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Congratulations! You’ve been issued the appropriate building permits and know what codes you need to follow. You can now begin preparing for remodeling your basement. What’s the first step? Getting the unfinished basement ready for construction. That means removing any existing components as needed, exterminating any insects or other critters, and checking for radon, asbestos, carbon monoxide and other health hazards. In many parts of the U.S. and Canada, the unfinished basement serves as the site for the bulky heating furnace and air conditioning systems. Depending on your remodeling plans, these components may need to be moved either within the basement or to another floor in the home. This is a job for HVAC experts, but you can assist or at least direct them in the project. For many basement remodels it’s a matter of enclosing the equipment where it is. For other homes, some of the equipment or ducting will be relocated. Just make sure you don’t close off access in case the system needs service or replacement in the future. If your basement has walls that you won’t be using, they will need to be removed before remodeling begins. Make sure the walls are not load-bearing, supporting the floor above. If you need to move a supporting post, consider hiring a contractor to do the work for you as there may be issues that can jeopardize your home’s structural integrity.
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