Ready to turn your basement inside out and make it a functional living space? Finished basements have become more popular over the past few decades. No longer are basements viewed as dark caves where mechanical systems clank away and spiders abound. Instead, they offer additional space and can increase the value of your home – as long as you keep a few simple things in mind. It’s a great way to make way for aging parents that need you close but still need their own space, a man-cave for the hubby, or a nice tucked-away space for boomerang college grads until they get their feet underneath them.
Bedroom addition –Incorporating a bedroom in the basement is a great way to make room for guest and create extra storage space. So that means making sure there’s a legal egress in case of fire – typically a window with an opening big enough to allow escape, as well as a window well deep enough to facilitate that hasty exit. And yes, you’ll need permits.
Wall insulation-A basement’s outside walls often aren’t well insulated, so you may have to fur out the concrete walls by framing a narrow wall inside which can be insulated with spray foam, rigid insulation or traditional batts. You’ll spend a few extra dollars but it will pay off in the long run. Depending on how your heating and cooling was designed originally- you may need to have your contractor analyze the HVAC needs as well.
Floor solution-The days of damp floors and cold feet are over. As long as you don’t have any current water issues in your basement floor there are great products currently available such as LVP/LVT (Luxury Vinyl Plank or Luxury Vinyl Tile) and ceramic tile. If you want the hardwood flooring look you can go with one of these options without worry about water or damage- especially if you live on the lake and have heavy lake traffic into your basement areas.
Bathroom addition-Building a bathroom in the basement will add value to your home, as long as it’s well planned. The good news is most new homes have bathroom rough-ins already installed. Have you ever wondered what those random capped pipes are that stick out from the concrete? Now you know! If yours doesn’t, a plumber will need to open up a channel from the bathroom area all the way to the main stack or sewer line which can add cost but is certainly feasible when adding an additional bathroom.
If your basement is ready for a facelift- contact F&S Building today. With our Interior Designer we can walk you through creating your perfect space!
