No matter where you live – whether in a thriving urban
center, a declining downtown area, a wealthy suburb, or some remote, sparely
populated area – crime is, unfortunately, a possibility. It is therefore
somewhat unproductive to worry about your safety from a standpoint of
questioning your location or local law enforcement. Instead, treat every living
situation as one that can be impacted by crime, and make your home itself as
safe as possible. A home alarm can work wonders for your safety, not to mention
help you and your family to feel more secure in your home. Furthermore,
advanced home security companies now offer even more ways of fortifying your
home against invasion or danger.

A full home security system could include not only an alarm,
but also such things as motion detectors, security cameras, warning signs in
the yard (notifying potential intruders that you are protected), and even
detectors for accidental dangers such as carbon monoxide leaks and home fires.
With all of these features installed in your home, your place of residence can
become a virtual fortress against intrusion and danger, making you as safe as a
homeowner could possibly be, and also protecting your loved ones and valued
possessions. In fact, many of today’s home alarm systems and security networks
even include remote access, so that your home is protected even when you and
your family are not in it. For example, if you and your family are on vacation
and someone attempts to break into your home, or you have a dangerous fire or
gas leak, a notification will be sent to your phone, as well as the authorities
where your home is. This way your physical house will be protected as quickly
as possible, and you will know when it might be safe to return home.
Essentially, homes can be safer and secure than ever before, whether you’re in
them or not!

We are not thinking now of an expensive amusement room nor a colorful rumpus room, but just plain basement. We are so used to thinking of the basement in terms of laundry and furnace that many of us have never even thought of it as a big, uncluttered place for youngsters to play on the days when for various reasons they can’t go outside.

For the little tousled-heads that are always under foot on rainy or sub-zero days a sandbox of white sand in the pleasantest corner of the basement provides endless entertainment. The youngsters soon learn to keep the sand in its box and there is no more likelihood of sand being tracked upstairs than there is of its being tracked into the house from an outdoor sandbox.

All small fry love to swing. Rope swings swung low can be fastened to the heavy crossbeams of the basement ceiling .Children a bit older get a lot of fun from bean bags. A clever bean-bag board can be made from a board about two feet wide and two and one-half or three feet long. Holes must be cut in it for eyes, nose, and mouth. The openings for the eyes should be about seven inches long and five inches wide. The mouth should be about four inches long and ten inches wide. The base of the nose triangle should be about eight inches long. This board can be placed either against the wall or supported by a hinged prop.

If the children want to make a regular game of it and keep score, they stand in line ten to fifteen feet from the board. Each player has five bean bags, or five bags may be used by several players playing in turn. A bag thrown into the mouth counts five points, one into the nose ten points, and for each eye twenty points. The first player to get one hundred points is declared winner.

The basement floor makes an ideal roller skating rink. While the younger ones are perfectly happy skating the older ones crave a little more excitement and the smooth basement floor becomes a rink for “Roller-skate Polo.” This game is a product of our boys’ imagination, is fast and furious and is a vent for excess steam. Each player wields a croquet mallet but only one ball is used. A goal is set up at each end of the basement and the game is on. The boys choose sides and each team tries to get the ball into the opponent’s goal. The team first making five goals is the winner.

Another original roller skating game is an “Obstacle Course.” Tin cans salvaged from the rubbish box are set up at various distances and skaters maneuver through the openings between cans much as a skier maneuvers around trees on an open hillside. Tin cans and croquet balls are all the equipment needed for an indoor “Bowling Game.” Ten tin cans are set up in ten-pin formation. One point is given for every tenpin knocked over and fifteen is scored if all the cans fall at one shot.

Your Basement can be an endless entertainment ground for youngsters. Choose those games which can be play in your basement.

Start by taking an inventory of the usable space in your basement. How many rooms could be converted to accommodate daily activities, and which ones would better serve occasional events, like holiday celebrations or kids’ parties? If you are storing things in the basement, can these be moved to another area, or will they need to be kept downstairs but perhaps in one of the rooms rather than all? You also will need to work around heating and cooling appliances like the furnace, air conditioner, and hot water tank, as well as laundry equipment if you have it. When you have an idea of how much area you can afford to remake, you can start to shuffle storage and appliances to make room for your remodeling plans.

Then decide which improvements you would like most to have. If you can’t afford them all at once, you can do the repairs in stages. Do a survey of the basement to list every needed repair, update, or improvement, including the simplest as well as the most demanding. Work out a budget to see which ones you can afford to start with. You may have to contact local home improvement materials suppliers for the cost of supplies needed for the repairs. If you need to hire the work done rather than do it yourself, calculate this cost as well, estimating on the high rather than the low side.

Begin with the most pressing needs. For example, water damage or leaks, mold, cracked windows, and radon or carbon monoxide testing should be done to eliminate safety hazards and problems that will only get worse with time. You may need to have your appliances inspected, repaired, or replaced.

When these have been addressed, the next step will be to take care of structural damage. Plaster holes, cracked concrete floors, electrical updates, and plumbing overhauls should be the next set of repairs. These will bring your basement up to code and prepare it for the aesthetic level of improvements that go hand-in-hand with home decorating.

If your budget holds out, you may next want to look at adding air vents, replacing window frames or the windows themselves with glass block, and installing floor tiles, rather than carpet, since they are easier to clean and maintain. You can even put up wallboard or panel siding to make the rooms more homey and inviting. Lighting fixtures or track lighting can brighten dark or dim areas of your basement.

From there it is just a matter of adding furnishings to complete your renovation project. To cut costs, you can buy these second-hand at garage sales or thrift stores, or buy seconds at furniture stores, since these items won’t be used everyday.

Is your basement being put to good use? While you may be storing furniture, canned goods, or tools downstairs, why not refurbish your home’s lowest level and add living space to your family home? It really isn’t terribly difficult or expensive if you start with basic changes that will let you enjoy this extra space.

Start by taking an inventory of the usable space in your basement. How many rooms could be converted to accommodate daily activities, and which ones would better serve occasional events, like holiday celebrations or kids’ parties? If you are storing things in the basement, can these be moved to another area, or will they need to be kept downstairs but perhaps in one of the rooms rather than all? You also will need to work around heating and cooling appliances like the furnace, air conditioner, and hot water tank, as well as laundry equipment if you have it. When you have an idea of how much area you can afford to remake, you can start to shuffle storage and appliances to make room for your remodeling plans.

Then decide which improvements you would like most to have. If you can’t afford them all at once, you can do the repairs in stages. Do a survey of the basement to list every needed repair, update, or improvement, including the simplest as well as the most demanding. Work out a budget to see which ones you can afford to start with. You may have to contact local home improvement materials suppliers for the cost of supplies needed for the repairs. If you need to hire the work done rather than do it yourself, calculate this cost as well, estimating on the high rather than the low side.

Begin with the most pressing needs. For example, water damage or leaks, mold, cracked windows, and radon or carbon monoxide testing should be done to eliminate safety hazards and problems that will only get worse with time. You may need to have your appliances inspected, repaired, or replaced.

When these have been addressed, the next step will be to take care of structural damage. Plaster holes, cracked concrete floors, electrical updates, and plumbing overhauls should be the next set of repairs. These will bring your basement up to code and prepare it for the aesthetic level of improvements that go hand-in-hand with home decorating.

If your budget holds out, you may next want to look at adding air vents, replacing window frames or the windows themselves with glass block, and installing floor tiles, rather than carpet, since they are easier to clean and maintain. You can even put up wallboard or panel siding to make the rooms more homey and inviting. Lighting fixtures or track lighting can brighten dark or dim areas of your basement.

From there it is just a matter of adding furnishings to complete your renovation project. To cut costs, you can buy these second-hand at garage sales or thrift stores, or buy seconds at furniture stores, since these items won’t be used everyday.

If you`re interested in finishing off your basement, this could be the most important message you will ever read.

Thousands of families have successfully completed home remodeling projects and the number grows larger every year. Now`s the time to get started!

The problem is a universal one for, sad to say, most families are bursting out of their dwellings. Like never before, we now have the time and money for elaborate part time activities. All sorts of hobbies are booming. The paraphernalia that goes with them is starting to engulf us. When you add on the inevitable accumulation of odds and ends that seems to build up almost magically, half the households in this nation are about to explode through the front door.

Before you go hog wild at the lumber yard, take the time to do a decent job of planning the remodeling. Not only will you be able to lop a fat hunk of cash off the material bill, but you`ll wind up with a far nicer looking job. Like any big business enterprise, break the planning up into several stages, from dreams to decisions.

First, gather the entire family together and think big. Spare no expense, time or labor in your preliminary dreaming. Unleash your imagination, forget about money restrictions. Include all the various ideas that you have culled from friends` homes, the clips that you`ve saved from magazines, the ideas you`ve dreamed about. This freewheeling gambit serves a practical purpose. To an amazing degree many of these wild dreams can actually be included in the finished job. Scaled down or changed they may be, but the central idea and the satisfaction will remain

When you have gathered together this mass of notes, clippings, sketches and ideas, shift your imagination into lower gear. Now is the time to decide exactly what purpose the space will serve. If a portion of the room will be turned into a storage area, there`s no need for elaborate preparations, lighting, finishes, etc. All you really want here is dry, usable space. If part of the area will be a laundry, then you want better light, proper floor drainage, a nicer finish on the walls and simple but sturdy cabinets and counters

Carefully planned and conscientiously built, the basement should be as handsome, inviting and cozy as the rest of your house. This is not an idle philosophical thought. Turn out a lackadaisically planned, slap dash sort of job and you will wind up with little more for your efforts and expense than the same old useless area that merely boasts some ornate trim.

And now get down to the hard core planning. Scale down your ideas to fit family financing and available space. At the same time, make sure your ideas can be carried out without too much trouble and expense.

Cellars:

Cellar style basements are very common in older houses and are designed to keep perishable good cool throughout the year. People often store wine and preserves in such a basement. This style of basement was especially prolific during WWII, and they became make-shift bomb shelters all throughout Europe.

Crawlspaces:

A crawlspace style basement is exactly what it sounds like: a room through which one is forced to crawl or crouch. These are often only a foot tall, and claustrophobics are generally advised to keep away from them. This is the rarest type of basement, as they are innately more dangerous than other styles, and also expose the house to a higher termite risk, as well as other problems.

Daylight Basements:

This style of basement is also referred to as a walk out basement, and is used in houses that are situated on slopes. This style of basement is only half underground, but allows an occupant to exit through the basement out of a back door. The design for daylight basements is decidedly modern: the complexity of building a house on an uneven foundation makes it difficult to ensure that the foundation is below the frost level, even in places where the basement is above grade.

Lookout Basements:

These basements are the exact opposite of crawlspaces: they extend further above grade than other styles of basements, adding the benefit of above-ground windows. While these first came into being as a result of slightly uneven construction sites, the design was so popular that people would implement it even when their home was to be built on level ground. This sort of basement is also the most economical, as it helps reduce excavation costs.

Walk-up Basements:

Any basement with a staircase leading outside is referred to as a walkup basement. This design often features angled doors, which helps keep the weather off of the stairwell. Generally speaking, the basement is the largest room in the house. Scarcely decorated and often containing the water heater, washer and drier, basements can still be turned into the best room in the house.

Carpeting can be applied, but many basements feature a septic drain that must be topped off with some sort of liquid in order to prevent sewer gasses from seeping up into the house. If you are mindful of where these liquids migrate, carpeting will not be a problem. Even without carpeting, one can furnish a basement with all the necessities of a good workshop, a raucous game room, or even a cozy bedroom nook. All it takes is a little elbow grease.

A remodeling contractor is a person who has skill in both carpentry and building. He or she will take consult with you on what you want the outcome of the project to be. A remodeling contractor will also help you design what you want.

He or she has the sub-contractors that you will need to remodel you home and they are already figured into the estimate that you will receive. If you do it yourself, you will be paying huge fees to each sub-contractor. A remodeling contractor can get the job done in a shorter amount of time with fewer errors and for a lower cost then you can do yourself.

Another benefit to hiring a remodeling contractor is that they get special discounts from supply companies and pass the savings on to you. They can also buy used materials that are still in good condition to save you more money. A really good contractor may even be able to sell accessories and fixtures from your project.

The process is really very easy. A remodeling contractor will sit down with you and discuss exactly what you want to do with your project. He or she will ask you for your ideas and suggestions. He or she will ask you what your budget for the project is and advise you if what you want can be done within that budget.
A good contractor will have years of experience and will be able to add touches here and there to enhance your home.

Plans will be drawn up for your approval and estimate will be given. The contractor will also give you an estimated time of completion.

The contractor, upon your approval and acceptance will get everything in place to start your project.

If you decide to hire a contractor for remodeling your house, do not choose the first one you interview. This is a highly competitive field and you may find cheaper rates with someone else. Make sure that you have all of the paperwork and estimate when you apply for financing, your lending institution may require proof that you are remodeling.

Summary:

If you have decided that remodeling is right for you, check out the services of a remodeling contractor. He or she may be able to save you thousands of dollars on materials.

Remodeling your basement is only as scary as you want to make it. First off, you do not have to do it all at once and secondly you can hire out the things that you do not know how to do. Just be careful that the contractor you hire is licensed by the state you live in and has good references. Also, do not forget to checkout their references and look at the work they did.

If you are more adventurous and like to do thing for yourself, you can be assured of getting exactly what you want. It will be a lot of work and you are sure to smack you thumb a time or two before you`re finished. The sense of pride that you will feel when you are finished and you see what you did.

Something to consider is that finishing off your basement will increase the resale value of your home. By finishing off the basement, you will see an increase of livable space by 30 50%. The number of things that you can do with you basement are limited by you imagination, building codes and of course you budget.

You can begin by sketching out all the different ideas for what you want to do. Then when you have all the different ideas out on paper, you can begin to narrow down your ideas. Sometimes the narrowing down of ideas is accomplished by two practical points, local building code, and your budget. Then there is the point of do you have the time and manpower available to do it.

Once you have the ideas all drawn out you should begin by cleaning out the basement and getting it ready to begin the work that you want to get done. Generally speaking, you will start with building any interior walls that you will need. Then you should work on the exterior walls to insulate them from the cold and moisture that can come in through the walls.

The next logical step will be to rough in any wiring, plumbing, and heating that will need to be done. Much of this will need to be done by licensed professionals and it will also need to be inspected. From there you can rough in you bathroom, sauna, hot tub or laundry room. From there you can put up the sheetrock and the ceiling. Once they have been painted you will be able to lay down the flooring that you want, such as carpet or tile.

This is one of many things that you can do.

For some it is a storage area, a great place to put things that won’t fit in the attic. For many, however, it is a wasted area that is partly storage, partly a game room, and mostly unused. But, for those of you with a little DIY heating and plumbing knowledge and the ability to get a home remodeling loan, the basement can easily be turned into the best spot in the house.

Why Remodel The Basement?

Most basements in America were not built for much of anything except extra storage space. They are usually left unfinished by the builder with nothing more than a 60-watt light in the middle of a large, open room. The biggest reason to remodel your basement is because of all the useable square footage that it will provide. There is a lot of wasted space in a basement because it was never finished enough to be able to do anything with it. All the other reasons for remodeling come in the form of what you will be able to use the space for.

I think that the best use for a basement is to convert it into an entertaining area. It is very nice to have a place to bring a lot of guests to without worrying about the whole house getting trashed. There is also a lot of benefit as far as noise goes. If the party is always in the basement, the noise will never reach the complaining neighbors! It is also a very unique entertaining experience to have a separate, slightly isolated area for entertaining. And so, the question now is, how can you make a dull, lifeless basement transform into an exciting, vibrant entertainment area? Here are a few basement-finishing ideas to help you out.

Make it warm and inviting

Basements are usually cold and inconvenient, that is why nobody ever goes down into them. Start with a heating and air conditioning upgrade. Run a few heating and air vents throughout the basement so that every section of it stays nice. A wise thing to do would be to allow the basement heat and air to be turned off when no one is using the basement in order to save money. Basement lighting is also quite inadequate most of the time. Run a few wires around and add more light. Be careful when working with electricity, as this is one of the most common causes of residential construction accidents.

Section it off

It isn’t that difficult to add a few walls here and there. Throw up a few walls for a bathroom, add some dividers to separate a kitchen area, and even put a small bedroom to accommodate guests. The addition of a few walls will make the basement much more appealing.

Put in a bathroom

When entertaining, you do not want to have to ask your guests to walk upstairs in order to use the bathroom, especially if you are serving alcoholic beverages, which increase traffic to the restroom exponentially. You also do not want to house guests in your basement and make them travel upstairs in order to brush their teeth or wash their face. A small bathroom, with or without a shower, will be a huge asset. Check out a lot of different bathroom designs in order to find the one that suits your situation. If you will not be sleeping guests in the basement, all you need is a toilet and sink. If you will have people staying in the basement, it would be nice to have a nice shower, sink, toilet, and closet space. Someone with a little DIY plumbing knowledge and an eye for bathroom design can put in a nice bathroom very easily.

Use it often

There is no point in doing anything to a basement if you are not going to do anything in the basement. Once you have put all the time and effort into remodeling, don’t let it gather any dust. But be careful, with a nice finished basement, you may never have a quiet night to yourself ever again!

Establish a Budget and Design the Space

The most important part of the entire project is to establish a budget. Too often, people decide what they want first, and establish a budget around that. By establishing a budget first, you can choose what you must have, what you would like and what you would settle with in your new kitchen. Everyone’s priorities are different, as is their budget, and there is no right or wrong answer. For some, a natural stone counter top is a priority, while others want to extend the size of the room. Establishing a firm budget and discussing it honestly with your contractor keeps you both on the same page for the duration of the project.

Once you have established a budget, take out some paper and sketch your ideas. Depending on your budget, your contractor, an architect, or the salesman at the local lumber store can give you computer generated plans, but prior to that, sketch your ideas, moving things around, until you are generally happy with your plan.

Empty the Area

Once you have settled on a design, empty everything out of the kitchen. This is a good time to reorganize, getting rid of the small appliances and serving dishes that you never use, as well as cleaning out those drawers and cabinets that inevitably become catch-alls for things without a home.

Complete any Structural Changes

The actual construction starts with any significant structural changes. These may include anything from moving walls, to adding or moving windows or doors. Even if you plan on doing much of the remodeling work on your own, you may consider using a professional contractor for this portion of the job.

Make Necessary Plumbing and Electrical Changes

This is another part of the job that should be completed by a licensed professional. In fact, depending on where you live, you may be required by law to have a professional make any changes to the electrical or plumbing systems in your home. Some changes, such as adding can lights or running an instant hot water tap are relatively straightforward, while others, such as adding wiring for a dishwasher, or running a gas line for a stove, can affect the entire home if not done properly.

This is the time to order cabinets, flooring and your counter top as well as any new appliances you will be purchasing. This ensures that you will have all of your finishing materials ready for installation when the major remodeling work is completed.

Install Flooring and Cabinets

Once you are finished with the major changes, it is time to begin the more exciting finish work. Your new floor and cabinets are ready to be installed. Cabinet installation is best left to professionals, but a do-it-yourselfer can easily install many types of flooring, including hardwood, laminate and tile, on their own. This is a good way to save a little money on your remodel.

Complete Finish Plumbing Work and Paint

The final step in a kitchen renovation is the finish plumbing work and painting. The finish plumbing includes installing the dishwasher as well as the sink and any additional water lines, such as hooking up the refrigerator water line and a hot water tap. Painting is the last step in the kitchen remodeling project. It is much easier to select paint for your new kitchen after the new cabinets, counter top and flooring is in. The look of your kitchen can change so much, even during a minor remodel, that you may not be happy with your paint if you make the selection too early.

Moderation is Okay

While this article explains all of the details that are included in a complete kitchen remodel, it is possible to update your kitchen by completing a less extensive remodeling project. A fresh coat of paint, new appliances or even an updated counter top can increase the appeal of your kitchen and make it a more pleasant place to congregate.

Below are provided a number of the more popular styles of kitchen that can be considered if you happen to be planning a remodeling or revamping of your current kitchen. It is also an idea to carry out some research as well by looking in house and home magazines, visiting kitchen showrooms, DIY stores, Kitchen Websites or even looking at your family and friends homes to see if they have a style that you like.

1. Country Style – Often called Early American or Colonial as it is designed to create a lovely quaint farm style kitchen. Often such kitchens will feature open shelves, pot racks and have the feeling of it being well lived in. Such kitchens are usually accented by the various color schemes relating to the actual cabinetry of the units.

2. Contemporary – More and more often this style is being used because of its clean and simple lines. Often the cabinets are quite futuristic looking have no carvings or ornate features on them. With this style of kitchen the emphasis is put more on style and practical sophistication rather than beauty and that warm lived in feel.

3. Shaker – A simple and utilitarian style of kitchen that has flat panel doors, wooden countertops and brass handles (hardware).

4. French Country – Such kitchen designs based on this style are warm and inviting with lots of wood and soft colours being used. Not only do natural materials feature heavily in this style of kitchen, but you will find that the furniture used is large and rather ornate.

5. Arts and Crafts – Yet again another style of kitchen decoration which is becoming more popular because of the use of feature glass doors and natural wood tones which are finished off in a matt sheen effect. Certainly with this style of kitchen decoration there is the chance for you to be a little bit more artistic and creative in the design.

However, it is important when choosing a theme for you kitchen that you look at the designs and styles of the other rooms in your home to ensure that it fits in with the overall scheme of your home.