What Are You Looking For In a Calgary Basement Development Company?

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PictureIn recent years, Calgary basement development companies have been popping up all over the city. With the increased interest in basement development shown by locals, this really isn’t surprising. We’ve said it before and we will keep saying it — basement development is absolutely priceless.

As a customer, what are you looking for in a Calgary basement development company? Experience? Knowledge? Great customer service? How about all of these?

If you are considering renovating your basement, then knowing what you are looking for in a company is extremely important. Some people, as an example, do not mind paying more for quality, while others only care about saving money. Knowing where you stand on this scale will help you determine whether working with a certain company or not is a good idea.

Consider those few questions:

  • Can you afford to remodel your basement straight away or are you looking for a company that offers Calgary financing options?
  • Is experience more important than results for you? Do you care about how long a company has been in operation for?
  • Are you looking for a company that is able to meet very strict qualifications or do you not care as long as their qualifications are genuine and can be verified?
  • Do you care about how “human” a company is? How about how “green” they are?

Finding a Calgary basement development company isn’t an easy task, but it’s certainly worth it. Begin by answering those questions and keep your answers in mind while trying to find a company that meets your needs and expectations. This way, sifting between the “good” and the “bad” ones becomes suddenly much simpler.

Good luck!

3 Questions To Ask Prospective Calgary Basement Development Companies

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PictureOkay, so if you are here then we can (probably) assume that you are interested in hiring a Calgary basement development company… but that you don’t exactly know where to start from. If we are right, then we have a good news for you: We are here to help you.

To make the process a little bit easier for you, we have compiled a list of 3 questions that we recommend you ask prospective companies before hiring them. Remember that developing your basement is often a life-long investment, so don’t be shy and ask away!

  1. What are your qualifications?  Sometimes, Calgary basement development companies don’t cover this very important topic on their website. This is why we urge you to bring it up with them before even considering hiring them. Ideally, the company that you end up choosing would have been in business for several years already.
  2. Do you offer financing options? Yes, basement development is expensive. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that expensive. Often, companies like PLANit Builders like to offer financing options to their clients. If you suspect that your budget will be tight this year, make sure to check the options available to you before signing anything.
  3. What can you do for my basement? It doesn’t matter if you have an idea in the making or whether you almost have the plans for your new basement ready. Before hiring a Calgary basement development company, we suggest that you ask this question first. This will give you the opportunity to learn more about what said company specializes in, what they don’t, and whether or not they are a good fit for you.

Good luck!

What Do You Want To Do With Your Calgary Basement?

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basementrenovationsCalgaryBasements are traditionally cold, dark and moldy. This is a commonly accepted fact in our world today. Because basements are traditionally cold, dark and moldy few people want to associate with them. We would like to change this.

Not only do we want to change the attitude of people towards basements — we also want to change basements. And this is what we do. For years now we have turned cold, dark and moldy basements in the Calgary and Edmonton areas into modern, beautiful and useful basements.

Will yours be next?

As a Calgary basement development company, PLANit Builders prides itself in the quality of service it offers to the people of Alberta. It is our constant dedication and our love for basement development that have allowed us to remain ahead of our competitors all those years.

This is also why we would like to ask you today: What do you want to do with your basement?

Would you like to leave it as it is? Or would you like to turn it into the basement of your dreams? It doesn’t matter if the basement of your dreams is an in-home office or a bar or even a gym. If you can dream it, we can build it. It’s as simple as that.

Basement development provides you with countless opportunities. It is up to you to decide what would benefit you the most. Plenty of basement remodelling ideas can be found online if you have never wanted to turn your basement into anything in particular. :-)

You can also always turn to us for advice!

Calgary Basement Development Compay — Why PLANit Builders is #1

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As you may or may not already know, basement development is quickly gaining in popularity in Calgary. This is not surprising. Basement development has long been overlooked by people who thought that basements had to be just that — basements. The truth, however, is that basements can be anything that you want them to be, from bedrooms to gyms to offices and even in-home bars.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you see it), with the rise of basement development also means the rise of basement development companies in Calgary. As a potential client to one of these companies, it is imperative that you learn how to sift between the good and the bad ones out there.

PLANit Builders is constantly ranked as the #1 Calgary basement development company. For many years now we have offered premium basement remodelling services to people in Calgary and we are not planning on stopping any time soon. Not only do we know basements — we also know people, and it is this knowledge and experience that allows us to stay ahead of our competitors.

We are also in proud partnerships with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), the Calgary Region Home Builders’ Association (CRHBA), the Edmonton Region Home Builders’ Association (ERHBA), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), RenoMark, HomeStars. If you are interested, we encourage you to take a look at the testimonials section of our website to get an idea of what to expect from us.

Until then, we also recommend that you drop by the financing section of our website if you are having some monetary issues but would still like to remodel your basement in 2015. We have something for everyone! :-)

How to Choose the Perfect Basement Development Company

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Has the idea of developing your basement piqued your interest? While it might sound like a good idea at first (and it is most of the time), it is still wise to know what you are getting yourself into beforehand. Naturally, the first thing that you will have to do is choose the right basement development company to work with.

If you think about it for a moment, remodelling your basement is a big investment. Not only does it have the potential to increase the resale value of your home dramatically: It also has the potential to affect your life and that of your family for many, many years to come. Whether the finished product ends up affecting you for the better or for the worse will depend mostly on the basement development company in charge of remodelling your basement.

(Not to mention the numerous things that could go wrong during the remodelling process.)

So how do you know which company to choose? Quite simply, it all depends on how well you do your research. Always listen to the opinion of other people: Companies can lie but customers do not. Many websites online offer people the opportunity to leave reviews detailing their experience with basement development companies. Learn to sift through the good and the bad companies by relying on those reviews.

There are a few questions that you should always ask a prospective company as well. For one, you should educate yourself on what kind of qualifications a good company should have and ensure that they have such qualifications. Remember that the more questions you ask, the better. There should be a good amount of trust between you and the company and it should reflect in the way they engage you as a customer. If you want, don’t be shy to ask for references.

Finally, don’t settle on the first good company that you find. Keep searching and searching until you are certain that the one you have chosen will be able to make your dream basement come to life.

What Causes Mould in Basements?

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As you probably already know by now, basements have a reputation of being dark, cold and… mouldy. The good news is that basements don’t have to be like this. For many people, this is when basement development companies come into play. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to afford the services of such companies. For those people, dealing with mould in their basement should be a priority. Not only can mould damage the structure of a basement: It can even prove to be dangerous to the health of young children and people with weak immune systems.

But where does mould come from? What causes mould in basements? The answer to those questions is fairly simple: humidity. Because basements do not receive much sunlight and have very little ventilation, humidity tends to take hold of them. This humidity, coupled with the condensation caused by cold temperatures are the major culprits behind mould growth. If you suffer from a humid basement, we encourage you to take a look at one of our earlier blog posts to learn how you can prevent humidity.

Another major culprit in mould growth is basement floods. After a flood, the best thing to do is to contact a professional water damage company. It is important to keep your basement dry and to remove and clean items that were previously stored in your basement.

The worst part about mould is that when it starts to grow, it can go unnoticed for a very long time. Depending on the type of mould that can be found in your basement, it can spread a lot, and it can spread quickly. We therefore recommend that you clean your basement on a regular basis. With proper cleaning, heating and ventilation, there is no reason why your basement should fall into the “dark, cold and mouldy” category any longer.

Basement Development Ideas

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By now, you should know that basements don’t have to be cold, mouldy or dark. We live in the 21st century and it is easier than ever for basements to become anything that you want them to be. With the help of a basement development company, you can now have the guest bedroom that your friends and family have always longed for, the office that you have always dreamed of or even the movie room that your husband has always wanted.

With basement development, your imagination truly becomes the limit. If you can dream it (and afford it), most companies will be more than happy to help make your dream basement come to life.

If you are interested in the idea of developing your basement, we encourage you to spend some time looking up pictures of remodelled basements on the internet. Research and brainstorming are incredibly important and should never be underestimated. In fact, don’t even think about making a decision until you are completely certain that your idea is the best for both your family and your budget. After all, the type of investment that you are about to make is not something that you can easily forget about. Sure, it has the potential to boost the resale value of your home dramatically,  but it is likely that you will have to deal with your decision for many years to come. So choose wisely.

Basement development is a wonderful thing. It gives you a vast amount of freedom and opportunities. Forget everything that you know about traditional basements and let your imagination run wild. Click here for more basement development ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/casadelindquist/basement-ideas.

4 Basement Heating Options to Consider

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If there is a trait that seems to be universal to basements, it’s coldness. Basements, however, do not have to be cold. (They do not have to be dark and moldy either, but that’s clearly another story.) If your basement belongs in that unfortunate category, don’t sweat it too much. (Pun intended.) With the help of technology, it has now become easier than ever to enjoy a warm basement.

So without further ado, here are 4 basement heating options that you might want to consider:

1. Electric Heaters

If you like simple, effective and inexpensive options, then we definitely encourage you to install an electric heater in your basement. However, it is good to remember that electric heaters are generally used to heat larger basements. Electric heaters are safe and free from harmfull emissions.

2. Radiant Space Heaters

Along with electric heaters, radiant space heaters are commonly used in basements. However, unlike electric heaters they warm up the basement by heating up the floors from below. While this type of heater has many positive sides (it is clean, soundless and efficient), it also has its downsides. For one, it is quite expensive and difficult to install. If those are two things that don’t bother you, then we definitely recommend that you look deeper into this option.

3. Ceramic Heaters

This option is ideal if you are worrying about your budget. Ceremic heaters operate on electricity and are among the cheapest available on the market today. How they work is fairly simple: A fan that can be found on the inside pushes the air created by a ceramic heating element. They are ideal for smaller areas, but they can be bought and customized to fit your basement.

4. Baseboard Heaters

Along with many other types of heaters, basement heaters also operate on electricity. Easy to use, safe and efficient, they heat the cold air at floor level (where they are installed). The air then rises up and warms the area. Basement heaters come in many different sizes, allowing you to configure them as you wish.

How to Baby Proof Your Basement

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BabyLittle ones enjoy exploring. It is in their nature to wander around the house, opening doors that they should not open and crawling in spaces that they should not be in. Unfortunately, a basement could prove to be potentially dangerous to those curious little ones. As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your basement is baby proofed. Here are some tips that might be useful to you:

1. Install a baby gate at the top of the stairs. This is the best way to prevent falls and to ensure that your baby does not stray where he or she should not.

2. Consider also installing a door lock. A door lock would give you peace of mind through its extra protection.

3. Inside the basement, ensure that every shelf and furniture is secured with a L-bracket. This will prevent those furnitures from tiping over and hurting your child.

4. Make sure that the area is devoid of mold.  While mold can be dangerous to just about anyone, mold is especially dangerous to infants and children.

5. Keep chemicals and potentially dangerous supplies at bay. Should your baby somehow manage to find his or her way into the basement, it is crucial that you learn to keep such chemicals and supplies away from their reach. Consider storing them on a very high shelf or locking them up in a cabinet.

6. Clear out the clutter. Even if you think that an object could never hurt a baby, it is always a good idea to keep your basement in order. You never know what might be hiding inside that box.

7. Finally, cover the walls if your basement is unfinished. This will provide a safer environment as exposed installations could prove to be dangerous.

Letting your baby wander the house is necessary for your baby to develop a healthy curiosity. It is the best way for them to experience and learn about the world. However, there are places that your baby should not explore, and your basement is among them.