Many Options for Finishing a Basement

When you find yourself in need of additional living space, consider your basement as the place to grow. You will be surprised at how easy it can be to claim that unused space for a remarkably small investment. Deciding to finish a basement can offer almost unlimited possibilities to meet the needs of a growing family or simply to enhance your lifestyle. You can also finish a basement in stages, as your budget permits additional work.

One of the joys of deciding to finish a basement is the discovery that the most difficult work and the most expensive is probably already done. You already have exterior walls and a floor. You probably also have some windows in place, as well as two points of access to the area: stairs from the first floor of your home and an external access door or window.

First, identify basic needs. Here are some basic initial questions to ask and answer:

1. Do you need to install plumbing?

2. Do you need to install or enhance electrical wiring to various parts of the basement?

3. Do you need to install a separate furnace and air conditioner? Or, can you simply connect new duct work to your existing furnace and air conditioner?

4. Are there supports (posts, etc) that you need to incorporate into your floor plan?

5. Is additional natural lighting needed?

Second, develop a plan for how you will use the space. Identifying the uses you want to make of the space in your basement is the first step in planning your project. Make a list of the rooms or areas you want to create. Some very popular uses of basement space include:

* Select a style and roof line that is consistent with the style of your house

* A home theater

* A home office

* A suite of rooms for in-laws or teens

* A playroom for children

* A den

* A game room

* A wine cellar

* Guest bedrooms

* Storage rooms

* A spa

* An additional bathroom

* A computer or homework room

* A library

* A mud room

* A hobby or craft room

* A family room

* A party room

Third, after identifying the rooms or spaces you want to create, plan the location of each room or area within the space. Here are some things to consider in designing your floor plan:

* Since most basements have one to three "sides" that have no windows (because they are essentially underground), plan to place the rooms that do not require windows on that side of the basement. For example, a home theater would be a good choice for a room that will have no windows.

* Try to place bathrooms and/or a kitchenette near or under first floor rooms that already have plumbing. The shorter the distance you must travel with new plumbing, the more money you will save. An ideal spot for a home spa would be in a windowless part of the basement near existing plumbing.

* If your plan includes creating a teen suite or an in-law suite, carefully consider access to the remainder of the space. For example, do not place the bedroom of the suite at the bottom of the stairs from the first floor.

* Plan for access and privacy. For example, if you are finishing your basement in order to create both a playroom for children and an in-law suite for parents, you might want to put them at opposite ends of the basement area.

* Consider the noise from the rooms above. Either locate the rooms that will be used frequently in the basement under quieter rooms upstairs or consider adding sound insulating board on the ceiling in the basement.

The next thing to decide is how many walls you actually want to create. Do you want to create a single large area that has several semi-defined spaces, or do you want to create discrete rooms for each function? You might want some combination of effects, depending on how you will use each space.

Choose the style of decor and the materials you will use to finish your basement. For example, will the walls be drywall or paneling? Will the ceiling be drywall or a drop ceiling? How will you treat the floor? Will you use carpet or tile or hardwood, or some combination for different areas or rooms?

Finally, plan the work itself. Will you do all of the work at once? Or, will you finish part of the basement and delay additional work until a later time? If you plan to delay part of the work, you will want to consider either permanent or temporary closure of the finished area. If your plan is to leave the entire are open, you might need to do all of the walls and ceilings at once, gradually defining areas within the space.

Today, one of the most popular ideas for finished basements is an in-law or teen suite, consisting of a bedroom, a bathroom, and a sitting room. Home theaters are also very popular, with large-screen televisions or projection screens. A small kitchenette for snack preparation can make the home theater perfect. As more people telecommute or start home businesses, a home office can be very practical. Homework rooms are also quite popular today. These are relatively simple to create. All that is needed is computer connections, some bookshelves and a work area large enough to accommodate your childrens needs. A play room or a game room can provide great serenity on the first floor. You can even create your own home spa, complete with whirlpool tub, multi-head massaging shower, steam room, and a tanning bed.

The final question is whether you should do the renovation yourself or hire an expert. This will, of course, depend upon your skill level and the preparation that has already been done in your basement. Many builders today connect at least some electric and plumbing to the basement. Check the laws in your locality to learn what permits are required before you begin the work, and whether your State or locality requires that certain work be performed by licensed professionals. You may find that the best approach is to hire a professional to do the electrical, plumbing, and heat/air conditioning work. There is no reason you cannot hire professionals for the work you are not able to do and keep your project within your budget by doing things like installing drywall, wrapping support posts with decorative columns, painting, wallpapering, etc. Remember, plumbing and electrical work can be dangerous when attempted by people who dont know what they are doing.

Whatever your needs or dreams to accommodate a growing family or to enhance your lifestyle, the basement in your home offers limitless possibilities. By planning the use of space and the placement of the rooms or areas you will construct, you can maximize the space, fulfill many needs, and save some money on the renovation.

Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelestimates.com and http://www.remodelingorganizer.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

Searching For Your Dream Home - Buying Property

First things first when looking for your dream home. Make a list of all the things you're looking for. With today's computers and search engines on the Internet it makes home shopping by keywords very simple.

Most real estate websites have boxes you can check off, if you're looking for a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms and a swimming pool. You simply check these items off, select the area you would like to search for homes and and you now have a list of homes to look at.

Some of these homes have virtual tours on the Internet, which allows you to go through most of the home before you actually visit the house. Modern technology has made searching for your dream home a virtual reality.

You can now look through the list and select the most appealing homes before you start driving around. Don't let the pictures of these homes deceive you on the Internet or MLS. Some of the descriptions of these homes can also be very deceptive.

When looking for your dream home, used every possible means available to you. This would include your real estate professionals, newspapers, magazines, search engines, internet websites, and don't forget about driving around your favorite neighborhoods. This is actually how we found one of the homes we bought.

Our real estate salesman gave us a list of homes to look at, while we were driving around, we spotted a home that caught our attention and we pulled in the driveway. To our amazement, the real estate saleswoman who listed the home lived a couple of houses down the street and was right there asking if we wanted to see the inside of the house.

Your family, friends, neighbors and people you work with, can also help you with your homebuying quest. You would be surprised at how helpful some of these people can be. I knew someone who found a home they really liked, knocked on the door and told the homeowners, they would be very interested if their home was ever put on the market. Within a few weeks, he was buying the home.

I'm not telling you to knock on everyone's door whose not selling their house, but you never know how or when you're going to run into the house of your dreams.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buying checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Don't buy a house without visiting, one of the best websites for home inspections. This website has thousands of pictures that deal with home inspection problems. If you're buying a house, check out this section on home inspection cover ups.

Why a Successful Bathroom Remodeling Plan is Necessary?

If anyone of you is interested in bathroom remodeling, he must also be interested in saving his money, which gets spent without letting you know if you are unaware of depths and heights of bathroom remodeling strategies. The most essential thing you would need for remodeling is a proper plan. If your plan has been perfectly made, taking in notice all the problems that might occur, there is rarely a chance that you would come across any kind of troubles. Besides, your project would be adored.

If you follow the step-to-step guide for bathroom remodeling, the very first thing to reckon is the purpose of doing such a project? The whole remodeling plan would be made upon your choice that whether the purpose of remodeling is to enhance the resale value of your property or your own convenience and taste. If you have a clear-cut idea about this, your bathroom remodeling plan is going to be very successful. This is what majority of people don't pay attention to. They just start planning a bathroom remodeling plan without going through several minor but important points.

However, just knowing and realizing the purpose of your bathroom remodeling plan is not going to help you in all the cases. Sometimes, your desired plan exceeds your budget; and making a budget is a whole different story. It includes costs of materials, contractors, plumbers, electricians and several other things that become the basic constituents of a bathroom remodel. You need to align your plan with your budget. Asking a local home improvement store's owner would be helpful for you if you are not market savvy. However, compromising on bad quality with a low cost is the most rejected idea. It will keep your pockets heavy for a while but later, you would always be in trouble until you plan a new remodel.

Besides, you need to keep extra money available for your budget. There are cases when something unexpected happens. Costs may increase and your project may get delayed. In such cases, you need money the most. You can also come up with new ideas in between the project. Making them possible won't just be a theory; it would only work with money.

You need to keep these basic things in your mind when making a bathroom remodeling plan. You can do some of the remodeling projects yourself but not all of them. In case you don't know anything about carrying out any such operation, don't make false assumptions that you would be able to do it because it won't be a time of experiments. Saving money and brilliantly completing a bathroom remodeling project must be your basic motto.

For knowing more about bathroom remodeling, you can visit http://www.theyarelocal.com/articles/remodeling/index.php

I Can't Wash the Mold Off the Walls - Mold Repair

If you have mold growing on your bathroom walls, ceilings or any other walls in your home and can't seem to remove it, that's probably because it's underneath the paint. This might not make any sense, but if the mold continues to grow back, it's probably growing between the paint and the drywall or plaster.

This is real common around moist areas like your bathroom or even behind your stove if you do a lot of cooking with pots that are releasing steam, you could have a moisture problem and moisture attracts mold and mildew. If the steam is condensing on the back wall, behind the kitchen stove, you could find yourself stripping the paint or even removing the drywall to fix the problem, correctly.

If the mold is growing behind the paint, the only way you will be able to fix this, right, is to remove the paint and treat the drywall for mold. This might sound like a lot of work, but there is a simpler way, but not a more effective way.

You can simply clean the wall with chlorine or bleach, leave the area that you treated alone for a few days for until its dried out thoroughly. Then you can simply paint over the area with a semi gloss or high gloss paint. Flat or satin paints could actually absorb enough moisture to start growing the mold again. A semi gloss or high gloss paint will act like a water resistant barrier and help to prevent moisture from soaking into the wall.

Now here's the bad news, the mold hasn't gone away, you're just sealing it in the wall or ceiling. Eventually you could start to see a dark spot under your newly painted wall repair. This will tell you, that the mold is growing underneath the paint, that you just applied and probably even underneath the layer of paint, you painted over.

If you're having problems keeping the mold away, there's a good chance that it's growing underneath the paint. Clean it the best you can with bleach or chlorine, read the directions thoroughly before using these products and if the mold keeps coming back, you can paint over the mold or remove the drywall, re-plaster it and then paint over it. You have a couple of choices.

Always try cleaning the mold with bleach first and if the problem is in the bathroom, you could always leave the door open while you're showering to prevent moisture buildup in the bathroom. Open a window or turn a fan on, keep the moisture out until you know for sure mold is gone.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

What is Mold and Toxic Mold Pictures

Greg Vandenberge is a General Contractor, published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Are You Looking For Unique Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas?

When It Comes to Bathroom Remodeling Small Spaces Can Offer Great Rewards!

When it comes to bathroom remodeling, small spaces can seem impossible to work with.

Fortunately, even if you have a small bathroom, it is possible to create a great looking bathroom. In addition, by utilizing a few simple decorating tricks, you can make the bathroom appear much larger than it actually is. With these small bathroom decorating ideas, you can create a functional bathroom that is also a joy to use.

When decorating a small bathroom, you can open up the space by using some of these simple tricks...

* Install large mirrors, as the reflection in the mirror will make the bathroom appear larger
* Keep clutter clear from the bathroom, as a cluttered space feels more cramped
* Utilize lighting and let in natural light as much as possible, as a well-lit room appears bigger than it really is

One way to add extra light to your bathroom is to install a skylight. Not only will this add natural light to the space, it will also make the ceiling appear higher - and will help make your bathroom seem larger than it really is.

When it comes to bathroom remodeling, small spaces should be kept as clutter-free as possible. You should avoid adding knick-knacks or unnecessary accessories to present an open space. Also, make sure the accessories you use are on the smaller side. If you put large accessories in your bathroom, they will only accentuate the small size of your bathroom.

Of course, when it comes to small bathroom decorating ideas, you might not be looking to make the space appear larger. In fact, you might prefer giving the bathroom a nice, cozy feeling that provides you with plenty of storage space. In this case, installing plenty of cabinetry is essential. To ensure a tidy and cozy feel, cabinetry with solid doors is the way to go. Another option is to install shelving and then cover it with soft cloth or netting.

When it comes to bathroom remodeling, small spaces can be a bit of a challenge. Armed with some innovative small bathroom decorating ideas and a little creativity, you can create a wonderful space that suits your individual taste and needs.

James Mahoney is the owner of two sites on home design, Bathroom Designers Ideas.com and Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. He has written many articles on both bathroom and kitchen design. Learn about bathroom design ideas and trends by visiting his site at http://www.BathroomDesignersIdeas.com

Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Tips. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks for reading the article

Luxury Resorts of Italy - The Ones You Should Never Miss

Italy is located in Southern Europe on two of the largest islands of the Mediterranean. For centuries the capital city of Rome was known as the center of Western civilization. It has been the birthplace of many European cultures including the Romans and the Renaissance.

When thinking of Italy delicious food also comes to mind. Would you be surprised to find out that it is also home to some of the best luxury resorts in the world?

The Grand Hotel Majestic in Verbania Pallenza, Piedmont, Italy is a classic example of a luxury resort. This graceful property has been the favorite of heads of state and artists since its construction in 1870. The setting for this elegant resort is the edge of Lake Maggiore.

The surrounding mountains are a majestic back drop for the lake and flowers are everywhere. For those guests that are always on the move you can enjoy private tennis courts, a swimming pool, and fitness center. For those guests that are looking for quiet and relaxation you can walk along the lake or just enjoy your day on the beach. Child care is also available to guests at this luxury resort.

Hotel Milano-Alpen Resort and Spa in Bergamo, Italy is another great example of an Italian luxury resort. Nestled at the base of the Alps, this hotel is unique because it is dedicated to nature and well being. The decor inside is neutral shades with Eco friendly furniture.

It is completely compatible with the natural surroundings and guests are encouraged to explore as much of the property as they can. Guides are available to take you on mountain excursions, horseback riding and biking trails. After a day of fun and adventure relax your mind and body at the Alpen Spa. Using 100 percent organic products you will feel the tension melt away during your honey massage. Afterward relax in a bath with Malga Cream and wild rose oil. You will leave this luxury resort feeling completely rejuvenated.

The Hotel Monna Lisa in Florence, Tuscany, Italy is a former Renaissance Palace that has since been turned into a luxury resort. Situated in the heart of Florence, upon arrival you will feel as if you have stepped into another world. Filled with oil paintings and antique furniture this destination is ideal for anyone that wants to stay in a unique atmosphere.

You are only steps away from the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Construction began on the cathedral in 1296 and was completed in 1436. Truly a historic site that you do not want to miss.

You also will want to see the Piazzale Michelangelo. You can tell by its name that it is a tribute to Michael Angelo; this beautiful square offers visitors a panoramic view of Florence, like no other. After all of the site seeing, you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at one of the many local restaurants near the square. Rooms offer you modern conveniences yet not losing the antiquated theme of the environment. This luxury resort has romance written all over it. Enjoy it with someone close to you.

From delicious food and historical sites, the luxury resorts in Italy are guaranteed to not disappoint you.

Mike Greaves is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has travelled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of Beach Resorts, Luxury Resorts and luxury hotels.