News – Page 3 – Kaks Basement Finishing & Remodeling

Aug 14 2016

Basement Finishing – Greater Boston area – Kaks – Us Builder Review

KAKS Basement Finishing & Design
Utilizing space to increase value of homes in New England
Written by: Tom FaunceProduced by: Sean O’Reilly

Basement finishing is a home renovation method that has become increasingly popular as homeowners seek to increase the value of their home by utilizing every square inch. For nearly 10 years, KAKS Basement has been the leading source in the Greater Boston area for basement finishing and organizing. With top-quality workmanship and a professional, personal touch, KAKS converts unusable space into a new level of living.
Founded in 2007 by Steve Sweeney, KAKS maintains dedicated teams comprised of qualified licensed professionals with many years of experience. These skilled craftsmen have helped KAKS to establish a reputation for completing projects on time and budget. “Our goal is to direct, manage and work closely with our installations crews and electricians to determine our customer’s specific needs while keeping their budget a priority,” says Sweeney. “We believe in open communication as a key to achieving the desired results.”
A full-service company
KAKS is a one-stop shop. With its talented and experienced crews, KAKS is able to see every project through from design to completion. In addition to basement finishing, KAKS provides full basement clean-out services as well. Customers do not need to concern themselves with emptying junk and clutter and KAKS is a full-service company. By providing all labor and hauling the company is able to maintain low overhead and pass the savings along to the customer. Once the project is complete, KAKS will rearrange any items or furniture for its customers by performing a full cleaning of the space, leaving it spotless.
In all of its basement renovations, KAKS uses Impressive Basement Systems, which has been utilized in the industry since 1972. The 100 percent eco-basement finishing system has been installed all over the country and was featured on the A&E hit show Flipping Boston. Along with proven durability, advantages of the system include water and stain repellant, removable panels for easy access, noise control and high thermal insulation. KAKS also uses 100 percent waterproof vinyl flooring planks with realistic textures in wood or stone and also offers lighting and ceiling options. Customers can complete their space with new lighting, detailed suspension ceilings for easy access from top names like USG and Armstrong or a plastered finish ceiling.
With mold and mildew a concern for most homeowners in New England, KAKS uses wallboard products that are specifically designed to inhibit mold and mildew growth. Unlike ordinary wallboard or other common building materials, these specially treated selections create an environment unsuitable for mold to survive. Prior to beginning any renovation, KAKS will thoroughly inspect each basement for signs of moisture penetration, which could be through foundation cracks, window seals or other vulnerable points.
Maintaining a personal touch
With its full-service approach and the niche market that KAKS maintains, the company has been fortunate to not only survive through the economic downturn but to thrive as well. “We really weren’t affected by the housing market collapse,” says Sweeney. “What we witnessed was people wanting to take advantage of getting the full value from their home. We saw some of the luxury builds decrease a bit but not by much.”
With an influx of space-utilizing work, KAKS has managed to maintain steady, manageable growth as a company. “I don’t want to become a company with a corporate feel,” says Sweeney. “I want KAKS to continue to be a company that runs a tight operation, and has people that want to do business with us because they know that they are going to receive personal attention. We remain very aware of that when it comes to growth.”
With its attention to detail and personal touch, Kaks Basement Finishing & Design remains a leader as a premier New England basement finisher.

Aug 07 2016

Basement Finishing Duxbury MA.

The neighbors have moved back into their summer home again, like they do every year. As a family, they love coming to the Duxbury seaside for the summer to spend time with friends and family, and mostly for all our kids to enjoy summertime together.

The home they have is a bit small for a family of five but they have managed, and when it rains the kids all seem to get together at our home or theirs to hang out and watch movies or play video games.

About a month ago, my neighbors talked about needing more space at the summer home, especially when stuck indoors, having to potentially move… I certainly didn’t want to see them go, and neither did my kids! My family was relieved to hear that the neighbors were going to add on to their home. Not up and out, but down… utilizing the old basement.

I had a tour with Matt and Marcia, and they showed me all the unused space and a plan for a great new family room. Although it was damp from some water that came in, Matt told me that “We could still finish the basement with basement specific materials, from a basement finishing company.” He also said, “I wanted to keep it local with a smaller South Shore basement finishing company that I found, one with great design ideas and a solid reputation, and most importantly for Marcia, real walls.”

I asked Matt what he would do about the water coming in when it rained and his quick reply was “We plan on saving thousands by not using a waterproofing company first… don’t need them.” Marcia added, “all the downspouts from the gutters on the house are the culprit. They’ll be readjusted to send water away from the foundation.”

“Even if I get a little moisture in here, it’s okay, because the company will be using waterproof, mold and mildew proof materials for the walls and floor. “ I was happy to know that Matt and his family weren’t moving.

Just some weeks later with the basement finished, now whether it’s raining or not, their house has all the extra space they were looking for. Inside summer days can be just as busy as outside, and their new finished basement is absolutely amazing, to say the least. My family is ready to remodel our basement next… stay tuned.

Aug 06 2016

Basement Flooring Options for Boston Area Basements

Waterproof flooring in the basement? It does sound like the perfect idea. When refinishing a basement, think twice about putting carpet in a new basement family room, it tends to get dirty so quickly from the basement humidity and traffic. Carpets in high humidity trap in dirt and musty odors, and can produce mold or mildew. Everything seems to stick to a slightly damp carpet, especially in the summer months. Ceramic tile floors in basements have been popular, but can be very slippery when damp or wet from humidity, and grout lines can stay wet looking for many months out of the year. Stained grout lines are very hard to clean.

Putting in a new, commercial grade 100% vinyl floor from a reputable basement finishing company is the best solution and now that the wood look is so popular, you can have it in your basement, and never have to worry about it buckling, rising up, staining or peeling from your cement foundation like real wood and laminates can. New wood-styled vinyl floors can come in individual planks, not sheets of vinyl like in the past, planks that are about 5” or 6” wide and a few feet long each. The individual pieces of vinyl make the finished product resemble a real wood floor to the point where you can’t tell that you’re not looking at wood, but at a durable, stain-resistant, scratch-resistant vinyl. They come in many colors, some noticeable favorites are Walnut brown, Birch blonde and Nantucket gray. Plank style flooring in vinyl clicks together, does not require adhesive to hold it down and is applied directly onto a smooth foundation. No sub-floor required with this application, and this will also save you money.

High quality vinyl flooring for the basement can handle water, it can pass around it, or be beneath it and as the water dissipates, the floor is unaffected. Basements with potential future water leaks would really benefit from this feature. To clean it up, all you would have to do is quickly remove any excess water directly on the floor with towels or a wet vac, place a fan at floor level to help circulate the air, and run a dehumidifier to help dry all of the floor and the air.

Remember, moisture in the foundation cement will always be present no matter what you do. The nature of your foundation is to breathe, and concrete can be like a sponge at certain times of the year, especially when humidity is very high. If you are trying to decide on what type of floor to put down for your basement refinishing project family room, think high quality vinyl floor planks in rich wood textures to give your new space a warm and inviting look, without all the trouble of real hard wood. A product that can handle the humidity and traffic should be priority. Not to mention how easy this new waterproof floor will be to take care of, and keep clean. After a family party, for example, a quick vacuum and light mop up is all it takes. When refinishing your basement, ask for vinyl wood-styled flooring planks.

Jun 17 2016

In Home Gym Creates Safe Space for Pembroke Teen to Work Out

“Maisie loves Zumba,” Linda said. “It is her life’s passion. She wants to certify as a Zumba instructor, and has been working very hard toward that goal.” For a moment, Linda beams with a parent’s pride. Then her expression became more serious. “If she had her way, she’d been at the gym 5 nights a week, working out. But I can’t devote that much time to going to the gym with her, and I don’t feel comfortable letting her go alone.” Maisie has Down’s Syndrome, and is, in her mother’s words, ‘extremely trusting’. “If someone said, “Come on, honey, let’s go, Maisie would go,” Linda explained. “I just can’t take that chance.”

To give Maisie the safe workout space she needs, Linda had her Pembroke basement converted into a home gym. “It was much simpler than I’d ever imagined,” Linda said. “I told the basement remodeling contractors what I was looking for, and they got right to work.”

Turning a basement into a home gym is one of the most popular basement renovations. Fitness is very important to many people, but the experience of going to the gym can be problematic. For some, it’s a safety issue, such as in Maisie’s case. Other people prefer to work out in private, where they don’t have to deal with people’s commentaries on their efforts or bodies. Scheduling is a concern for some people: if you love to work out at 4 am on a Sunday morning, your options are limited. Having a gym right in the basement of your home means 24/7 access, the ultimate in convenience.

“The best part of this renovation surprised me,” Linda said. “Maisie doesn’t just have a place to work out, she has a place to practice teaching a class. A few of her friends from school have come over and she’s had a great time teaching them the routine – they all work out together. It’s been such a positive experience. I would recommend it to anyone.”

Jun 10 2016

Basement Offices Promote Work/Life Balance

“I work in finance, and my work day is never really done,” Adam said. “I bring work home from the office all the time. But I also have a four year old daughter who deserves – and demands! – my attention.”

It was hard for Adam to focus on his family when he could see the piles of work waiting for him. “I’d always have the laptop open,” he said. “And I’d see that there was a new email, and so I’d read that – before you knew it, I was working through dinner and bedtime almost every night.”

This situation was not acceptable to his four year old, Casey. “I asked Daddy why he bothered coming home if all he was going to do was work all the time.”

A family conference led to the realization that Adam needed a place for his work that was separate from where the family did their day-to-day living. “The kitchen was out, and the living room wasn’t working either, and when I suggested our bedroom, my wife said absolutely not,” Adam said. “That left the basement.”

Building a home office in the basement is a very popular renovation in the Scituate region. Basement spaces tend to be underused, and basement remodels are much more cost-effective than adding another room to the home. “The way our home is on the lot,” Adam said, “we don’t really have the space needed for a first floor addition – and building up is very, very expensive.”

The family basement was on the small side, but it had more than enough room for what Adam needed. “Really, as long as I have wi-fi and room to sit and concentrate, I’m good,” he explained. “I’m really pleased that our Scituate basement renovation company built in some storage for our camping gear and my files – it makes the whole thing feel organized and put together. When I’m down here, I can concentrate on my work. And when I’m upstairs, I can be 100% a family man.”

KAKS Basement Finishing & Remodeling