[Basement Remodeling] Great Lakes Renovations Basement Remodeling

April 24, 2009 - PRLog -- Basements are often the most neglected room of the house. Luckily, with a few minor touch ups, even the worst basements can be turned into comfortable, enjoyable living conditions. You can utilize your basement space by turning it into a beautiful playroom for your children, a recreational area for family and guests, or even into an extra bedroom or office.

Creating a finished basement is the most cost effective way to add usable living space to your home.

Whenever you are deciding to remodel a room, the first thing you need to decide is what your main focus for remodeling is. In the case of basement renovations, decide first what you would like to do with your basement. Whatever it is that you would like to have done, start off small by making that your main focus. Consider the following:

   * Are you looking for a new floor layout?
   * Will you need to enlarge your old existing space?
   * Does your basement need handicap accessibility?
   * Are you thinking of adding a bath?

Before you begin your basement remodel, it is important to study your basement and take into consideration all of the problem areas. The more you know about your basement the easier it will be to work with. Make sure to check for waterproofing problems. Key signs of damage are moldy odors and cracked or peeling walls. Also, make sure to check out the level of dryness and the amount of heat captured by your basement. This will help you decide what kind of insulation and flooring to use. Ask yourself these questions:

   * Do you need to repair damages such as floor wreckage or fixing excess moisture by waterproofing?
   * Does your basement need a little updating?
   * Do you need to add more vent openings for better air circulation?
   * Would you like to enlarge windows to let in more natural light?

In addition, appearance is extremely important too. Make sure to carefully plan a new inviting design for your basement. Arrange for a color theme to enhance your design. Integrate your lighting fixtures to compliment the colors. Turn your scary basement into the most welcoming part of your home.

Keep in mind that basement remodeling is a smart decision for any homeowner. Not only will it increase your homes resale value, but it’s also the easiest and cheapest way to create more living space.

Our Basement Finishing Process

We start with a scheduled visit to your home where we'll discuss the project. It's our goal to turn your ideas into reality, so we'll spend as much time as necessary in order to truly understand your vision. Of course, we'll offer our suggestions and insights, but it's your ideas that will ultimately shape the finished project. We'll also discuss your budget and take pictures and measurements of your basement.

We submit an estimate outlining the scope of work and the projected costs. (If you get a better price than ours for the same work, please let us know. We strive to offer the lowest prices possible, and we'll do our best to meet or beat any written estimate). Finally, if we are hired to finish your basement, we'll write an all inclusive contract complete with the payment schedule, and that written price is all you'll ever pay. In other words, we'll never come back at a later time and ask for more money.

Things To Consider When Selecting a Basement Contractor

HIRE A CONTRACTOR THAT SPECIALIZES IN BASEMENT FINISHING.
This is important for many reasons, but to sum it up here, finishing a basement is not the same as finishing another level of the house.

UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF BASEMENT MOISTURE.
Any reputable basement finishing company should have a very good understanding about the issue of moisture in a basement, new home or older home. If they do not understand this one issue, or fail to even mention it, they should not be hired to finish your basement.

REMEMBER, YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
A homeowner who wants quality work must be willing to pay for a quality basement finishing contractor. If a homeowner obtains 3 or 4 estimates, and one estimate is much, much lower than the other 3, there is a reason for this. Either that contractor has underestimated the timeframe and/or the costs of materials, or the contractor may intend to cut corners. In some cases, the contractor intentionally submits a low estimate to get hired, then asks for more money down the road. This can all be avoided. Be willing to pay a fair price and you'll be rewarded with a quality finished product and a company that will stand behind the work.

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Great Lakes Renovations has 25 years of Residential experience providing homeowners the best possible customer centered-quality service. Our company mission; to meet or exceed the expectations of the customer at the lowest possible cost.