When you need more living space, finishing a basement is the low cost option.

To build a home addition, the dollar costs are much higher.

Why?

Because when you build an addition, you expand the footprint of your home. You spend money on earth excavation, foundation work, exterior walls, sheathing, siding, and roofing.

And this money just creates and encloses the additional space.

The cost to finish a basement, though, is much lower because you use space that already exists. A finished basement is like found money.

So – one good reason to finish a basement is the low cost for additional living space.

Four More Good Reasons

Compared to upstairs rooms, basement rooms are (1) secluded, (2) quiet, (3) dark, and (4) cool. For some rooms, these are exactly the features you want.

For a home workout gym, a bedroom, or a wine cellar, cool is cool. Because exercise generates body heat, most of us prefer to exercise in a cool room. Bedrooms that are cool, quiet, and dark help us sleep better. And to preserve wine, you need to store it in a cool, dark room.

Home theaters work best in space that’s secluded, quiet, and dark. A plasma flat panel display looks especially vivid in a dark room. And you can crank up the volume on your premium surround sound system while watching your favorite movies. Because the home theater is secluded, the people upstairs aren’t disturbing you and you’re not disturbing them.

Workshops, hobby rooms, and children’s play areas also work well in basements. Because casual visitors don’t see the basement, you can be a little messier there. You and the kids spend more time having fun and less time cleaning up.

And if you work from your home, the basement is a great place to set up a home office. You can get away from the busier part of the house and do your work in peace and quiet. The home office in your basement will cost much less than renting office space somewhere. And your home office may even qualify for tax deductions.

Basements – One Serious Disadvantage

Basements, though, also have one serious disadvantage – possible problems with moisture and ventilation.

When water enters a basement, it causes damage. And water can enter a basement through many paths.

Even excess humidity can prevent you from using your basement for additional living space.

Humidity encourages the growth of molds, which cause a musty smell in the basement. Molds can even create serious health problems for people living in the home.

If it feels damp and smells musty in the basement, you and your family won’t spend time there. So -- don’t invest money to finish a basement until the basement is waterproof.

Questions About How To Waterproof A Basement?

If you have questions about how to waterproof a basement, EverDry has the answers.

For each way that unwanted water enters your concrete basement and damages your home, EverDry has a solution.

The Modern Drainage System takes care of surface and subsurface water that tries to enter the house through the foundation walls.

The Pressure Relief System handles water pressed against the basement floors by hydrostatic pressure.

The EZBreathe ventilation system eliminates ventilation and humidity problems. The air in your basement will feel clean, crisp, and fresh.

If you own a home in Cincinnati, Ohio, and want to make sure your basement stays dry, you can get expert advice and a free estimate at http://www.EverDryCincy.com. They can help you with basement waterproofing, foundation waterproofing, concrete foundation repair, and concrete basement repair.

EverDry can help you claim your basement so that you have the living space you want.