reflective guards, or put the lighting in wall sconces so the light reflects off the walls instead of directly onto the screen. Some light is preferable for movie watching.
Another basement problem is moisture, and to turn that into an advantage would take quite some magic. Again, however, imagination can make it work for certain things such as for a sauna or a greenhouse, where you would welcome the moisture.
For a sauna, you need to have the right equipment installed for plumbing and to generate the steam for the sauna. There are many sauna kits that make installation fairly easy. Good drainage is the really important issue here, since you don't want to end up with a flooded basement.
Even though your basement is usually cool, once you have the sauna heated, it will stay hot with good insulation. Investigate some of the many new materials available for good conductivity. Ideally, you should have an area separate from the sauna for a cool down. This should be a bright attractive area, but when you paint, make sure you leave a lot of drying time because of the inherent moisture.
A greenhouse is a great idea for a basement use. You have to avoid mildew and mold, but you can install heating lamps that will give the light you need and also keep the area warm and dry for flowers that prefer a hot house environment.
When you are working in a basement, always be aware of the possibility of water. Electrical systems have to be carefully planned because of this. Most modern building materials can accommodate this and still be inexpensive and easy to install.
Be sure to measure your basement for radon and carbon dioxide contamination before you get started. Allow for good ventilation for your basement.
To save money on furnishings, haunt second hand stores or antique shops. You can make interesting finds that will keep your costs down.
Since you will be spending quite a bit to remodel your basement, using these tips to get the best advantage of it will be to your "advantage"
Adam Peters writes for http://www.allsunrooms.com . A focused website that offers the best articles on sunrooms and furniture
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