6 Reasons Why Summer Is a Great Time to Finish Your Basement
Summer’s in full swing! Whether your season looks like a tall glass of iced lemonade in the shade of the back patio, or a jumble of damp pool towels and flip flops left in a heap by the garage door, summer–at the very least–offers a change of pace from the rest of the year. Why not take advantage of the longer days and warmer weather and use the time to finish your basement? You’ll be glad to have the extra space once the weather begins to dictate indoor activities again and the routines of a new school year kick in.
Finishing the basement of your home boosts both the property value and the functional level of your home. Many investments have long-term payoff, but little tangible reward in the short-term. When you invest by adding livable space to your home, you get to enjoy it while simultaneously accruing equity.
If you’re still on the fence and can’t quite decide whether or not to jump into a basement finish project, consider the following list of seasonal pros:
1. If the inevitable noise and dust of construction has been a deterrent from starting a basement finish, then summer provides the ideal time to escape the mess. Hiring a trustworthy contractor affords you the confidence needed to leave your home now and then while the work progresses. Enjoy time at the pool or park, or with friends, and leave the clatter of construction behind.
2. Sometimes, it’s the thought of clearing away all of the accumulated clutter that keeps a basement finish from getting off the ground. Sadly, a contractor can’t begin work until the basement is emptied. Don’t despair! Summer poses the perfect time for decluttering, as garage sale season is in full swing. Spend one weekend sorting through your belongings, and the next putting up Garage Sale signs. Get the kids involved and make it a family affair.
3. Score another point for the summer basement finish for open-window ventilation! Many aspects of construction, such as painting, staining, and carpeting can cause unpleasant fumes in the short-term. Opening windows helps mitigate these fumes faster than if windows must remain closed, as they would in cold or snowy weather.
4. One of the first assessments a reputable basement finishing company makes will be of the home’s HVAC system, and how its existing ducts and venting will work into the new basement finish design. Sometimes overhead ducts are rerouted to better compliment the architectural design. Doing this in the summer, when the furnace is not in use, proves less disruptive to family life than if done when the furnace is needed to warm the home. This is also a smart time to assess the value of adding a second water heater (or replacing an existing one).
5. It’s no secret why the construction industry thrives during summer months; longer days mean more daylight hours for work, which results in a win for you as the homeowner/client.
6. A typical basement finish takes six to eight weeks to finish, once the permit has been secured. Starting a basement finish now will ensure that it’s ready for football watching this fall and holiday parties later on. Imagine how enjoyable it will be to host and celebrate family events in your newly-finished basement!
