Renovating a basement is a great way to increase the amount of "living space" square footage in your home. And while room additions may require structural work to your home or building permits, basement renovations, in most cases, won't require either and to the delight of most homeowners will take much less time as well. While the average basement is considered to be cold and dark, a basement renovation could have your basement feeling warm and inviting. And for many homeowners that have gone ahead with their Calgary basement renovations, the basement has literally become the most popular room in the house!

Before proceeding with a Calgary basement renovation it's important to understand the potential problems and issues you may have to deal with in renovating a basement. True you don't have to worry about making any changes to your home's structure or acquiring permits for building but renovating a basement does present some pretty unique circumstances that a homeowner should be aware of.

Calgary Basement Renovations - Things to Consider

The most common issue when it comes to basement renovations is that of moisture. Excessive moisture in your basement can be a huge problem as it can lead to mildew or even worse mold. It's imperative that you check your basement for moisture prior to proceeding with any basement renovation plans as mold can be hazardous to your health. Checking for moisture in your basement is actually pretty simple. A simple test most homeowners should be able to conduct requires a plastic garbage bag and some strong tape like duct tape.

To perform the "moisture" test what you'll want to do is take the garbage bag and lay it flat on the concrete basement floor. Next take the tape and seal around all of the edges of the garbage bag and create a nice seal so that no moisture or condensation can escape. At that point you'll want to leave the sealed garbage bag on the floor for two days. After a couple of days, remove the bag from the concrete floor and take note of the concrete directly beneath the garbage bag. If you see any moisture or condensation, chances are you have some moisture penetrating your basement. There are several causes for moisture in a basement and the good news is there are several things you can do as a homeowner to prevent moisture from getting into your basement or you could hire some contractors to take care of the problem for you. In any event, excessive moisture in your basement is definitely something you want to take care of prior to proceeding with your basement renovation plans.

Some other things you'll at least want to think about prior to moving forward with your Calgary basement renovation are a lack of lighting in the basement, the lack of a ceiling, head room and you'll also want to look at, or have a professional contractor look at, the sturdiness of the joists and the condition of your foundation. These are all things you definitely want to consider when you're putting together your plans for your basement remodel particularly since they all could have a potential impact on your budget.

Hiring the Right Calgary basement Renovation Contractors

When it comes to hiring a contractor for Calgary basement renovations, there's definitely not a shortage of contractors to choose from that's for sure. It's important to do your research and homework if you don't want to regret the decision you made to remodel your basement.

First and foremost make sure you hire a contractor that is licensed. Many homeowners make the mistake of hiring an unlicensed contractor because it saves them money only to find out later that it will end up costing them more due to shoddy workmanship or cheap materials. Don't make that same mistake… make sure you hire a contractor that is licensed, insured and bonded. These are all telltale signs of a reputable contractor.

To further ensure you hire a good contractor for your basement renovation, we strongly recommend that you hire a licensed and insured contractor. While there's no guarantee that hiring a licensed and insured contractor will result in quality work, these are pretty good indicators of a well-qualified and reputable contractor. In addition we also strongly recommend you ask for references and that you contact them to ensure the contractor is capable of producing good work.

And finally do your own research and look for reviews and feedback from past clients of the Calgary basement renovation contractors you're thinking about hiring. We may be biased but we strongly recommend using the Handy Canadian contractor base. Not only will you find well-qualified Calgary basement renovation contractors but you'll also be able to see authenticated reviews and feedback from other people in the Calgary area. In addition you can also see photos/examples of the contractor's past work which can also be very helpful in helping you find the right contractor for your job.

As you can see there's a lot to consider if you're planning a basement remodel or renovation. Calgary basement renovations can be even trickier due to the inclement weather but there's no doubt that a basement renovation has the potential to not only increase the value of your home but also result in a space that becomes the most popular room in your house!

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