The Ultimate Guide to Renovating Your Basement into A Living Space |
Posted: October 2, 2018 |
A basement can enhance your home when turned into a living space. You could establish a gym, entertainment room, bathroom, bedroom or even a full-blown living space. This will not only provide you with a decent living space but also give you a break from the normal upstairs. However, changing it is not a simple process. It needs time and effort to turn from a typical basement to an incredible living space. However, the key aspects in the process are the following and planning around them should provide a living space in a basement. Let's dive right in! Define your conversion goalsWhat are you renovating for? What do you need in your basement to make it a living space? A kitchen, entertainment room, bedroom, office space...state everything you need in order to include it in your modification process. Stating what your final outcome should be will help you determine things like the right size of space you need and the budget to make it all happen. This entails the staircase look and type of flooring you'll want as well as matching furniture and appliances. If you might need major structural changes, you will know which kind of permits you will need. Measure, measure, measureNow that you've cited what you'll be putting up in your basement, it'll be time to measure up. Again, you should be already aware of your building codes as a certain height of your basement is required for you to be able to convert your basement into a living space. Measure the basement lengths to see if the space will meet your equipment measurements too. Inspect and seek legal permitsYou do not want to be surprised by complications whether by the law or structural problems. Call an inspector to check if your drainage is fit. Also, let them check the safety of the operation you wish to undertake. Sometimes, you may need a higher ceiling and hence the ground has to be taken deeper. Can your home structure survive it? After inspecting and being given a way forward by the inspector, you'll need to check in with the law about which changes are considered valid in your area. If you are already cleared and given permits, you will then start your renovation process. Upgrade wiring and PlumbingThis is yet another intense inspection thing. If your basement was built with enough space to accommodate conversion, you still have to check the safety of the wiring. Check the possible upgrades that will fit your basement. As for the plumbing, whatever you need--be it sinks, bathroom or any other way you'll be using water, check the upgrades you might need to do. Your sockets have to be conveniently placed so include that in your thought process. Install water proofing and insulationWhen it comes to water induced problems, basements are really vulnerable depending on the region you live in. Ensure that you waterproof in order to avoid mold build up whose eventual effect won't make your basement desirable to live anymore. Also, insulation to regulate temperatures and sound will be another important thing. Insulation can include any process that fits your budget. However, because the basement is close to the ground, expect climatic factors to hugely affect it. That's why you'll need proper insulation to avoid annoying effects of external climatic factors. Insulation also pertains sound as vibrations can be prominent in the basement. The process can involve major structural changes that should involve experts. Set up natural lighting and ventilationThis is the heart of the process. For you to live in your basement legally, it has to be well ventilated. You also do not want a living space which is dark. You can use glazed ceiling panels, large windows and openings to bring light to your basement. Skylights are also another way to introduce some light life into your basement. That leaves you wondering what to do in a limited space basement. You can actually use sun pipes with angled mirrors and glazed panels to achieve the effect. Most basements are built with ventilation structures during the house construction. However, it may not be enough if you'd be cooking and doing lots of stuff in your basement. Consider more ventilation methods to fill your basement with fresh air always. Create easy access pointsYou could consider setting up a door that can be accessed from outdoors but it might not be possible depending on the nature of your basement. For it to be a safe living space, a window has to be fitted and should also be able to open enough to provide an exit. You can choose sliding windows for this. Install flooringThis is a normal step where you choose what flooring you'll need to match everything you've set up. You might have to forgo wooden flooring in the basement because of warping and moisture effects. Tiles and engineered wood can be the best flooring to put up in your basement. Customize your spaceNow that the mandatory steps are done, you can customize your space to suit your needs. Addition of a wall, upgrading your stairway, choosing indoor lighting and installing the right fixtures should be your final touches to achieve your desired living space. Converting your basement is not as easy as you picture it. You can DIY it if the basement was quite figured out during the construction of the house. If not, you'll need the right contractor to do it for you. Restructuring and installation of crucial home systems will need their expertise in order to be done right. With the above key processes, you can convert your basement into a wonderful living space that can feel like your normal living space. Or even more.
|
||||||||||||||||||
|