Most people value their home’s livable square footage. But what if budget constraints won’t allow for a spacious addition? Finishing the basement is one way to increase space without going over budget.

Look for cracks first, then pry gently.

Get a good idea of the condition of the foundation walls and floor. If you see cracks, take care of those first with a carbon fiber crack repair kit.

Add another floor, preferably a subfloor, under your present floor.

Contractors specializing in basement construction should create comfortable, warm and dry living spaces. They can achieve this by installing a ready-to-use engineered wood subfloor product that has a tongue and groove design for quick and easy installation. A product with a high R-value ensures the best insulation for the space.

Design carefully.

A basement design should be planned with the homeowner in order to ensure that both parties are on the same page. Before you begin any remodeling, you should sit down with your client and sketch out the room so that both of you have a design to reference.

Plan for good drainage.

Homes generally have main floor drains, but if these aren’t effective, several options exist. A French drain can be introduced into a basement, but this can be costly to go through the concrete slab. Drainage tiles can be installed right next to the home’s foundation wall, or at some distance away. The latter option is more laborious, messy and time-consuming since all the soil around the home must be dug up to the depth of the footings. A third option is a sump pump, which sits inside or outside the house and automatically activates when water levels in a collection pit start to rise.