To begin with, it is worth distinguishing between the concepts of a basement, a cellar and a basement. The first room is part of the foundation, it is completely below ground level and is often adapted to accommodate communications. The basement is also called the "basement". This is a special room that rests on a foundation and is only partially deepened in the soil. It is often equipped with garages and storage rooms. Cellar (underground) can serve as a separately constructed building, and directly the basement itself. It usually stores household equipment, harvesting and vegetables for the winter. Basements do not have windows, natural light does not get into them, and due to the thermal insulation properties of the soil at any time of the year the same temperature is maintained here. After construction, they rarely deal with finishing, they leave it in draft form, since unnecessary work involves additional expenses.In many private houses, basements occupy an impressive area, the transformation of which the owners sooner or later think about. As you know, nothing is impossible, therefore, we will find out in detail what work needs to be done to "domesticate" this room.
The basement will become convenient only if all the work on its construction and decoration will be carried out in accordance with generally accepted standards. Then you don’t have to go to the “mortal” mold fight every year, remove frost from cans with pickles in winter and sort frozen vegetables. To make the room suitable for living, it is necessary to perform several stages of work:
Carrying out heating, ventilation systems and electrical wiring. Unfortunately, it will not work for a long time without batteries in the room, even in the summertime, in the absence of outlets, the use of equipment is excluded, and neither the guests nor the owners will want to breathe stagnant air;
Finish. In this case, we are talking about the use of particularly durable heat and waterproofing materials, which will help reduce the percentage of humidity and stabilize the temperature;
Selection of furnishings and room decoration.
If no mistakes were made during the construction and decoration, the room will not be any different from the usual living room in the house.
We plan at the design stage
Before those who are building, many questions arise: from the number of storeys of the house to the need to equip the basement in it.The latter will significantly increase the cost of work, but the additional room will never be superfluous either in the country or in the cottage. In addition, basements strengthen the foundation, which is especially important in those regions where outbreaks of increased seismic activity are observed. Any construction should begin with soil research. Of importance will be its composition on the site and the depth of groundwater. Depending on these two indicators, the type of foundation is selected, and accordingly the features of the basement:
Monolithic (tiled);
Tape.
The second type is suitable for deep water and soil, ensuring the stability of the building. Monolithic is a continuous plate. It is used for more monumental structures in places where the groundwater level rises above the critical level of 2 m, and the soil is loose and consists mainly of sand. Traditionally, construction begins with the basement. The first to dig a pit, lay the foundation, arrange the blind area. There are two main technologies for building a basement:
With the preparation of the pit;
With preliminary filling of tape walls (reinforced concrete).
Basement Availability
The entrance to the basement should also be present on the building design. There are only three options for its location:
From the street;
From home;
Combined option.
In the first case, the basement will be considered as a completely independent room. Often, storage rooms are equipped with such an entrance, because it is inconvenient to constantly carry garden equipment through living rooms, dirtying the floors with earth. The entrance from the house is equipped for constant access to grocery stocks or to the living room. Doors can be wooden and metal. If the exit leads to the street, it is better to choose a more durable and sturdy material. Metal will do this better than wood. The second is chosen for interior doors, which are installed when exiting the house.By type of execution they are classified into:
Deaf;
Shield
Paneled;
Stained glass.
The latter must be purchased from heavy-duty glass. If the basement is not renovated for living, then double doors or combined with lining should be chosen from the "dungeon" and not dragged by dampness or chill. In some basements, two exits are provided at once: one to the residential part of the house, and the second immediately to the street. In the first case, an interior door is used, and in the second, an entrance door.
How to finish
Before embarking on decorating, you will have to go through a difficult stage of rough work. It is not so pleasant, but without proper decoration, ventilation, communications and heating will not appear in the room. The foundation of the future flooring or screed, as builders call it, is created first. In a monolithic foundation, concrete is impregnated with special solutions, which, when exposed to moisture, crystallize and tightly “seal” the floor. If the foundation of the tape type was laid, then a real “layered pie” of materials is laid on it:
Sand pillow;
Layer of roofing material;
Reinforcing mesh.
And only the screed is laid on top. After the draft stage of work with the floor is completed, it can be safely covered with a laminate, linoleum, parquet or ceramic tiles. The choice of material depends on the design of the room. If the basement will be used for living, then between the flooring and screed provide a heating system that will provide regular heating.
The walls are primed several times before finishing. Two or three layers of antiseptic composition will not only improve the “adhesion” between the surface and the material, but also reduce the risks of mold and mildew formation. In a future cellar or pantry, the walls are simply plastered or lined with wood panels, moisture-proof drywall. The latter, if necessary, can be painted in the desired color.It is better to use mineral-cement plaster, as it is more resistant to moisture than the calcareous and gypsum counterparts. The wood will have to be treated with special solutions that will suspend the processes of decay and spread of the fungus. Mineral wool is insulated in the living quarters, and the walls are covered with PVC panels, wallpaper, wood, plasterboard or simply painted over the plaster.
The ceiling in the basement plays an important role, especially if the room is being restored, and before it was used to remove numerous communications. The hanging option will help to competently “hide” all this splendor from pipes and wires, but at the same time leave them constant access if necessary. Unfortunately, this method is not suitable for basements with low ceilings, because its frame will "eat" too many precious centimeters. In this case, it is better to resort to moisture-resistant drywall. In high basements, this material can be used to make a multi-level ceiling, which will become the highlight of the interior. In simpler versions, the surface is primed and plastered.
A waterproofing mortar, which is used to impregnate the base to create a screed, is sure to coat corners and all joints of surfaces in the basement. Thus, you can protect the room from dampness and mold.
Lighting
The wiring in the basement should be well insulated, as high humidity can play a trick on the hosts. If we are talking about a pantry or a cellar, then even ordinary bulbs will not work here. It is necessary to choose special ones with a high level of moisture protection. This also applies to sockets: in their design, special caps are provided that prevent the ingress of liquid into the interior. In residential cellars, the absence of windows will have to be compensated by numerous lighting fixtures, which are located at different levels.If your ceiling has several "steps", then the point sources of light built into them will become an interior element of the room, emphasizing its style. At the top, a chandelier or several equidistant from each other must be suspended if there are two (or more) areas of the combined type in the room. The sconces are attached to the walls, lamps are placed on the tables, and floor lamps are installed.
The fireplace will bring a special flavor to the basement room. Its installation will be expensive, since due to the characteristics of the room you will have to attract a professional. With their own hands, the layman will not be able to cope with the task. It is difficult to consider a fireplace as a light source, but it is definitely a “source” of heat and comfort in the atmosphere of a room.
Ventilation
Regardless of what the basement will be used for, the air exchange should be established even during construction. Even if the decoration was done correctly, with the walls impregnated with special solutions, moisture will stagnate if air circulation is disturbed. Unfortunately, this can lead to mold and mildew. The spores of the latter, together with the inhaled air, can enter the lungs, multiply there and provoke a number of chronic diseases, some of which end fatally. Basement ventilation systems are classified into two types:
Artificial
Natural.
The latter are suitable only for “cold” basements, which no one plans to equip for living quarters. Natural ventilation is a simple pipe system that provides communication between the room and the street. The air in them circulates freely. Artificial or forced ventilation systems pump fresh air into the room from the street, and stagnant is pulled out of it. Modern split systems are able to control the level of humidity and temperature as part of the mode set on the control panel.Such “smart” ventilation will save you from many problems and become a universal “climate control” in the basement of a private house.
How to keep warm
To get a high-quality insulated basement, they act in two directions:
Carrying out a heating system;
Insulation of the "box" of the room: walls, ceiling and floor.
Heating systems will artificially raise the temperature and pump heat. The task of insulation materials to keep it as long as possible. The quality of the finish and the heating system directly affects the microclimate in the basement.
Basement Options
The basement is adapted to a variety of needs, depending on the needs of the owners. In most houses, this room has impressive dimensions, which allows you to realize the dreams of spacious areas for games, entertainment or work. Most often from the basement create:
Gym;
Wine cellar with a platform for tasting;
Miniature bar for gatherings with friends;
Pool or sauna;
Workshop for work;
Laundry for washing and ironing things. Actually, if the family is large;
Billiard room combined with a platform for darts, table tennis;
Room for games;
Greenhouse for growing vegetables or mushrooms. A kind of small household, which winters do not care;
A music studio with good sound insulation;
Extra room for guests;
Home theater;
A library and a miniature reading room.
Place to relax
A place to relax in a spacious basement usually includes several functional areas:
Reading corner;
Bar counter for those who want to miss a glass of wine or two;
A platform for active games, and if the dimensions allow, then even a miniature dance floor;
The movie viewing area.
In small rooms will have to be limited to one or two of the most important sites. The decoration of the basement hall can be supplemented by a cozy fireplace and a woodcutter.They look especially colorful in rooms decorated in the currently popular chalet style. The decor of the room has references to a holiday house, which is lost in the Alps, far from the bustling world. The chalet loves the abundance of wood, animal skins (their imitation), brown-honey colors. Of course, the Alpine style is difficult to implement without panoramic windows with mountain views, but they are compensated by false panels and an abundance of lamps of simple shapes. A fireplace is an integral part of the chalet. It is decorated with masonry or brick, and the furnace doors are decorated with intricate ligature or ornament, which is reflected in the decoration of the walls and textiles. Keep in mind that there should not be too many patterns; uniformity in the chalet prevails.
Home cinema
In cottage houses, the basement is often equipped with a full-fledged mini-cinema. Films are watched both on a modern large-format "plasma" of impressive dimensions, and on a white wall using a projector. The latter option fits seamlessly into the retro style. Seats are organized in several ways:
Single chairs exposed in rows;
Full chairs with common armrests, like in real cinemas;
Several sofas set one after another.
The latter option allows, if necessary, to use the room for another holiday, therefore it is considered universal. For a stylish cinema, a strict but refined loft is suitable.
Library
The small basement can be converted into an individual room for books. Shelves are installed solid: from the ceiling to the floor. In the corner make out a cozy place for reading or work. A soft sofa with a pair of pillows, a table and a pair of pouffes is enough for guests. If you decide to put all your book treasures in the basement, pay special attention to the fight against humidity. The paper may eventually “bloom” in the bad sense of the word, and you risk losing the entire library.
Playroom for children
The living basement is a gift for owners of a home "kindergarten". If it is arranged with taste, then it will be difficult to pull out the kids from there. One zone is allocated for creative work: tables with chairs and a rack with sets for drawing, sculpting, carving, modeling or creating crafts are arranged here. Another area is designed for active games: table hockey, tennis, twister, trampoline, a pool with balls, climbing, children's darts. The third zone is equipped as a resting place for children and an observation post for parents. Another site usually embodies a fairy tale for girls: with miniature castles, artificial trees and other attributes of the "kingdom of dreams." The boys are given the opportunity to entertain themselves with designers and racing on typewriters as part of special tracks.
Gym
Spacious house cellars are ideal for organizing a personal gym. For residents of cramped apartments, this dream remains unfulfilled, but the owners of country houses have a unique opportunity to translate it into their housing. The room is poorly decorated, without saving on mirrors. As in a real gym, there should be a lot of them so that a person sees not only the result of working on the body, but also problem areas that still have to be worked on. When installing the simulators, observe the recommended distance between them in order to avoid injuries.
Cellar
The cellar can be adapted for storage of pickles or home-made wines. For the latter, a country style is suitable. The direction that was born in the American outback loves rough textures and a range of “woody” colors. The walls are decorated with decorative bricks, chandeliers are hung from the ceiling on decorative chains, and empty glass containers are stored in barrels. It also hosts a wicker table for tasting and a pair of matching chairs.If you plan to store pickles and products in the cellar, you can save on decoration. It is not necessary to install heating in this room, natural ventilation is sufficient. For storage of cans with pickles, discard wooden shelves in favor of their metal counterparts. To increase the service life of the latter, the material is coated with a protective layer against corrosion.
Engineering systems
Initially, the cellars were intended for all communication nodes. A pumping station is installed in this room if the owners are connected to an autonomous source of water. A gas or electric boiler, which is responsible for heating the entire house, is also placed here, as well as an electrical panel with plugs. Engineering systems rarely occupy the entire basement area. If it is equipped with a living room, they are fenced off from the room by a partition or a decorative wall so as not to spoil the general view.
Digging a basement on your own is not a good idea.
It is dangerous to dig out the basement under an already constructed building. Not even every professional will undertake such a job. To begin with, it is worth remembering that the basement is part of the foundation. It is being developed at the design stage. Amateur initiative is fraught with a warp or destruction of the house itself. Wooden buildings can sag, while brick buildings can crack. The walls of the cellars are usually a continuation of the strip foundation, which is deepened, that is, the room and the base of the house are a single whole. It is much simpler and more economical to pay an estimate for construction than to give a tidy sum to professionals for the restoration of a house damaged by independent earthwork.
Conclusion
The design of the basement is chosen from the same variety of styles as for ordinary rooms. In comparison with them, on the contrary, the room only wins, as it usually has impressive dimensions, which can be freely disposed of.
Naturally, the design will in any case be costly, but remodeling an existing room is much cheaper than adding a new one to the house. The basement opens up great opportunities for the owners: it is universal and supports any ideas for arrangement.
To begin with, it is worth distinguishing between the concepts of a basement, a cellar and a basement. The first room is part of the foundation, it is completely below ground level and is often adapted to accommodate communications. The basement is also called the "basement". This is a special room that rests on a foundation and is only partially deepened in the soil. It is often equipped with garages and storage rooms. Cellar (underground) can serve as a separately constructed building, and directly the basement itself. It usually stores household equipment, harvesting and vegetables for the winter. Basements do not have windows, natural light does not get into them, and due to the thermal insulation properties of the soil at any time of the year the same temperature is maintained here. After construction, they rarely deal with finishing, they leave it in draft form, since unnecessary work involves additional expenses.In many private houses, basements occupy an impressive area, the transformation of which the owners sooner or later think about. As you know, nothing is impossible, therefore, we will find out in detail what work needs to be done to "domesticate" this room.
Content
How to make a basement comfortable
The basement will become convenient only if all the work on its construction and decoration will be carried out in accordance with generally accepted standards. Then you don’t have to go to the “mortal” mold fight every year, remove frost from cans with pickles in winter and sort frozen vegetables. To make the room suitable for living, it is necessary to perform several stages of work:
If no mistakes were made during the construction and decoration, the room will not be any different from the usual living room in the house.
We plan at the design stage
Before those who are building, many questions arise: from the number of storeys of the house to the need to equip the basement in it.The latter will significantly increase the cost of work, but the additional room will never be superfluous either in the country or in the cottage. In addition, basements strengthen the foundation, which is especially important in those regions where outbreaks of increased seismic activity are observed. Any construction should begin with soil research. Of importance will be its composition on the site and the depth of groundwater. Depending on these two indicators, the type of foundation is selected, and accordingly the features of the basement:
The second type is suitable for deep water and soil, ensuring the stability of the building. Monolithic is a continuous plate. It is used for more monumental structures in places where the groundwater level rises above the critical level of 2 m, and the soil is loose and consists mainly of sand. Traditionally, construction begins with the basement. The first to dig a pit, lay the foundation, arrange the blind area. There are two main technologies for building a basement:
Basement Availability
The entrance to the basement should also be present on the building design. There are only three options for its location:
In the first case, the basement will be considered as a completely independent room. Often, storage rooms are equipped with such an entrance, because it is inconvenient to constantly carry garden equipment through living rooms, dirtying the floors with earth. The entrance from the house is equipped for constant access to grocery stocks or to the living room. Doors can be wooden and metal. If the exit leads to the street, it is better to choose a more durable and sturdy material. Metal will do this better than wood. The second is chosen for interior doors, which are installed when exiting the house.By type of execution they are classified into:
The latter must be purchased from heavy-duty glass. If the basement is not renovated for living, then double doors or combined with lining should be chosen from the "dungeon" and not dragged by dampness or chill. In some basements, two exits are provided at once: one to the residential part of the house, and the second immediately to the street. In the first case, an interior door is used, and in the second, an entrance door.
How to finish
Before embarking on decorating, you will have to go through a difficult stage of rough work. It is not so pleasant, but without proper decoration, ventilation, communications and heating will not appear in the room. The foundation of the future flooring or screed, as builders call it, is created first. In a monolithic foundation, concrete is impregnated with special solutions, which, when exposed to moisture, crystallize and tightly “seal” the floor. If the foundation of the tape type was laid, then a real “layered pie” of materials is laid on it:
And only the screed is laid on top. After the draft stage of work with the floor is completed, it can be safely covered with a laminate, linoleum, parquet or ceramic tiles. The choice of material depends on the design of the room. If the basement will be used for living, then between the flooring and screed provide a heating system that will provide regular heating.
The walls are primed several times before finishing. Two or three layers of antiseptic composition will not only improve the “adhesion” between the surface and the material, but also reduce the risks of mold and mildew formation. In a future cellar or pantry, the walls are simply plastered or lined with wood panels, moisture-proof drywall. The latter, if necessary, can be painted in the desired color.It is better to use mineral-cement plaster, as it is more resistant to moisture than the calcareous and gypsum counterparts. The wood will have to be treated with special solutions that will suspend the processes of decay and spread of the fungus. Mineral wool is insulated in the living quarters, and the walls are covered with PVC panels, wallpaper, wood, plasterboard or simply painted over the plaster.
The ceiling in the basement plays an important role, especially if the room is being restored, and before it was used to remove numerous communications. The hanging option will help to competently “hide” all this splendor from pipes and wires, but at the same time leave them constant access if necessary. Unfortunately, this method is not suitable for basements with low ceilings, because its frame will "eat" too many precious centimeters. In this case, it is better to resort to moisture-resistant drywall. In high basements, this material can be used to make a multi-level ceiling, which will become the highlight of the interior. In simpler versions, the surface is primed and plastered.
Lighting
The wiring in the basement should be well insulated, as high humidity can play a trick on the hosts. If we are talking about a pantry or a cellar, then even ordinary bulbs will not work here. It is necessary to choose special ones with a high level of moisture protection. This also applies to sockets: in their design, special caps are provided that prevent the ingress of liquid into the interior. In residential cellars, the absence of windows will have to be compensated by numerous lighting fixtures, which are located at different levels.If your ceiling has several "steps", then the point sources of light built into them will become an interior element of the room, emphasizing its style. At the top, a chandelier or several equidistant from each other must be suspended if there are two (or more) areas of the combined type in the room. The sconces are attached to the walls, lamps are placed on the tables, and floor lamps are installed.
Ventilation
Regardless of what the basement will be used for, the air exchange should be established even during construction. Even if the decoration was done correctly, with the walls impregnated with special solutions, moisture will stagnate if air circulation is disturbed. Unfortunately, this can lead to mold and mildew. The spores of the latter, together with the inhaled air, can enter the lungs, multiply there and provoke a number of chronic diseases, some of which end fatally. Basement ventilation systems are classified into two types:
The latter are suitable only for “cold” basements, which no one plans to equip for living quarters. Natural ventilation is a simple pipe system that provides communication between the room and the street. The air in them circulates freely. Artificial or forced ventilation systems pump fresh air into the room from the street, and stagnant is pulled out of it. Modern split systems are able to control the level of humidity and temperature as part of the mode set on the control panel.Such “smart” ventilation will save you from many problems and become a universal “climate control” in the basement of a private house.
How to keep warm
To get a high-quality insulated basement, they act in two directions:
Heating systems will artificially raise the temperature and pump heat. The task of insulation materials to keep it as long as possible. The quality of the finish and the heating system directly affects the microclimate in the basement.
Basement Options
The basement is adapted to a variety of needs, depending on the needs of the owners. In most houses, this room has impressive dimensions, which allows you to realize the dreams of spacious areas for games, entertainment or work. Most often from the basement create:
Place to relax
A place to relax in a spacious basement usually includes several functional areas:
In small rooms will have to be limited to one or two of the most important sites. The decoration of the basement hall can be supplemented by a cozy fireplace and a woodcutter.They look especially colorful in rooms decorated in the currently popular chalet style. The decor of the room has references to a holiday house, which is lost in the Alps, far from the bustling world. The chalet loves the abundance of wood, animal skins (their imitation), brown-honey colors. Of course, the Alpine style is difficult to implement without panoramic windows with mountain views, but they are compensated by false panels and an abundance of lamps of simple shapes. A fireplace is an integral part of the chalet. It is decorated with masonry or brick, and the furnace doors are decorated with intricate ligature or ornament, which is reflected in the decoration of the walls and textiles. Keep in mind that there should not be too many patterns; uniformity in the chalet prevails.
Home cinema
In cottage houses, the basement is often equipped with a full-fledged mini-cinema. Films are watched both on a modern large-format "plasma" of impressive dimensions, and on a white wall using a projector. The latter option fits seamlessly into the retro style. Seats are organized in several ways:
The latter option allows, if necessary, to use the room for another holiday, therefore it is considered universal. For a stylish cinema, a strict but refined loft is suitable.
Library
The small basement can be converted into an individual room for books. Shelves are installed solid: from the ceiling to the floor. In the corner make out a cozy place for reading or work. A soft sofa with a pair of pillows, a table and a pair of pouffes is enough for guests. If you decide to put all your book treasures in the basement, pay special attention to the fight against humidity. The paper may eventually “bloom” in the bad sense of the word, and you risk losing the entire library.
Playroom for children
The living basement is a gift for owners of a home "kindergarten". If it is arranged with taste, then it will be difficult to pull out the kids from there. One zone is allocated for creative work: tables with chairs and a rack with sets for drawing, sculpting, carving, modeling or creating crafts are arranged here. Another area is designed for active games: table hockey, tennis, twister, trampoline, a pool with balls, climbing, children's darts. The third zone is equipped as a resting place for children and an observation post for parents. Another site usually embodies a fairy tale for girls: with miniature castles, artificial trees and other attributes of the "kingdom of dreams." The boys are given the opportunity to entertain themselves with designers and racing on typewriters as part of special tracks.
Gym
Spacious house cellars are ideal for organizing a personal gym. For residents of cramped apartments, this dream remains unfulfilled, but the owners of country houses have a unique opportunity to translate it into their housing. The room is poorly decorated, without saving on mirrors. As in a real gym, there should be a lot of them so that a person sees not only the result of working on the body, but also problem areas that still have to be worked on. When installing the simulators, observe the recommended distance between them in order to avoid injuries.
Cellar
The cellar can be adapted for storage of pickles or home-made wines. For the latter, a country style is suitable. The direction that was born in the American outback loves rough textures and a range of “woody” colors. The walls are decorated with decorative bricks, chandeliers are hung from the ceiling on decorative chains, and empty glass containers are stored in barrels. It also hosts a wicker table for tasting and a pair of matching chairs.If you plan to store pickles and products in the cellar, you can save on decoration. It is not necessary to install heating in this room, natural ventilation is sufficient. For storage of cans with pickles, discard wooden shelves in favor of their metal counterparts. To increase the service life of the latter, the material is coated with a protective layer against corrosion.
Engineering systems
Initially, the cellars were intended for all communication nodes. A pumping station is installed in this room if the owners are connected to an autonomous source of water. A gas or electric boiler, which is responsible for heating the entire house, is also placed here, as well as an electrical panel with plugs. Engineering systems rarely occupy the entire basement area. If it is equipped with a living room, they are fenced off from the room by a partition or a decorative wall so as not to spoil the general view.
Digging a basement on your own is not a good idea.
It is dangerous to dig out the basement under an already constructed building. Not even every professional will undertake such a job. To begin with, it is worth remembering that the basement is part of the foundation. It is being developed at the design stage. Amateur initiative is fraught with a warp or destruction of the house itself. Wooden buildings can sag, while brick buildings can crack. The walls of the cellars are usually a continuation of the strip foundation, which is deepened, that is, the room and the base of the house are a single whole. It is much simpler and more economical to pay an estimate for construction than to give a tidy sum to professionals for the restoration of a house damaged by independent earthwork.
Conclusion
The design of the basement is chosen from the same variety of styles as for ordinary rooms. In comparison with them, on the contrary, the room only wins, as it usually has impressive dimensions, which can be freely disposed of.
Naturally, the design will in any case be costly, but remodeling an existing room is much cheaper than adding a new one to the house. The basement opens up great opportunities for the owners: it is universal and supports any ideas for arrangement.