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PAGE 22, WHITBY FEEPffESSpýDESDYMffRH 13. 1991, ....... .... - ----- ------ Finihingyou basemen 7ia article is prouided ýy local realtor an<d the Ontarlo Real Est ate Association<OREA) for t/w *benefit of consumera in thte real estate market. As ýpeopie continue to seek out additional living space in their homesý,, the basement remains a popular. area for renovation. Used as, a convenient storage ".catchail" freasin many homes, the baent b as. taken on new significance more reoently as a great place for a family room, extra bedroom, extra bathroom, exercise room, sauna room, hobby room, playroom, office and so on., If you!re thinkIng of utilizing the extra living space that your basement affords, take the time to fiuliy explore ail the options available 'ta you. A finished basementwill also improve your home's marketability,.should you ever decide to seli it. Before you- make an y plans, identify your needs and budget limitations.ý Do you want to make it a muiti-purpose area -- such as a family room, playroom, exercise room and office al rolled into one? Or do you just want a quiet place to relax or entertain? A cosy room ini the basement can provide' a great getaway from the hustle and bustle, of- the, average household. Installation of special sound-proofing material can enhance tbii cocoon-like effect. If you have children, you may' want ta crate a large, functional recreation area that gi*ves themn the freedom ta play and relax. Some homeowners also, finish their basements as inlaw apartmnents for. senior- fainily members. The installation of a second bath alone can greatly improve the marketability of your home. However, it's essential -to check local' zoning and building bylaws before establishing such a unit. Whatever you> decide, make sure the area you choose to finish is dry and not prone to danipness. If dampness is or could be a problem, you may want to instal vùpour barriers or treat the area w thspe»al moisture repellents -- depending on, the, souroe. of moisture. Insulating pipes can cut down on condensation -- a major source of darnpness. You can also bave your basement waterproofed from the outside. Consuit the experts at your local building centre for more information. Left uncbecked, darnpness can often lead ta many types of problems in a finished area, such as mnildew and rot -- the last things youl want in your nicely finisbed basement. Spaoe Once you've determine4. your needs and have figured out,.your budget, it's time ta decide just how much space you'il require. Do y ou wantta finish off the entire r ment ut a. portion of it? WIil you beLsingit ta entertain orwill it be stitly for family use? Measure your space accurately *anddraw up afloSorplan togive you a precise picture of the area you have ta work wiltb. Wbile planniàng yourý finisbing .project, aIse keep your electrica and, plumbing requirements in xmnd. For exampie, f yur pioogi phe and intend ta nstail.adarkcroom .in your basement, you'll want ýta access existing plumbing, and will need at least one electrical outlet in your new room. As a resuit, youl probably want ta consult with an electrician and a plumber ta make sure the job is . done properly. Youll also have ta consider how youlre. going'ta heat these areas. If you bhave forced air heating ducts in your house, you should be able ta access them and install new heating outlets for these rooms. You may aloo want. ta use electric baseboard heating. .If beight is a problem ini your your'nt you may want ta lower yor1basement floor by excavating it. This can be a costly procedure that miust be done correctly, so nmake sure you contemplate ail your options carefuily before taXing this route. Other considerations What types of flooring and wail materials do you want ta instali? In the past, floor tile and dark wooden panelling were fairly common features of "rec rooms." Today, the choices are endless; materials are available in a wide range of textures and durability. Many people opt for wall-ta-wal carpeting as a good way of retaining * warmth, 'becausé' basement rooms tend ta be somewhat cooler than the rest of the bouse. Iles- are' another option. Ini some* cases, you May simply want ta paint -the concrete floor. Before installing your fiooing you might want ta pût -down a vapeur barner, some insulation and a subfloor.This W111 help keep dampness from the concrete. floor from seingit tb flooring and wllaso belp keep the floor warmer. For- Wall, *many homeowners chm ooet instaldrywall instead of more traditional panelling. This- ailows for a more finished look that can le painted any colour. Stucco is another option,~ but it- can be more. difficult <ta dlean. As with the for t.a good ideato insuateyu basment wailsbefore finiug them. If you'dont have specific ideas about the. type of fihd basement yodlike, try looking at- some decorating, or home improvementý magazines. You may even want ta talk.ta a. dsign consultant. Whatever route you choose, remember ta keep your needs and a realistic budget in mind. 117. theC lit,, ttCq convenience and easy In new 'homes particularly, Greer said- kitchens are growing- in size relative ta other rooms because people are spending more time in them. "Kitchens bave, in a sense, become family, room extensions,' in *wbich husbands and even cbildren are more involved than ever before,." he said. Cal McCatbie,: contracte sales manager for Canac KÇitchens Ltd., agrees that kitchens in new and renovated homes are g enerally bigger than in; -the- -Past--.!Many itchens today feature * large windoWs, higbýceilings and' walkots t thebackyard," 'hé said. McCatbie added that e-the colour. white is currently "ve'y' veypopular" in' new.. khen cabinets anidiapplianoes. 'We)re aIeseeing more1 glass. cabinets. And centre, islanhds arè poular in larger itchens," he said.p S The. necessity of* many European households .-ta use available space and, energy resources as efficiently as possible is having a maqjor influence on the design and operation of kçitchen appliancçs in the '90a. CAAD" DSTPIN &Lt7 IPAP [IIVALU[ ~!Z OUR GUARANTEE 0F QUALITY OUR LOW PRICE GUARANTEE AP ooucs ucr'asecata!Co 0, ' ..'oca ' %c vvt" jtj'l'lo .ýcorctomai gtara"eecona , c o..a-e 'ot cooee1 " o sta in !h eour ou,.cmase iv eD ac "e ofoceso, D0-0, ,eO1..'r. 1C'.AA~ ."('. 9-ve ou a ul' efidoT S e o"o'c!Ae aat.r' o apoica! co"s lsa, .o" Sale effective Match 6, 1991 Io April 2, Î991 Nol ail items ovailabie ai ail sores foi franchise opporrunicies ral (416) 259 3751 of (604) 431 0401 Celer Your World \V~S2Ss/ 1916 DUNDAS ST. E., WHITBY (Northeast corner of Dundas & Garrard) Store Hours: Mon.-Fd. 9am-9pm Saturday 9am-6pm SPECIALISTS FOR OVER 10 YEARS IN CLOSET AND STORAGE PLANNING, DESIGN AND INSTALLATION *8 types.of wire shelving-we cut to fit at no extra cost. *Ail Vinyl Coated Steel Shelving. * deal for clothes or linen closets and storage shelves. *Rods and brackets extra. * Aaable in widths of 6", 9», 12", 16" & 20' and weIlI cut to size the Iength required. *Guaranteed installations. by our own qualified installers, or you may instail. *Competitive pricing, personal service. *Over 300,000 feet of shelving sold annually. [SPAE AGE SHELVINO FREE IN HOME'CONSULTATION 80 Thickson Rd. S., Whitby - (416) 430-1636 Store Hours: Mon. Wed. lOarn-6pm- Thurs. & Fri. 9am-9pm - Sat. 9am-6pm Lt ~t-s ,ti. ~J~L 14- " N DUNDAS __________ S20 o HWY401 SUà '435.0808ý v- ïï p J p .1 FROM PAGE 21 1 J lit ,