Basements, for their intrinsic characteristics, are very difficult to exploit. They are generally wasted environments, and few houses that take advantage. Here I propose a series of suggestions to optimize them and recycle them as cellars, warehouses, or fully functional rooms. Basements don’t tend to be places to be. The little light available and its difficult access makes these spaces, when they are not optimized, difficult to live for several hours. However we can use resources to make them functional. First we must warn that basements are not eligible to become places to save and conserve clothing or papers that moisture would affect them negatively and the danger of a fire in a place with poor ventilation and difficult access is much greater. On the other hand, the basement is an optimum environment for storing tools, in the style of a small workshop, or install a wine cellar to store bottles of wine and liquors.
S take the walls with a series of aluminium shelving could stay in one place all the tools that are usually scattered around the House. Another idea is to set aside a section of the basement to make it work cupboard and accommodate so food, cleaning products or toys that are left to use and do not wish to throw or give away for sentimental reasons. Being these spaces that are in direct contact with the soil moisture problems are inevitable. When it comes to recycling the basement to turn it into a usable environment, should be a priority solve these drawbacks through simple masonry works. A way to keep the lining of the walls and the floor of a basement consists of the implementation of materials which are not affected by moisture. The soil that adapts perfectly to this particularity of the environment is the cement floor smoothing, which in addition to being easy to clean it is quite economical. This type of flooring is waterproof and has a brightness that gives light to the entire stay. A valid alternative is ceramic floor, which has similar characteristics to the floor cement.
As for the walls, it is convenient to leave them with a rustic finish. Use wallpaper or wood is not a viable option, since the deterioration suffered is too fast. Due to its characteristics of darkness, low temperatures and some humidity, one of the traditional uses of a basement is the turning it into a personal wine cellar. The particularities of the basement, their low temperature, humidity and darkness make perfect for these purposes. In the event that the basement has an installation of adequate water, you can leverage to build a laundry room with several machines. If we were to place any other devices that operate at gas we’d stick to regulations requiring certain ventilation ducts that return safely. It is not uncommon that the upper part of the walls have contact with the outside. In these cases you can place Windows perimeter that provide light and some ventilation capacity. As regards the lighting necessary electrical installation is done with plastic pipes to avoid affecting them moisture that may remain on the walls. The ideal is that the enclosure can take advantage of a communication with a ventilated and lighted place. A glazed door would be an excellent solution. These are just a few ideas to keep in mind to take advantage as much as possible the basement of our House.