Are you building a new home? Chances are you'll live there for quite a while. And inevitably, there will come a time when you wish you had more space. If you build your home on a crawl space, your only option will be an expensive addition later but if you plan ahead now, you can have premium quality living space readily available, right beneath your feet.

Regulation size concrete shuffleboard, designed by hand and
etched into concrete surface with hand-held grinder provides entertainment in this basement.
Allstate Decorative Concrete in Cokato, MN
Read more about this project.

Smart new home builders are offering flexibility in their home designs, allowing for creative use of lower level living space to accommodate growing, changing families. And a basement offers some of the most economical space in new home construction today. With the right protection, your builder can keep moisture out, and comfort in, so you can enjoy your new basement space.

Select Waterproofing Contractors offering Koch Waterproofing Solutions products offer builders the quality products and service that give homeowners a guaranteed dry basement. You can put this space to good use adding offices, playrooms, entertainment areas and bedrooms below ground that rival the rooms above. Innovative basement waterproofing systems like TUFF-N-DRI from Koch Waterproofing Solutions make this dry, comfortable below-ground living space possible. And it's guaranteed!

When planning your home, talk to your builder about these ideas to ensure you get the most from your new home right away, and in the future:

Choose the basement entrance carefully
Basement stairs are often in, or adjacent to, the kitchen and come down into the middle of a basement, which reduces the usable floor space in a basement layout. When positioning a basement stairway, consider how the basement might be used. A stairway off a main entrance or living area, for instance, offers good circulation for guests if you're planning to use the basement as an entertainment area. And placing a stairway along a basement wall opens up the basement for maximum floor plan possibilities.

Design the stairway
The basement stairway can be as attractive as the main stairway of a two-story home. Consider hardwoods with decorative turnings and posts for a rich traditional look or introduce wrought iron into your stairway design to bring a bit of the garden indoors. Finishing the walls of the basement stairway like the above grade walls helps add interest and appeal.

Include windows
Sunlight can transform any room into a cheerful gathering place. Abundant sunlight also can help a basement space look more natural. Consider adding daylight windows with window wells that are the same size as above ground windows.

Vary lighting
Consider variations in lighting to highlight certain areas of your lower level living space. Consider built-in lighting in the stairway and recessed or track ceiling lighting to highlight personal collections or create warm conversation areas.

Don't scrimp on finishes
When selecting a finish for any part of the basement, consider the type of activity that will take place in the space. Will the basement be used as bedroom, home theater, exercise room, home office or playroom, for instance?

Plan electrical outlets
When designing a basement, consider the placement of electrical outlets and switches, HVAC ducts and the entrance to the utility room. Group main electrical utilities (electrical, water and main sewer lines) together in one area of the basement. This area can be left as an unfinished room that hides the utilities, and gives you more design freedom in your basement living area.

Select ceiling height
Many basement designs now include 9 and 10 foot ceilings. Higher ceilings help to open up a room and create a more appealing basement space.

Consider a fireplace
A fireplace not only provides light and warmth, it can serve as a focal point in a room. Consider installing a flue at the time of construction, even if there are no immediate plans for a finished basement. The option to install one in the future can be a significant selling point in a homes' resale.

Consider a walk-out basement
Walk-out basements are increasingly popular features in new homes today. Generally built on a sloping site that exposes the basement to the outside, a walk-out basement allows for maximum light and convenient access for indoor-outdoor entertaining. A walk-out basement can lead to a terrace, patio or deck that unites the two entertaining areas of a home.

Insist on reliable waterproofing
No matter what your plans for basement space, be sure to protect your investment and all its contents with waterproofing you can trust. Since 1983, builders have been keeping basements leak-free with North America's #1 brand TUFF-N-DRI Basement Waterproofing System. TUFF-N-DRI keeps moisture out and comfort in with a powerful combination: a seamless, polymer-enhanced waterproofing membrane combined with a high-quality insulating and draining foundation board. TUFF-N-DRI fights basement moisture three ways: by protecting against leaks, stopping seepage, and reducing interior condensation. TUFF-N-DRI is backed by a 20-year transferable performance warranty with up to $10,000 in coverage (visit www.TUFF-N-DRI.com for full details).

Plan now for the space youll want later. Talk to your builder about the advantages of installing a basement thats guaranteed dry with TUFF-N-DRI Basement Waterproofing System. And begin thinking about the possibilities.

About Koch Waterproofing Solutions

Headquartered in Heath, Ohio, Koch Waterproofing Solutions is the industrys leading supplier of residential foundation waterproofing solutions. With its TUFF-N-DRI and WATCHDOG WATERPROOFING brands, Koch Waterproofing Solutions meets increasing homeowner demand for additional living space in homes by providing Guaranteed Dry Basements. The companys latest introduction, DrainStar stripdrain product, replaces traditional drain tile and gravel systems and its most effective in combination with TUFF-N-DRI and WATCHDOG WATERPROOFING products. Koch brands are installed by a national network of select waterproofing contractors that are among the industrys best sub-contractors. For more information or a contractor near you, call 800-DRY-BSMT or visit www.TUFF-N-DRI.com.