(NC)—For homeowners, expanding living space often means relocating to a bigger house since building an addition isn’t always an option. But if you can’t build up or build out, a great alternative to moving is creating additional space inside your house. A good way to do it is a home renovation project that will convert unused space into a living space, such as areas like your basement. Renovating your basement, such as upgrading your basement insulation, can be done quickly and easily with these handy tips for the homeowner.

•    Measure the entire area you plan to renovate.

•    Determine whether to do-it-yourself or contract it out.

•    Choose materials that you will need to finish the job.

According to David Flood, insulation expert at Owens Corning, it is important to ensure that your basement is properly insulated, not only to expand your living space, but also to help save on heating and cooling costs and enhance the overall comfort of your basement.

Adequate insulation will help improve energy efficiency and provide exceptional moisture resistance in your basement. For optimal results, install Cel-Lok® insulation panels with an R-10 value and R-14 PINK FIBERGLAS® insulation batts to create a thermal insulation barrier with a value of R-24. These fast and easy upgrades will make your home more comfortable and also more energy efficient.

Ready to get started? Don’t forget to take advantage of government grants available to help out with your home renovation projects. The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program is offering a grant of up to $5000 from the Government of Canada for energy efficiency renovations which have not yet started. Some energy utilities and provincial governments offer additional funding. For more information on ecoEnergy grants and incentives, visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca/homes.

Want to learn more? Instructions on how to insulate your basement can be found at www.owenscorning.ca.  And remember: the long-term benefit of renovating your basement is the added value to your home when it does come time to sell.

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