boston basement finishing – Kaks Basement Finishing & Remodeling

Jan 22 2016

Don’t Put Your Dreams On Hold!

“My Mother always wanted to paint,” Tina said. “But there was never any space for her, never any time – between the family and the shop and taking care of my Dad, a whole lifetime slipped away. Before she knew it she was in her eighties, and then she was gone. After we buried her, we were cleaning out her house and in her bedroom closet I found all these boxes of paint and brushes and stacks of canvases – things she’d planned to use and never did.” Tina took a deep breath. “So I signed up for a painting class. To keep her dream alive.”

Tina’s Boston home is on the small side, a situation complicated by the fact she has two children and her husband runs a business out of the home. “So if I was going to paint, I needed a place to be uninterrupted. That’s what gave me the idea of having the basement finished and turning that space into a studio.

Renovating the basement to serve as an art studio or other creative work space is an increasingly popular option in Boston. Painters, quilters, artists and crafters all need open space to do their favorite things; basements are chronically underutilized spaces in many homes. “Our basement had the usual things – the furnace and whatnot – and a few boxes of old papers. Once the basement finishing company put the walls up and the floor in it looked like an entirely new space,” Tina explained. “So bright and airy – I couldn’t wait to get in there and set up my easel.” Her first few paintings don’t exactly look like something you’d find in a gallery, “But I’ve had a lot of fun,” Tina said, “and I think that’s what Mom would have wanted.”

Jan 15 2016

Your Top Questions About Basement Refinishing: Answered!

As Boston’s top basement refinishing company, we hear a lot of questions from homeowners considering transforming their underused basement space into comfortable, functional rooms. Here are some of the top inquiries:

#1: I’m worried my basement is so damp that mold & mildew will grow on any new walls or floors. Can you help?

Absolutely! When we work on a home, we use our innovative basement finishing system to create walls and floors that are both mold and mildew resistant. These aren’t the two-by-four and drywall walls you may be used to: these organic building materials are a feast for the nasty spores that turn into mold and mildew. Instead, after we’re done, you can enjoy your new basement knowing mold and mildew aren’t a concern for you.

#2: If you guys handle the basement walls and floors for us, do you know someone who can do the plumbing and electrical work?

We absolutely do – because we do the entire basement renovation job ourselves. Customer service is our top priority, and we think there’s nothing more frustrating than having to track down six or seven different professionals just to renovate your basement. Our total renovation packages mean all you have to do is show up and enjoy your new space – stress free and simple!

#3: We’ve heard horror stories about basement remodeling companies that quote one price, start the job, and then suddenly announce everything’s going to cost a whole lot more. Is that something we have to worry about if we choose you?

There are some bad apple contractors who do the best they can to give our industry a bad name. But we’re not like that! We guarantee our contracted price. You’re not going to pay any more than you agreed to pay for contracted items and labor. Sometimes homeowners decide to make changes to their plan mid-project; if that happens, we get everything in writing and let you know how much the new cost will be. Sometimes homes have unsuspected structural problems or other issues: in those instances, our commitment is to keep you fully informed and let you know what your options are before moving forward. There are never any financial surprises when you choose Kaks Basement Finishing & Design!

Dec 27 2015

Holiday Guests Deliver Basement Remodeling Ideas

“Both of my husband’s adult children came and spent the holidays with us,” Sandra said. “That was a lot of fun, but it also made it clear we need a little more space around here if we’re going to entertain guests for any length of time. Our home just doesn’t have the space to smoothly accommodate another couple and their children for two or three days – and considering how far from Boston everyone lives, when they can come in, they’re going to be for that amount of time every time they visit!”

Renovating the basement to serve as a guest suite made good sense. “Everyone can be comfortable,” Sandra said. “It’s really nice down there. Our Boston basement finishing company completely did that space over. There’s new walls, new floors, new lighting – it’s bright and comfortable and warm. I’ll tell you a secret – when we don’t have guests, I like that room as my own private getaway. I go down there with a book or watch a movie on my iPad or whatever – you’ve heard of the Man Cave? Now it’s Mom’s turn!”

“We had the basement remodeled into a guest space,” Sandra said. “My best friend had a similar situation, except she has her adult children living with her on a more permanent basis. What was nice in that case is that the Boston basement remodeling company incorporated even more features into the new place – there’s a bathroom and a cute little kitchen built right in – while making sure everyone has the space necessary to be happy!”

Jul 23 2015

Using Pinterest To Create Your Dream Basement

“I don’t know,” Amanda said, waving her hands. “Some people have so much talent. They look at an empty basement and they see it being transformed into a beautiful home gym, or a yoga studio, or a playroom for the kids, or a home theater, or whatever. I look at my basement and I pretty much see this big, ugly, empty room and I can’t envision it as anything else. But I hate the thought of wasting all this space – it’s not exactly like Boston is known for its cheap real estate!”

If you’d like to finish your basement but have no idea where to start, let us introduce you to the social media platform you need to know about: Pinterest. Once thought of as a site primarily for brides-to-be deep in the throes of planning their wedding, Pinterest has become the digital go-to destination for anyone planning home renovations. Try searching for “Finished Basement Ideas” or “Creative Basements” to get started; if you already have a general idea of what you’d like to do, such a creating a home gym or a bar, search for terms that include “Basement Gym” or “Basement Bar Ideas”.

Be prepared to spend some time. There are literally hundreds of images of creative ways to finish your Boston basement. If you sign up for a Pinterest account, you can save and organize your favorite images on boards. These boards are a great resource to share with your basement remodeling company, to give them an idea of what you’d like to accomplish. Additionally, once you’ve signed up for Pinterest, you can save basement idea images you find on other websites or social media to your boards. It’s a great way to get inspired!

May 26 2015

Need Safe, Smart Storage in Boston? Finish Your Basement

If there’s one issue that unites the vast majority of Boston area homeowners, it’s a serious lack of storage space. Our families have busy, active lives – and those busy, active lives require lots of stuff. Most of us have some holiday decorations and sporting gear; bicycles and winter maintenance equipment like snowplows and shovels have to be kept somewhere. Depending on the plans we have for our families, it might be a strategic decision to hold onto cribs, baby clothes and other nursery supplies for a few years at a time – but where are you going to put all of that stuff?

One of the reasons to explore Boston basement finishing systems is that they’re the ideal solution to transform dark, damp, intimidating spaces into bright, easy to access useful storage centers for the whole family. For a very minimal amount of money – much less than the ongoing cost of renting a storage unit for years and years! – it’s possible to have all the storage space you need right in your own home.

It’s incredibly convenient to have your basement finished to serve your storage needs. Instead of having to pack up your stuff, load it into the car, drive to a storage unit, unload your stuff, and drive all the way back home again – only to go through the entire process in reverse when you actually want to use your stuff! – having a finished basement in Boston means everything you own is in your home – and isn’t that how it should be?

The most cost effective way to transform your basement into truly useful storage space is to work with a Boston company that specializes in finishing basements. You’ll save time and money, and it’s much less stressful than trying to convert your basement on your own. Every family needs storage space. Why not make use of the space right beneath your feet?

KAKS Basement Finishing & Remodeling