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| February
17th - 19th
Show Times
Fri, Feb. 17th
Noon - 9 pm
Sat, Feb. 18th
10 am - 9 pm
Sun, Feb. 19th
10 am - 5 pm
Location
Seagate Convention Centre
Downtown Toledo, OH
Tickets
Adults $8 • Seniors $7
Discount tickets available at Toledo area Andersons
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Add More First-Class Living Space to Your Home
This is the time of year that cabin fever has set in, and people are looking forward to the beautiful weather that Spring brings. It’s also the time of year that, with the walls closing in, we think of adding more living space to our home.
Hmmm. The basement looks like a perfect space. But, wait. Is it dry enough? The only basement good enough for finishing is a dry one. A dehumidifier can help eliminate a minor moisture problem. However, when water has caused cracks in your foundation or mold and mildew on the floors and walls, these problems need to be fixed by a professional.
Scott Corns of Total Foundation Specialists and B-Dry of Western Ohio concurs, “If you’re going to finish your basement, you should have an expert check your basement for any existing or potential structural problems. If there is a problem, have it fixed. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your time and money by finishing your basement without taking care of them.”
Is it going to be warm enough? It’s not a bad idea to have a secondary heat source in your basement. You may want to consider a wood burning stove, a gas or electric fireplace or a floor warming system.
Finishing a basement is an extremely complicated undertaking, and only a professionally trained basement finishing contractor has the knowledge and experience to avoid the mistakes commonly made by those less experienced. Either check with the Home Builders Association or the Better Business Bureau for the names of basement remodeling companies, who refinish basements with drywalled walls and ceilings, and electric and plumbing installations.
Basement Remodeling Systems
Another option is to have a company, such as Champion, come in and install a “Basement Living System.” Jim Gibbons of Basement Living Systems by Champion says, “Typically, for the average basement, we can install a complete basement in less than two weeks. It’s basically a turnkey operation. Some of the major benefits of our system are that it’s quick, clean and healthy.
“Our complete basement remodeling system includes a moisture, mildew and mold resistant wall system, R-13 thermal insulation, great acoustics for your home theater, and easy access to foundation walls. Our own experienced electricians either hook into the existing electrical system or prewire your basement to accommodate home theaters, telephones, cable and lights.
“If someone wants a bathroom in the basement, we’ll plumb for it and put up the walls and complete it. Depending how big the basement and what all the customer wants to put in — such as a custom entertainment system, bathroom built-in bar and countertops — the cost can run anywhere from $10,000 to $70,000. Of course, the more the customer wants to include, the time of installation may go longer, but not too much.”
What to Put in Your New First-Class Living Space
People with children often use the new space for a playroom. If they homeschool, they might use it for a classroom. Some people leave room for a workout room or home fitness center. If the space allows, they may separate the children’s playroom from one of their own and have a large-screen television, billiards or ping pong table, or whatever they fancy.
“Many couples with kids want to keep the kids entertained — and at home,” says Mark Mason of Mason’s Billiards and Bar Stools. “Grandparents, who have downsized and moved into a condominium, often have their basements finished with games to entertain the grandkids when they visit.
“By far, pool tables are the most popular of the bigger items. Since we can customize them with color, we’ve done black pool tables with yellow-gold felt covering for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Many of our customers customize for their favorite college or professional team. We’ve even done complete basements with sports themes or Harley Davison, or a totally retro look.”
Mark continues, “Other popular items are poker tables and chairs. These came on strong with the televising of Texas Hold’em contests. A lot of times, people will choose a slot machine as well — usually their favorite game like Double Diamond or Red, White and Blue. Foosball is hot again, as are shuffle board tables.”
One of the most extensive basement finishes that Sean Hineline of Reemsnyder Decorating was ever involved with included a wet bar; a game room with billiards, pinball machines and slot machines; and an exercise room. There were big-screen televisions in every corner. The only things missing were a tanning bed and fireplace, and those can also be included in your new living space.
Sean says, “It’s the best square footage for freeing up your first floor and expanding your living space. It just makes sense to turn something dark and dreary — and useless — into something bright, comfortable and livable.”
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