Underground Philadelphia: Basement Remodeling and Renovation

If Rocky V taught us anything, it's that, in Philadelphia, basement remodels are just about the best place to train a new friend to become your arch rival (though the final battle has to be fought in the streets). There are, however, other options for basement remodeling Philadelphia residents should consider before going down the sorrowful, yet ultimately empowering, path of Mr. Balboa.

Benefits of Philadelphia Basement Remodeling
Other than making an excellent gym/trophy room, Philadelphia basement remodels are great for adding value to your home. This becomes more true as you move closer to downtown where space is much more limited, and additions to a structure don't often have the luxury of extending horizontally.

In a city such as Philadelphia, basement renovation is almost like adding an extra floor to your home. Making the most of the space you already have is a good idea anywhere, but in the city, where space is extremely expensive and sought after, not using the available space to its fullest is a mistake.

Many homeowners have found that their finished basements have become their new favorite room of the house. Of course, you can stick a heavy bag down there, but that is just the beginning of the choices available for a basement space. Pool tables, home theatres, and even fold out couches go great in a finished basement.

Obstacles in Philadelphia Basement Remodels
One of the biggest problems with basement remodeling in Philadelphia is the age of the basement you'll be working with. While surrounding area homes might be only a few years old, in the city proper, you might be dealing with a basement that was never designed to do anything but house a furnace or one that has been neglected for decades.

Spiders and centipedes aside, the amount of cleaning and preparation necessary to transform the hole under your house into the game room of your dreams will take a long time. Homeowners can certainly leave all of the preparation to a construction crew, but you can save some money on labor by doing what you can in your spare time.

Another big concern when remodeling Philadelphia basements is, of course, waterproofing. Many basements in the city have had water damage in the past or have existing water leakage problems. Before you can invite your friends over for cards or to watch the game, these problems (past and present) will have to be fixed. While it might take some time and money to do it right, it will certainly be less time and money than adding another floor to the top of your home!

Last, but certainly not least, building codes (though there for a reason) can present an obstacle for some remodels. The ceiling has to be a certain height from the floor, and old steps might need to be replaced with newer, safer stairs. Have a professional give the space a once over to see if your basement might present more problems than most.

Philadelphia Basement Remodeling Prices
A simple waterproofing will cost between $2,000 and $4,000, and will make your basement livable, but probably not beautiful. In Philadelphia, basement renovation with all the bells and whistles can be between $10,000 and $35,000 depending on what you want and the space you have to work with. When compared to a national average of around $45,000 for an addition to a house, and considering that finished basements often recoup much of (and sometimes more than) the cost of construction in added value to the home, basement remodeling is a home improvement that makes a lot of sense.