Are you turning your basement into a playroom?  Do that first!

Basements can range from cloudy and dark to finely processed or somewhere in between. If you’re a homeowner with an unfinished basement, it can be relatively inexpensive to finish that space and expand your habitable area – most of the time.

However, after a conversion or two, I can tell you firsthand that if you don’t take the right steps before finishing your room, you can have a really expensive and unusable basement. Below are three key steps that you should take before starting the buildout.

1. Check and fix any foundation leaks

Underground basements are very prone to flooding. From foundation cracks, poor drainage, or a combination of both. For this reason, you should always have a licensed and qualified contractor inspect your foundation and basement for leaks.

If it turns out that the foundation is not waterproof, a basement waterproofing company should be consulted to access and repair it. If there is water in your basement or your walls are saturated, a water Restoration company can help They identify dangerous mold and dry the property before proceeding with the renovation.

2. Check and update the insulation

If your basement is only used for storage or not at all, the quality of the insulation is generally not at the top of your task list. However, if you and your family spend time down there more often, you want to make sure the room is comfortable. Contact a local builder or hardware store who can provide recommendations based on the climate of the area Your region or “zone”.

In addition to room temperature, some insulation is soundproof. If you now complete your basement as rental space, you definitely need good sound insulation for you and the tenants. Most of the time you won’t make it for tenants, so the real benefit is that the sound quality in your playing space will be improved by using appropriate soundproofing materials. This can make a big difference if you want to add a big TV and surround sound for games and movie nights.

3. Have your cabling checked

Last but not least, you should check the wiring and have it upgraded by an approved electrician if necessary. This will protect your home and travel equipment. In some cases your electrical system might be perfectly fine, but in many basements the circuit has been set up to run a couple of lights and a plug or two.

When you call in an electrician, give him an idea of ​​the number and type of items you want to run down. If the load is much larger than intended for the circuit, you need to install a second set of plugs in your own circuit. Situations vary too widely to cover them all here, but a qualified electrician knows exactly what needs to happen.

I know the wiring and insulation isn’t quite as fun as the 80-inch TV, but if your feet are wet and cold while watching it, you may not be as happy as you thought. Turning your basement into a playroom can be great. Just take the right precautions so that you can enjoy it for years to come.

Not to mention, if you decide to sell your home with a finished basement, the value may go up.