Finishing the basement can add customized living space to your home, property value, and it can remedy some shortfalls you might have upstairs. But a basement renovation must be done right or it could cost you down the road. Doing it right means planning, and with that in mind, here are some things to consider before you go ahead with a basement renovation.
Planning
Determine exactly what you want to accomplish in your basement. Whether you want a home theatre, extra bedrooms, a games room, a rental apartment, or anything else, decide on the best course of action for you and your home.
Permits
To complete a basement renovation properly, you will need every aspect of it to come up to code legally, and that means you need permits. Do a little research to find out which permits you need in your local area. Reach out to the city to point you in the right direction for permits and the ensuing inspections during the renovation.
Building and Electrical Requirements
While things like plumbing, structural supports, and electrical are always best left to the respective professional electricians in Red Deer, local codes can determine how they are handled. For example, there should be an electrical outlet within a certain distance from the next, power loads may require additional breakers or even a new sub-panel. Depending on what you want to do in your basement, these could lead you to adjust your plans accordingly.
Waterproofing
Finish your basement without waterproofing at your own risk. It may cost more to waterproof your basement but imagine spending all that time and money on finishing it only to have a major leak destroy it all.
Outdoor Access
Since you will likely only have one shot at this, you may consider a separate entry for your basement renovation project. This can allow you to adjust your plans for the way you utilize the basement in the future. But note that you should ensure compliance with local codes to do it correctly.
Flooring
Will you go with a subfloor or simply lay out the flooring of your choice? Do you want something warm and comfortable like carpeting or something easier to clean and replace like laminate? Depending on whether you add a kitchen or a bathroom, you might have two or three flooring options to consider.
Lighting
The lighting you choose will depend on your preference for how bright or soothing you want it to be, but it also depends on how high your ceilings are. If you have low ceilings, pot lights, or something the sits flush with the ceiling may be the only option, while high ceilings could accommodate a chandelier or low-hanging lights. Today you can choose from LED, incandescent, and fluorescent lighting, all of which offer varying degrees of energy savings.
So much thought goes into a well-planned basement renovation because it should be made to last. So make sure you consider these important factors and more before you proceed with finishing your basement.
