Posts Tagged Remodeling
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
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.
5 Great Home Renovation Projects For Your Basement
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on March 22nd, 2011
Chair Rail – Chair rail molding is a project that’s quick and results in almost instant impact on the room you have it installed. Chair rail molding can be installed at varying heights, usually between three and four feet from the floor. The height depends on the room’s dimensions, the taste of the home owner and the width of the material. Chair rail can be painted or stained a multitude of colors and textures. There are also different molding profiles you can choose from to accent the over all theme of the room. You can get a simple or complex profile that’s thin of fat. You can choose to do one strip of chair rail or you can have paneling that’s recessed or built out to accommodate the chair rail.
Painting – Painting a room or a home is a project that every home needs or will need at some point in its life. Painting can be a do it yourself project or you can hire a contractor to do it for you. Painting can add new life to an otherwise dated or boring space. It doesn’t take much time to complete a painting project as compared to other renovation projects and the cost is very affordable.
Crown Molding – Crown molding will add dramatic impact to any room. Crown molding is installed to the upper corners of the ceiling and adds a design flare that will easily increase a homes value and appearance. Crown molding is available in many sizes and designs that can be painted or stained. This job is best given to professionals because it’s a complex job that requires experience in the field that the average home owner does not have.
Fireplaces – Adding a fireplace can either be a complex job or a fairly simple job. A
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complex fireplace requires the expertise of a mason who will pour a foundation and build
you a fireplace on top of that
foundation with brick. A little less involved would be a pre-cast fireplace that can be installed by almost any contractor. The fireplace is pre made in a factory and the home is altered to accept the precast fireplace. A chimney is built and a special flue is run up the chimney and out. You can get even less involved and have a gas fireplace installed. These fireplaces don’t even need a chimney. They can be vented right out of the wall. They can even be operated via remote control.
Tile – Tile can be used to add value, function and comfort to any space. Adding tile to kitchen or bath are the most likely places in the home that will be tiled but there are other areas that you might find a good place to tile. Kitchen and bath counter tops and back splashes, entrance foyer, basement, sun room, garage and a covered porch are some other good areas. There are two main types of tile porcelain and ceramic. Porcelain is more durable than ceramic but if you’re shopping for tile to be used in your home you shouldn’t have to worry about which one to choose. The ceramic will be fine for any residential application. Just make sure not to use wall tile on the floor. Wall tile is weaker and thinner than floor tile.
Long Island Basements
Small Basement Remodeling
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on June 10th, 2010
In the City that Never Sleeps – New York, a common issue faced by homeowners and renters is the limited space that their living units have to offer. Naturally, they would want to add more to their living area. But one common mistake they commit is looking at the wrong places and having the wrong ideas. When wanting more space, it doesnât have to take tearing down walls and moving either sideward or upwards. What you should consider first is exhausting every possible way to maximize unused space within your home. This makes a small basement remodeling one great idea in extending your living area.
With a small basement remodeling project, space is not the only issue. Being an area in the home which is often left to keep old things and gather cobwebs, sprucing up the seemingly concrete vault will also pose a challenge.
To create a comfortable and inviting space out of your small basement, your best bet would be having a qualified local contractor to help you out in the remodeling. Unless you are one yourself, a good NYC contractor is your surest way in achieving high quality results in your small basement remodeling project. Most processes in every stage involved needs ample skills to undertake. Some of the key considerations include hiding the drain lines, enhancing lighting and ventilation, ductwork and wiring, and controlling moisture.
In small basement remodeling, you should first take care of the essentials. Is your basement prone to flooding, and water and moisture problems? Are there cracks in the foundation? Are the gutters free from clogs? These and a lot more questions and issues should be attended to if you want to enjoy your remodeling project results in the longest time with the least maintenance required.
No matter how you plan on using your remodeled small basement, there are several elements that could help you achieve a more spacious and welcoming look out of its original dungeon-like features.
Colors
In choosing paint or wallpaper colors for your small basement remodeling finish, lighter is better. Light colors seem to open up space making your limited space seem roomier. You can also make use of painting techniques and wallpaper textures that also help in maximizing space.
Lighting
Lighting is another element that plays an important part in your small basement remodeling project. To create an illusion of more space, you should maximize your use of this element. To make most use of natural light, you can add windows or widen existing windows. For areas not accessible to natural light, choose fixtures that offer intense lighting.
To maximize the effects of bright lighting, you can have mirrors installed on the walls or ceilings.
Commonly, ductworks are visible in the basement ceiling. If this is the case, you could have to opt to have a lower ceiling or have some them boxed creating an uneven ceiling. In both cases, you could use lighting to cover up the flaw. By strategically positioning radiant fixtures, your need for higher-looking ceiling will be met.
Features
The rest of the furniture, appliances and other features needed to be integrated into the small basement remodeling finish should also fit into the available space. When shopping, look for compact, space-saving designs that would still serve functional.
Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Basement Contractor New York. For a free estimate, use our Basement Calculator
Tips For Your Basement Remodeling Project
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on May 27th, 2010
If you are looking for an easy and cost-effective way to open up more living space within your home, consider a basement remodel. Remodeling your basement gives you the creative power to add additional living space without having to cut into your yard with a built-on addition. Not to mention, an addition will cost about 3 times as much as a basement remodel. Furthermore, remodeling the basement can be completed much faster than an addition because there is no need to put the mechanicals, foundation, and outside walls in place or deal with landscaping issues.
If you do decide to remodel your basement, make sure to set some time aside to prepare. The first thing you should consider is how you intend to use your new basement space. There are many options available which include turning in your basement into a lounge room, play room, exercise room, office space, extra guest bedroom, entertainment room or even into bar. The possibilities are endless. However, keep in mind, dividing the space into more than one room can give you more flexibility. Bottom line, it is absolutely necessary to put thought into this particular preparation stage because the way you intend to use the space will guide the entire remodel.
Lighting is an extremely important aspect to a basement remodel. This is mainly true because basements tend to be dark and gloomy. With a few lighting tricks you can turn your basement into a naturally light and brightened space. It is recommended that you try to increase natural lighting as much as possible and this can be done by adding or enlarging windows. Artificial lighting can also be used if adding windows is not an option.
In addition to lighting, the next major area of importance is the basement ceiling. You will need to decide whether you want a hard or soft ceiling. There are pros and cons to both options. A soft, or suspended, ceiling is designed to conceal all pipes, ducts and wires from view. It hangs below these objects, but it still allows ready access for repairs and alterations.
A hard ceiling, on the other hand, is designed to feel like a continuation of the rest of the house. However, more planning is involved with this type of ceiling because you must work out high- and low-voltage wiring and lay the lines, as well as wrap both hot and cold water lines and the gas lines to protect against condensation.
Furthermore, the industrial look has also become popular which involves painting the ceiling, the pipes and the ducts, usually a different color from the walls for effect.
The next area of consideration includes the walls. Regardless of what type of walls you install, you must make sure that you have proper insulation to regulate the temperature and to keep out moisture. As you may already know, basements are very moist areas that need to be waterproofed and insulated in order to maintain comfort.
Last, but not least, there are many options for flooring. Common options include tile, marble, carpet, and area rugs, as well as vinyl, plastic and hardwood. If you are willing to pay more for your floors, you may also consider heated masonry, which helps reduce humidity. If you are trying to save money on your floors, vinyl floors are inexpensive, quick and easy to install. Carpet offers a warm, soft look and feel, and it also comes in a variety of styles and colors. But keep in mind that carpeting your basement may be dangerous because it retains moisture. Hardwood is also a dangerous option if your basement is prone to water leaks because water will destroy the wood overtime.
To learn more about basement remodeling, and for a free price quote on basement finishing visit www.BasementKey.com.
“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.
