Whether your goal is to make an extra income or simply to get another room for your family to enjoy there are many great reasons to turn your basement in an apartment. However, there are also some pitfalls you have to make sure you avoid.

First of all, it’s important that you get all your facts straight. You need to make sure that it will actually be possible to turn your basement into an apartment that is up to code. To find out if this is possible in your case you need to contact your local authorities and find out what regulations apply in  your area.

You also need to make sure that you don’t run into problems with moisture. As a general rule basements run a great risk of becoming infected with mold due to the high levels of moisture. This can stop any basement apartment plans you might have in their tracks!

It’s also important that you take a good look at your basement and evaluate its potential as habitable area before you get started. If there are no natural sources of light, turning your basement into an apartment is probably a bad idea. That doesn’t mean you should stop right there though. It might still work great as a gym or as a home theater.

Making the most of your basement is a key element to raising the overall value of your home. The basement usually makes up a lot of unused space. If you can make this area useful as something else than storage area it will greatly improve its value.

Mold in the basement can not only ruin any home improvement projects you have in mind. They can also be downright hazardous to your health! That’s why it’s important to make sure you go about cleaning the basement the right way. You also need to make sure that the mold won’t return. Read more »

By Aaron Kuertz

Concrete Cracks in Basements

Many homes that have concrete basements have foundation cracks. This is a normal situation because as the concrete cures it shrinks in volume. This shrinkage creates stresses in the concrete wall. To relieve the stress, the concrete cracks. The most common areas for a “shrinkage crack” to occur are in the middle of a long wall, below a corner of a basement window or where the foundation wall changes height.

A large number of homes built since 1990 have their walls coated with a waterproof membrane. This waterproofing protects many cracks from leaks, but it can be defeated. Whether your home is protected by waterproofing or not, there are several ways for water to get into the basement; Read more »

The basement can be an awesome part of your home. The right kind of home improvement project can really elevate the basement into the favourite part of your home. However, decorating the basement can be a bit of a challenge so here are some helpful hints. Read more »

There is one part of your house that is often overlooked when trying to add to its equity. It is also the section of your house with the most untapped potential. Game room, fitness room or living area; the opportunities are endless. However, you probably want to consider which option adds the most to your equity. The truth is, that it depends on a lot of things, but the fact remains that a basement improvement project is highly likely to be a solid investment. In this blog post we will look into the options you have for your basement when it comes to entertainment and fitness rooms. Read more »

When it comes to home improvement the basement always seems to be the last section of the house that you work on. However, basement improvement is a great way to improve the value of your home financially and otherwise. From gaming rooms, exercise rooms and entertainment rooms to monetizing your basement by turning it into an apartment. This post will dive into the endless possibilities for turning your basement improvement project into a room the entire family will enjoy while at the same time adding tremendous value to your home.
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