Full basement renovations have become way more popular in the past year. It’s often a space where families can take advantage of a decent amount of square footage. That being said, basement renovations are some of the most complicated projects, because that’s usually where all the ductwork and pipes are hidden, we’re often dealing with lower ceiling heights and yeah, and there’s this thing called gravity. I’m going to provide an overview of the things that a lot of homeowners don’t think about before diving into this type of project.

Utilities

If you have a basement, there are several systems that are probably situated in your basement. The largest will likely be your furnace if you have one. That piece of equipment is huge, and it can’t just get shoved in a closet, fresh air needs to be able to get to the system per code. You also need to plan around all the ductwork which isn’t exactly fun. If you plan on having a toilet in the basement, you’ll need to have some kind of pump to deal with the waste. Since a basement bathroom will end up being below where the waste line meets the public sewer, you’re ultimately fighting gravity. For the lower level of a home to not feel like a basement, all the utilities need to be hidden somehow while also being accessible. In some cases, we design custom cabinetry so that we can hide pipes in ways that are very intentional. That’s why designing ahead of time in a basement is especially important. Otherwise, you end up with all these awkward conditions–like random wall bump outs and drops in the ceiling. 

Ceilings

Speaking of random drops in the ceiling–you’ll need to decide if you want a drop ceiling or a drywall ceiling. The advantage of a drop ceiling is that it allows you to easily access systems for any repairs and helps absorb sound. And they do make much better looking drop ceilings then they used to 30 years ago. There are different sized tiles and decorative tiles that look like tin etc. However, some people still associate more traditional acoustical tile with offices.  If you go the drywall route for a more seamless, finished look then access hatches will need to be provided at specific sections of your utility systems. Drywall is also much more expensive to install. 

Egress

Sometimes homeowners want to put a room in the basement that can double as a guest room. If you plan on putting a bedroom in a basement, you’ll need an operable window for egress in case there’s a fire. There are codes around how large that window needs to be and how high off the ground it can be as well. 

Making the decision to finish your basement seems like a no brainer in a lot of cases. These spaces often have a ton of potential. The more thoughtfully you plan, the better you can make the space work for your needs.