4 Steps to a Great Basement Bar Design
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on January 1st, 2012
Finishing your basement and converting it into a bar does not have to be a difficult task. It is important, however, that you put some time and effort into the planning process to make sure that you are going through the steps correctly. This is a look at four steps that you absolutely must include in the planning and preparation of your basement bar. If you are serious about turning your newly finished basement into a comfortable living space with all the amenities you need, then creating a bar is an excellent idea well worth your consideration. Before you contact your Long Island Contractorsfollow the recommended steps.
Basement Bar Idea
- Take complete measurements of your finished space and draw out a mock blueprint. Use graph paper, blueprint paper, your computer or whatever works for you. Make sure that you are laying out the room properly using accurate dimensions so that you do not end up with any unwanted surprises in the future.
- Research the options available to you and layout your entire basement bar plan on paper. There isn’t a single type of bar for you to consider when putting together your own basement bar design. In fact, every single element and facet of your bar design is going to be customizable from the shape, size and length of your bar to the wood type and the bar type. There are L-shaped bars, 8 foot rectangular bars, keg box bars, mirror-back bars and all kinds of different shelving and organizing options available to you. Make sure that you consider all options before settling on the right design to meet your needs.
- Gather all of the materials and tools that you need beforehand so that you are completely prepared for the build. You do not want to end up halfway into the project only to find that you are missing something important like a piece of lumber, a screw or an essential tool. Lay everything out beforehand to make sure that you have everything you need. You will not appreciate how valuable this is until the project is completed smoothly without a hitch.
- Get started! Now that you are completely prepared to start the project, get going. Make sure that you follow all of your steps carefully and that you pace yourself to keep from making any mistakes. Building your basement bar does not have to be difficult, but it does require concentration, know-how and proper planning in order to come out the way you are hoping. If you need help, get professional assistance rather than attempting to go through the process yourself. It is always better to have some professional assistance than attempting the entire project on your own if you have not done it before.
A few basic steps can really go a long way in preparing your bar design. Turning your basement into a bar is a great way to create a living space that you can enjoy for many years. Everything can be customized when it comes to your basement bar design, so take your time and make sure that you are completely satisfied with the plans you put into place.
Long Island Contractors
4 Ways of Increasing Natural Light to Your Basement
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on December 31st, 2011
Basements are more than just a place to store things these days. For many they are an entirely separate living area used for everything from a family room to an extra bedroom. It is for this reason that you may want to bring some more natural light into the basement to bring things to life. There are several ways to accomplish this goal that will not cost you a great deal of money. Once you know your budget you will be able to select a manner that fits your situation. Listed here are a few great ways to make your space light and airy.
- If you have a basement that does not have a walk up you might consider using the current windows to the best of their ability. If you have the typical small well windows you could enlarge these windows making them longer letting in more light. If you are using the basement as another room for your family you will want an additional emergency escape route and enlarging these windows will serve that purpose. You can choose from several great types of security glass so that you do not need to compromise safety for lighting.
- If your basement is sectioned off into rooms you will want to make sure that you are bringing the light from all windows through the level. This can be done by putting in windows on the interior walls. This can be done accomplished very easily and with style by using glass brick either in clear or in colors.
- Putting in a slider door in your basement is also another great option. Not only does it provide amazing light options but it will serve as an easy access off the area to the yard. If you have this as an option because your house is on a hill and there is plenty of basement wall in the back it could be well worth the investment. This will not only let in great light but it will create a multi-function space like no other allowing you many options for the space in the future.
- For a basement that has one open space and a bulkhead you might consider creating a walkout area at the bulkhead. This may take a bit of dirt work and some re-negotiating of the space, but it is certainly a nice way to create a well lit area that can be used for almost any purpose.
- BONUS -
Long Island Basement Window
The inside sections of your windows can be made to optimize the minimal amount of natural light. Shown in the picture you can see the inner portions of the window is angled out. This allows more natural light to disperse into the living area. You can angle out the sides and bottom sections the picture shows only the bottom. Also to further this effect you can add mirrors to those inner portions. The mirrors will reflect more light into your basement. If you dont like the look of mirrors the next best thing is bright white paint with a flat finish.
Creating useful and beautiful basement space can be done with a few changes in the way you think of a basement. This space is as useful as the rest of your home and after bringing in some natural light it will be easy to see all of the possibilities. You will want to consider all of the current sources of natural light in the basement and then decide how you can highlight those to their fullest. From there you can easily see how much more light you want to bring into the room.
Long Island Contractors
4 Ways to Find Out Your Basement has Too Much Moisture
Posted by admin in Before You Finish Your Basement, Long Island Basements, Mold In Basements on November 1st, 2011
moisture in basement
Moisture In Your Long Island Basement
Because basement foundations are built into the ground, there is always a possibility that moisture is going to exist. Water will be capable of intruding, but unfortunately if too much water intrudes and your Long Island basement becomes too wet, then some problems can arise that you are going to want to address when your basement becomes damp. There are a number of different ways that you can determine that your basement has too much moisture in it. Here are four of the most prevalent signs that your basement is too wet:
Water Stains
The most common water stains may be found along the walls, the floor or the ceiling. There are a number of different potential causes for water stains, but any time you find stains from wetness you are going to need to figure out the cause so that you can address it right away. For example, water stains on the floor may simply be from a laundry tub overflowing, or other the other hand you may have water that is seeping in through your walls, your floor or your basement windows. This is a more serious problem that you need to take care of quickly to prevent your basement from becoming too wet.
A musty odor or a damp smell
The smell is going to be unmistakable if there is an excess amount of moisture in your basement. If you suddenly notice a change in the smell of your basement, then it is going to benefit you to pour over your entire basement looking for water staining, mold and other signs that too much moisture might exist.
The presence of mold
Mold is a serious tell tale sign that you have a moisture problem. Mold can be colored brown, black, green or yellow. If something looks like mold, then you need to have it tested. A susceptible place for the development of mold is the northwest corner in your home, which is regarded as a “cold corner” where mold is most likely to grow if a moisture problem exists.
Efflorescence or spalling
Efflorescence in a condition that involves the production of grayish or white ash on basement walls. Efflorescence may sometimes sparkle. It is caused by the left behind salt deposits once moisture has evaporated. Spalling also involves salt deposits, where the deposits left behind cause the surface of certain materials to peel, flake away or to pop off such as with brick, concrete and stone surfaces.
These are four tell tale signs that your basement is experiencing too much dampness. Some of these indicators are obviously more serious than the rest, such as mold which can spread and can be unhealthy if left unchecked in your home. It is important that you consider all of the possibilities for root or underlying causes when your basement is damp so that you can address the underlying cause and keep everything dry and in good shape.
Before finishing your Long Island Basement you need a consultation from a professional to assess your moisture issues. Don’t just build a quick finished basement just because you can. Make sure the necessary building method and techniques are used to ensure a long lasting quality basement. A basement that can be built to provide you with many years of care free enjoyment. Click below for a basement contractor on Long Island who will do the job right the first time.
Long Island Basement Contractor
Long Island Basement Photos
How to choose the right Long Island basement Design
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on October 24th, 2011
If you live on Long Island and have a huge basement under your home which is full of clutter, cobwebs, cockroaches, mice and other
Long Island Basements
organisms then you are plainly wasting an opportunity to make your home more fun because that essentially abandoned part of your home could be transformed into something you and your family can be proud of. Many people are seeing the need to design their Long Island basements into something useful and there is no reason why you should be left behind. Here are a couple of tips to choose the right basement design so that it will be transformed into a place you will cherish.
Long Island basements are naturally more humid and cooler compared to other parts of your home and this should be taken into account when coming up with a basement design. Even though you may want to turn that part of your home into something that can help you chill out, it will be unwise if the design will cause damage to your home and that is why you should stay away from an idea such as installing a hot tub in your basement because it will only result in excessive amounts of moisture which will result in molds and rotting of wooden areas.
It’s also important to consider shortages you may be facing in your main house and incorporate that into your basement design. For instance if you receive lots of visitors and face problems accommodating them in your main house then it may be a good idea to design your basement into a guest suite with a bathroom and other essential facilities to make your visitors as comfortable as possible. However make sure you have enough room in your basement to be able to execute this to perfection and don’t forget to install ample heating to ensure your guests don’t suffer from the lower temperatures down there.
If you and your family enjoy going to theatres to watch movies then it will be a great idea to design your basement into a movie room, equipped with large screen plasma or LCD TV, DVD player as well as surround systems to generate the ultimate movie experience. It won’t be a bad idea to have a pop corn machine installed somewhere down there and this will guarantee more family time with your spouse and kids, while saving you some movie ticket costs. On the other hand if there is lack of room for your kids to play or you realize that they are always messing up your living room then transforming your basement into a game room equipped with a large TV, couches, console games, pool tables, etc. will give your kids the chance to play and have fun.
The basement under your Long Island home can also be transformed into a workout gym, office, workshop, bar, etc. depending on your preferences and whichever design you decide to opt for, you should make sure you will get the necessary permit as well as ample lighting and escape windows for unforeseeable situations.
Click here for a qualified Long Island basement contractor.
Long Island Finished Basements – Painting
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on August 15th, 2011
Your Long Island Finished Basement is a valuable asset and a very important portion of your home to take care of. In order to protect the basement of your home from moisture and rot, one cost efficient way is to apply a fresh coat of paint by an expert professional basement contractor. Failing to keep up with remedial maintenance and repair to your basement can turn out to be a costly mistake. Doing a makeover to your basement will give a higher value to it. Not only that, you will be in a happy mood after the work is done. The extra protection and renewed life a new paint job will give to your basement can last for several years. Secure at least three bids and choose the best LI basement contractor based on your pre-determined criteria.
Long Island Finished Basements
In planning a total remodel or just a painting of your basement homeowners are face with the challenging decision of whether to hire a professional painting contractor or making it a do-it-yourself project. Many people are happy with the results of the painting jobs done by professionals. They believe that the quality and craftsmanship provided by good painters are worth much more than the money paid. Also the time it would take for you to do it yourself does not equal in value to the time you could spend on other projects. You might be contemplating doing the job yourself because you are having a hard time finding the right contractor. Maybe you think the cost of having somebody else do the job is too high.
If you have the money and not the time to have a professional paint your basement your going to be looking for certain criteria in your search for a Long Island Basement Contractor. Some questions you might have before you begin will be:
- How will you discover a good painting contractor?
- How can you rest assured that the finished project will meet or exceed your expectations?
- What methods will you need to follow to get a fair deal?
These are some issues you might be dealing with or should be considering. If you are deciding to paint your basement plus other areas of your home you should be able to be qualified for a volume discount. Some contractors are able to apply a better rate when the job is bigger. So now is the time to consider painting the whole basement instead of one room or painting the whole house. Depending on your budget and desire to change colors will justify your decision.
Finding a good Long Island basement painting contractor is not that difficult. You need a little common sense and some minimal resources to get on the right track. Check your local papers for ads. Some of these are free and delivered right to your door or you might get them at the local market. Search the internet for Long Island Basement painting or Long Island finished basements. Whatever term you use you should be able to find a list of contractors able to do your job.
Once you narrowed your search down choose three contractors you think might be good for you. Set up the appointments and have them over for an estimate. The estimates should be free and the contractor should be able to give you a time they will be over. While they are at your home ask them what type of paint and primer they will use for your basement. If you don’t have any idea of the paint you want to use let them suggest a brand they like. Usually Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams are the products the professionals use.
Request that they give you references of past jobs. Three or four references is not so bad a number to ask for. They should easily be able to supply you with that. Try to evaluate the contractor’s behavior during the interview. You don’t need a degree in psychology but some common sense and gut feeling will serve you right. Good contractors show their professionalism with positive enthusiasm, courtesy and sincerity in dealing with the probing questions of potential customers. They welcome direct and straightforward questions. Your end result is to have a good job at a fair price but having a contractor with a good attitude is always an added bonus.
If the three contractors you chose have impressive customer references and pass your other criteria, you can start negotiations. Ask them to look at your home and submit a detailed scope of work and cost. Services would cover brand, quantity, type of paint and primer, color schemes, caulking, number of coatings, time frame of work from start to finish, estimated project cost, insurance, clean up etc. Once they have submitted their bids, it is now time to finalize the terms and conditions and sign up a deal with your preferred Long Island painting contractor!
Long Island Finished Basements
“Long Island Contractor Will Build Your Basement With No Worries”
Creating extra living space affordably has never been easier. This Contractor shows dozens of different uses for basement spaces, then shows their clients exactly how they will accomplish each task. Spaces include adding an extra bathroom, a family room, bedroom, home office, kitchen or game room to their homes.
A basement can be as fine a living space as any other area of the house. Basements present their own challenges, such as moisture, lack of heat and light, among other issues, but many ideas are available to remedy these.
Click here to get a reliable Long Island basement contractor.
