Many people enjoy working with their hands in their spare time, building and inventing new devices that make their lives easier or just for the fun of it. Having a dedicated workshop with the tools and equipment for tinkering and building can be a great way to relax and use your creativity to design exciting new things. Though garages and sheds are popular, basements make excellent workshops as well. If you haven’t yet made use of your home’s basement, consider remodeling it to create a new workshop where your creations can come to life.

Since accidents happen, it’s a good idea to make your finished basement as durable as possible to withstand bumps, scratches and the occasional tool thrown in frustration. Rather than a brittle drywall, which may also be susceptible to moisture damage, you may want to consider using a basement finishing system. These tend to have more durable panels that can withstand the abuse of a workshop and are highly water resistant, helping to keep your workspace drier. The floor of your basement is another important factor, as it needs to be durable enough to survive dropped tools and materials without forming crack that can lead to water intrusion. Flooring type that require a subfloor system, such as carpet and some laminates, should be avoided since subfloors generally have strict weight limits and aren’t very impact resistant. Stained, sealed concrete is a cheap and durable option, but nothing beats the performance of an epoxy floor for your workshop.

Finishing systems also generally incorporate soundproofing elements that can greatly increase your comfort level in your new workshop. Since banging hammers, whirring drills and grinding metal can get very loud, having wall panels that dampen the din will not only make it easier to focus but actually help prevent hearing loss. If you’re using a suspended ceiling, you can also find acoustic tiles that will help prevent noise from leaking through the floorboards above. You’re best off looking for panels that have both a high Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), the closer to 1.0 the better, and a high Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC), 40 or higher if possible. Your family is sure to be thankful you’ve installed this protection, as it will allow you to work without disturbing anyone in the home above.

If your basement doesn’t already have a door that leads directly out of your home, you may want to consider installing one. Raw materials like lumber, sheet metal and plywood can all be ungainly to move and carry, and having to move them through your house risks damaging your walls and furniture. With easy exterior access, you can easily move the raw materials you need in and out of your basement without risking damage to the rest of your home.

With these features in place, just bring in a work bench, your tools and storage cabinets for all your materials, and soon you’ll be ready to start crafting new, useful or interesting creations in the comfort of your own home.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services. His work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites. http://www.1800basement.com/

Author Bio: Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: basement remodeling