Newsroom – Page 15 – Kaks Basement Finishing & Remodeling

Apr 22 2015

Best Boston Basement Upgrades: The Home Theater

“Movies have always been a huge part of my life,” Dwayne said. “One of my happiest childhood memories is going with my Dad – an absolutely awesome guy, by the way – to see Star Wars. Seeing Luke Skywalker up there on the big screen; CP-30, Chewbacca – mind blown!”

Dwayne bought his Boston home knowing he’d want to create a home theater. “The family room was the obvious location, but my wife had something to say about that,” he laughed. “So I started looking for a basement finishing company to convert our basement into a home theater.”

The basement in Dwayne’s home had been used primarily as a storage and utility space. “There were some elements in there that just couldn’t be moved,” he explained, “such as the furnace and electrical service boxes. But with a great basement finishing system, those kind of ugly but totally necessary items were safely contained out of sight. There’s easy access for service professionals when they need it, but otherwise?” Dwayne shrugged. “You’d never know they’re there.”

With the concrete walls finished and new flooring and lighting installed, Dwayne’s newly finished basement was the ideal setting for his long-desired home theater. “Getting that set up was the best part,” he said. “With the big TV over there, some comfy seating for my family over here, it’s all good. We even got a theater style popcorn machine.” Dwayne’s family and friends have definitely enjoyed gathering in the new space for movie marathons – including, of course, a viewing of all the Star Wars films in advance of the upcoming new release.

“I’d encourage everybody to think about how their basement could make their family happier,” Dwayne said. “Yes, you need storage. Yes, you need your furnace and whatnot. But when you work with a great Boston basement finishing company, it’s possible to have a basement that gives you what you need and what you want. Your home is your castle. Shouldn’t it be awesome?”

Apr 17 2015

Basement Finishing System Bellingham MA

Apr 09 2015

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!”

Apr 05 2015

Mold and Mildew Proof Basement Finishing Systems

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.

Mar 31 2015

Basement finishing do’s and don’ts

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.

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