So you’ve decided to take the plunge and turn that cold, dark place under your house into a warm, inviting, livable space. Now that you’ve made up your mind to proceed, there are some things about finishing a basement that you should consider before moving headlong into that project.
First, think about the age of your home. If it was originally constructed more than 10 or 15 years ago, it may be time for an electrical upgrade. Whether replacing old breaker switches, entire electrical panels or changing out your wiring system, it’s important to make sure your electrical conduits are installed correctly, functioning properly and able to handle additional electrical demand. Otherwise, adding square footage by finishing a basement may overload the system and place your home at risk of fire.
Regardless how you plan to use your basement, you’ll want to make sure there’s plumbing available in whatever way you need it. For instance, if you plan to add a basement apartment to increase your income, renters will need plumbing in multiple places to service their laundry, kitchen and bathroom needs. If you’re planning to expand your own living space by adding a wet bar or bedroom and bathroom combination, you won’t need as many areas plumbed but should still seek the advice of a plumbing contractor, who specializes in these types of needs.
By law, all basements must contain at least one egress window. This is a window with a large opening sufficient for a person of average size to use as a means of exit in case of disaster—like that fire mentioned above. If your basement doesn’t contain at least one egress window, you’ll need to add one when finishing a basement. Contractors can help ensure your redesign includes an egress window for your safety and your family’s. By all means, never cut corners and eliminate such an important item when finishing a basement!
Heating and cooling systems should also be evaluated to ensure they’re efficiently able to handle the extra load that will be placed on them with your basement remodel. If your home doesn’t contain an Energy Star-rated system, this may be a good time to upgrade to one to help keep utility bills low. Though most homes’ HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) units are designed to heat and cool additional space sufficiently up to a point, finishing a basement calls for making sure yours can handle as much square footage as you’re adding. If a new system is optional, you’ll need to weigh the cost of that addition against the total cost of your basement renovation.
No matter what your plans for that brand new basement, we definitely recommend hiring a pro. With many years in the basement finishing business in the Denver, Colorado area, licensed experts at Basements & Beyond can help you make the transition to a comfortable, beautiful basement of quality design and construction. Contact us today for a free estimate.
Penny M. Hagerman is a communications expert and marketing professional living in Denver, Colorado. Penny lends her talents to businesses nationwide and enjoys helping them grow and prosper.