Expand your living space by digging up the basement

There's no reason your basement can't be as comfy and spacious as the rest of your house, and it doesn't just have to be relegated to storage space.

People often think that to increase the size of their homes, they need to expand or add floors. One great way to open up your space is to dig downward, turning a cramped basement into a whole useable floor of the house. There's no reason your basement can't be as comfy and spacious as the rest of your house, and it doesn't just have to be relegated to storage space. Digging the basement of a house is also a fantastic way to increase the property value and make it a more attractive buy once you do decide to sell it.

Before deciding to dig up your basement floor, there are some things you need to take into consideration. The basement foundation of your home is what keeps the whole place solid and stable, so you need to verify that you have the option to dig it up. And once you do verify that you have the option to proceed, you need to ensure that the entire operation goes smoothly by keeping the ceiling of the basement properly supported during any and all modifications to the floor. This means maintaining any existing support structures like walls, beams and studs, and being careful not to dig into any underground water reservoirs or holes that could seriously damage the foundation of your home.

You're going to have to remove any dirt and concrete on the floor of your basement. This may be as simple as shovelling up the dirt and wheel-barrowing it out via a ramp, or as complicated as jackhammering out concrete to get to the dirt below. In either case, you'll have to verify the structural needs of your house, and if necessary, seek out a contractor to help you do the job in a safe way.

Once you've gotten down to the desired level, you need to re-install the floor, which will very likely involve installing horizontal support beams and pouring concrete. When the concrete has dried, the next step is deciding what kinds of floor you want and taking all the necessary steps to getting it properly installed. Many people opt for carpet in basements because it's cheaper and makes cold floors less of an issue, but hardwood can also give the basement a properly finished look, which will add that homey feel to a space that can otherwise seem somewhat uninviting.

When it's all said and done, consider modifying the existing basement entry or adding a new one so the space really begins to feel like it's just another finished part of the house. The added bonus is that new entrances bring light with them, making the space even more inviting.