If you live in an older home and have a more traditional style “cellar” basement of days gone by, then you can understand the situation our clients from Haverford found themselves in. They live in this great older colonial on the Main Line. They have gone to great lengths to renovate the rest of this large home while still keeping many of the original elements we find ourselves drawn to. However, they had this huge space in the basement that wasn’t very attractive. We could provide this active family with a ton of extra living space.
One of the main concerns when considering a project like this is often price. Finishing the basement in a new construction home is expensive enough, but doing so on an older home can be far more challenging and therefore even more costly. It is a valid concern for any homeowner to weigh the pros and cons of a project of this magnitude. Our clients settled on doing things “right,” but not necessarily going “all the way.” I guess you would say their basement is “partially finished,” but they still have a great result, having gained tons of extra living and play space. This helped them save the cost of fully finishing their basement but still gave them most of the same benefits.
To begin with, we installed heat and conditioning in the basement. We went in after that to help with ceilings, walls, etc. The first thing we did was to wash the walls and ceilings and back shelves and windows with bleach since it used to be damp down there and they were covered in mildew. Then we applied a coat of mold-killing primer to the walls and ceilings and wood shelves and windows. We repaired holes and cracks in the walls and ceiling with mortar and primed the repairs with masonry primer.
We then framed the heat and air conditioning ducts and installed drywall over the ductwork, also framing and drywalling over 1 wall to hang the TV. The walls, ceiling, and trim were finished with 2 coats of premium quality latex paint. We also spent a lot of time cleaning up an old, original fireplace down there. Our clients now have a ping pong room, pool table room, workout room, and TV/games area for the whole family. They painted the floor and laid area rugs, which helped to give a more finished look. And with their furnishings and décor in place, it came together perfectly for plenty of new hang-out space!
If you are looking to do some work in your basement, whether old or new, give us a call! We would love to come discuss your project in the Haverford, Radnor, St. David’s, Merion Station, Villanova, Bala Cynwyd, Paoli, West Chester, Glenmoore, Phoenixville, and surrounding areas. We provide all manner of services including interior & exterior painting and staining, wood rot repair, and so much more!