Your basement sits there, not contributing anything to your household. In fact, for years, you've wanted to do something with it besides your laundry. Even now, you're looking for a new home improvement project, and you are eyeing up the basement as the number one candidate.

Hold up a second, though! Sure, the rec room you want to build for your kids is waiting, but there is a real risk of things you'll regret if you don't give this a lot of thought. You need to nail the details down before you start.

There are a lot of basement development mistakes to keep in mind. Lucky for you, you're in the right place! Read on for six common basement development mistakes, and how to avoid them.

1. No Waterproofing

If your home is in a flood zone, then waterproofing your basement before the renovation project is job number one. Installing a back-up sump pump, a concrete vapor barrier, and a French Drain system will help keep your basement dry. Make sure you keep the gutters and window wells clean, as this helps redirect water away from your basement.

2. Not Thinking About Lighting

If you want to keep your home up to code, and you should, then your basement needs an egress window. That's great news, as this is an excuse to add more natural light into your finished basement. Natural light helps with your mood and sleep patterns.

However, you cannot forget about artificial lighting due to basements being darker spaces in your home. You'll want cozy lighting fixtures and ambient lighting that compliments the natural light. Bad lighting can change the entire look and feel of a space, so plan carefully!

3. Going For the Wet Bar

Think about it, do you really need that wet bar? Chances are you'd be better off taking that money and putting it somewhere else in the basement development budget. You can compromise and get a bar cart you can use for parties!

4. Blocking Important Equipment

As exciting as it is to furnish that newly finished basement, don't overdo and block access to important safety equipment. Shutoff valves should be kept clear, along with the hot water tank and furnace. You never know when things like that need fixing or replacing!

5. Putting Down the Wrong Flooring

Carpet may not be the best of your basement flooring options, but as long as you use a carpet made of synthetic fiber and has mold and mildew resistance. Instead of a carpet pad, which might as well be a sponge, put in a subfloor to help make space under your floor-covering and helping to mitigate condensation on your floor. There is a lot of selection of flooring systems and you can always put in laminate, ceramic, or vinyl flooring as an alternative to your carpet!

6. Picking the Wrong Drywall and Insulation

If you're looking for the best basement insulation, think about using rigid foam insulation on your walls rather than the more traditional fiberglass insulation. Rigid foam insulation is impervious to moisture and works well to protect from hidden condensation. Your drywall should be mold and moisture resistant, preferably paired with steel studs.

Avoid These Basement Development Mistakes

Avoiding these common basement development mistakes is a snap with this list. Soon, you'll be relaxing in your newly finished basement!

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