Wood is an excellent material not only for framing houses and other sturdy structures, but also for sculpting artistic works and crafts. If you are a woodworking hobbyist, you might want to consider turning your basement into your very own woodworking shop.
Turning your basement into a woodworking shop requires some basic preparations or renovation to ensure compliance with local building codes, which your contractor can address.
First of all, waterproofing the place is essential, to protect the tools and the lumber stock from molds. The entrance or passageway also requires a second look; some professionals recommend widening the pathway to at least four feet to grant enough space for heavy tools or cabinets to be moved in.
Second, basements are generally built with poured concrete or similar materials, which are not strong enough to accommodate nails for hanging side attachments such as racks. The basement contractor can work around this deficiency by first insulating the concrete, then adding extra wood walls to provide a solid foundation for the attachments.
Woodworking also generates a lot of sawdust and solvents, which are dangerous for anyone not wearing safety equipment like masks and safety goggles. Address this problem by including ventilation fans into the remodeling plan and sealing any HVAC ducts leading to the basement.
If you’re into woodworking or handicrafts, there’s no greater satisfaction than letting your creativity surface in items you worked on yourself at home.
