Men – just like women – can benefit from having their own place to escape for “me” time and relaxation. Man caves, as they’re called, give men a place to hang out with their friends, work on their hobbies, or just unwind.
A man cave can be located anywhere in the home, but the basement offers a respite away from the main house. If you plan to convert your basement into a man cave, there are a few things you’ll need to do to bring your vision to life.
Make a Plan
The first step is to create a plan and prepare your space. One of the main reasons why men fail to finish their man caves is because they go into the project without a plan.
A plan will allow you to develop a budget and give you direction. It will also help you keep costs under control.
When creating your plan, think about what items and features you want to have in your man cave. Maybe you want to have a theme for your space. Maybe you just want a place to relax and could care less about design.
Whatever your vision may be, write it down and create a list of things you’ll need to bring it to reality.
It can be helpful to create a sketch of your desired floor plan and figure out where you want to place things.
Once you have a rough design, you can figure out what work needs to be done and set a budget.
Set a Budget
The plan you create will help you set a budget for your project. There are a few things you’ll need to take into consideration when making your budget:
- Items you’ll need based on your plan (TVs, artwork, couches, pool table, etc.)
- The size of the basement
- The materials you’ll need to complete the conversion process
Determine the quality of the materials you’ll use, and get pricing information on these items. Add up the cost of all items and labor needed to convert your basement into a man cave. This will give you a starting budget. Just keep in mind that your costs will likely change (and be higher).
If your budget is higher than you expected or out of your price range, you may need to make adjustments and choose items that better fit into your budget.
Begin the Conversion Process
Once you have a plan and budget, you can start the conversion process. If you plan to hire contractors to take care of some of the work, now is the time to start comparing professionals in your area.
Every project is unique, but there are some basic things that people will need to do when converting their basements:
- Flooring: If you’re leaving the concrete flooring, it will need to be waterproofed and sealed. If you want to install laminate or another type of flooring, you’ll need to install a waterproof underlayment before installing the flooring.
- Walls: Walls should also be waterproofed and sealed to keep out moisture.
- Sump Pump: According to The Plumbing Doc ” A sump pump installation in can protect your home or building from water damage and ensure that your entire structure is habitable”.
- Electricity: Have electrical outlets added if necessary. You may also need to install wiring for overhead lighting.
