Kaks Basement Finishing & Remodeling

Basement Finishing Boston, the smart way to finish your basement.

Best Basement Upgrades: Create Your Own Home Gym

“Fitness has always been important to me,” said AnneMarie, a Boston marketing director. “In fact, I met my husband Greg at the gym. We’ve always worked out together.” Now the couple has three children, who are also interested in a healthy lifestyle. There’s just one problem. “Have you looked at gym membership prices lately?” AnneMarie said. “It’s crazy. And then this winter, when I couldn’t deal with all this snow just to get everyone to the gym, you feel like the money’s wasted.”

The couple had thought about creating a home gym for years, but didn’t have the space. “There’s literally no space where we can add on to the house,” Greg explained, “and every room of the house already has a purpose. I didn’t want to deal with a treadmill in my living room!” Then a friend suggested they consider finishing the basement to create a home gym.

“At first I was against the idea because our basement was dark and kind of gross. I didn’t like being down there,” AnneMarie said. Reviewing the wide range of basement finishing systems available went a long way toward changing her mind. Converting what had been a dark, wasted space into a bright, family-friendly home gym involved having the basement finishing company address a moisture issue, cover what had been exposed concrete block walls, floor joists and wiring, install lighting and flooring and making the staircase by which the family accessed the space “much less terrifying” in AnneMarie’s words.

“Honestly, the hardest part of the process was figuring out how we wanted to arrange our workout equipment,” Greg said. “It was surprisingly to have our basement transformed into a home gym.” It was also more affordable than the Boston couple had anticipated. “Between saving the money on gym memberships and what we’d budgeted for the project, we actually had some money left over to buy a new elliptical machine!” Now the family can work out in comfort, no matter what the weather is. “It’s amazingly convenient. If a healthy lifestyle is important to you, I definitely recommend talking to a basement finishing company to see what you can have done in your home!”

Mold and Mildew Proof Basement Finishing Systems

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Recently, I came across some interesting and valuable information on Mold and Mildew-proof Basement Finishing Systems, because water and humidity in the basement seem pretty hard to avoid. Who wouldn’t want walls that are stain resistant, and mold and mildew proof, now that it’s available? A wall system that also comes with a transferable lifetime warranty is the new concept. A nice design plan for a basement refinishing is a great idea for any family needing more living space, so this year, why not plan on moving forward with a long overdue basement remodel?

First tip: Keep an eye out for mold. Mold needs a source to grow, and there are five ingredients necessary for mold growth – food source, air, moisture, suitable temperature, and a surface to grow on. Paper, wood and other organic materials like carpet, for example, are conducive to mold and mildew growth. Drywall is lined with paper, studs are usually made of pine wood, definitely not suitable materials for the basement since mold growth in basement walls is a serious home health concern. Long-standing moisture problems can lead to decay, resulting in structural damage to the house. Have any concerns checked by a professional, then choose a basement wall finishing company that specializes in building basements with proper materials.

Second: Look into a good quality dehumidifier. You can even attach a pump and tubing to your dehumidifier and have it plumbed to drain on its own. You will never have to empty out the water tank, and it will always be working. A dehumidifier is recommended for the basement at all times to control moisture in the air. Keeping the humidity low at all times is key. Air quality in the basement is very important. Go with certified green, eco-friendly
wall finishing materials that aren’t detrimental to the basement environment or your family.

Last tip: The cost of a full Basement Finishing System is about the same as a conventional drywall basement. That seems hard to believe, until you get a price from a basement refinishing company with all electrical, new lighting, waterproof flooring and better quality materials than a general contractor could give. You can get a free basement evaluation from most basement finishing companies.

Basement finishing do’s and don’ts

Basement Theater Room In Your Basement
Basement Theater Room In Your Basement

So you want to finish your basement? Stop… there are things you need to know before you hire someone and jump in with both feet! Finishing a basement isn’t as easy as one might think. Here are 5 things you should be thinking about in your basement, and how they affect you when finishing a basement: 1 mold, 2 mildew, 3 water leakage, 4 humidity, and 5 materials. Once you understand these concerns and know the do’s and don’ts, you’re off to the races. Basement finishing with the right materials can bring much valuable living space in a short time and at a lower cost of that of a home addition, while offering the same square footage.

Ok, so now let’s talk about design. Designing a basement can be so much fun and can look great, but keep it simple in my opinion. The simpler, the better. Keep walls as clean as possible, minimize jogs and what I call, ‘little catch-alls’. I know, let’s maximize every square inch, that’s what you’re thinking. Not always true… simple is best. This goes for the ceiling, as well. Don’t make it look like you’re boxing around something. This is an amateur move, so sacrifice some ceiling height for aesthetics. Another important thing is to keep it as open as possible at the stairs. You don’t want it to feel like you are entering a cave! If you keep these tips in mind, your new basement will be inviting, and people will want to use it all the time.

Now that the room is set and it’s a blank canvas, it’s time for you to stage it. Bring in furniture and items to define what the room will be. Maybe you want a family room, a play room, game room, etc. Make it cozy and fun with big floppy comfy couches, oversized beanbags, gaming systems, big flat screen television placed just right, and don’t be afraid of darker colors which can make it feel warm and cozy. Adding an electric fireplace is another great design idea. It can provide some extra heat and ambience. So, in short you can design almost anything with your basement. You can let your imagination run wild and have fun, but keep it simple.

Refinishing a Basement in New England

We all know by now, that refinishing a basement is not as simple as throwing up walls, ceiling and lighting and calling it a day. Back in the 60’s and 70’s when the DIY homeowner would tackle this project, they knew only what they knew then. Homeowners had no idea about proper basement materials and there was only so much to choose from back then. The basement was only a romp room in those days, or maybe just an overflow space for junk, with mold, mildew, some water here and there, “what’s that musty smell? oh, who cares”… you know, that type of space. Some basements could suddenly flood, and if it got wrecked? “Ah so what, it was cheap enough.”

Well things have changed! You actually should finish a basement one time, to last a lifetime. Do you know how many times I have heard someone say, that they are thinking about using drywall in the basement just to save money? It drives me crazy! Let’s leave the things that were done in the past where they belong… in the past. Let’s take materials out of the basement like drywall and wood paneling. They were never meant for the basement. With the advancement in products today and the way that basements are needed for more living space (not to mention the price of materials), who can afford to make a mistake?

Maybe you have one of those abandoned basement rooms that you shut the door on, never to look back because no one wants to go in! Do you still have one of those Creepy ol’ Brady Bunch style rooms? Well, it is now OK to open that door! Rethinking about refinishing the basement is great if it’s done right, and yes it is so easy when you use the right materials. I’m talking about materials made specifically for the basement environment.

This brings me to a new and interesting point: New England environment and our climate. It has become more and more apparent that climate and weather patterns are changing dramatically, especially in the last couple of years, having a major impact on basements. From record snowfall, to excessive rain and flooding, to super high humidity problems in the summer months, this weather is putting more demand on materials here in the northeast, and this winter with all the moisture and extreme cold we’ve had, ground expansion and pressure on home foundations has become inevitable.

If you are thinking about refinishing your basement, educate yourself on basement finishing systems available today that are specifically designed to handle a basement, also giving you easy access to your foundation if needed. Product features that you would be looking for to handle moisture, water, and high humidity can be found with mold & mildew-proof wall systems. Learning about potential problems that can occur from our weather, and using proper materials for finishing the basement will put you way ahead of the game! It will also give you peace of mind, save you a lot of money and time down the road.

So, in conclusion, you CAN have a beautiful basement that isn’t scary or smelly or dank or cold. With Basement Wall Finishing Systems, you can bring the comforts of upstairs into your very own basement. Healthy, Dry, Safe, Warm, Clean & Fast, it’s everything I need to redo my basement. Basement Finishing Systems are the way to go.

  • CUSTOM BASEMENT DESIGNS
  • LIFETIME WARRANTY
  • MOLD-PROOF
  • WATERPROOF

KAKS Basement Finishing & Remodeling

155 Webster Street Unit C.
Hanover, MA 02339
781-871-8887