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You have decided to start a new project and plan on building a basement space for your family to enjoy. The basement of most houses is the last area to be finished but it can really benefit a home by adding lots of extra space not to mention increasing your home’s value. It can however be a big job and you have to plan right from the start. Things to consider are:
Do you need to excavate your basement?
If the ceilings are going to be low nobody will want to use the space. Bite the bullet and find an excavation professional. You can normally get a free quote and it might not be as much as you think.
Are there any basement waterproofing issues you know about?
If you have a wet basement you don’t want to start renovating until you have dealt with any moisture issues. Don’t do all the work only to have to rip it out when it gets wet and moldy. Having your basement sealed by a professional with a waterproofing material will give you piece of mind and let you truly enjoy your new basement space secure in the knowledge that it is going to stay dry.
What do you plan to use the space for?
Family room, home theater, extra bedroom, or separate apartment? All are great additions in a basement environment, but will dictate a different layout. Each will have their own specific wiring and plumbing needs.
Building walls in a basement, what is the layout going to be?
Again, in any basement build, wall placement will be key. Building walls will depend on the use of the space. Building a basement wall is easy, but make sure you know where they are going before you start. Nothing is worse than putting up a wall only to decide the room is too small and having to move it after it is up. Home design software can be helpful to plan everything before you start.
Should you include a bathroom and kitchen area?
Decide on how often you will use the extra function of a kitchen or wet bar setup and include it in the design if you think it will offer greater benefit for your family. YOU ALWAYS NEED TO ADD A BATHROOM! Think about having to walk up the stairs every time you need to go and you will find it an easy decision to include a bathroom. If you are not comfortable doing the work consider hiring a plumbing professional. The cost of a certified plumber isn’t a lot when you consider how much more you will enjoy the space with the added benefit of another bathroom or a wet bar.
Building codes for basements
Make sure to check out your local basement building code before proceeding. Researching the building codes for basements requirements before you start will save a lot of aggravation before you start. I did find a helpful article on www.concretenetwork.com which is a good place to begin figuring out what you will need to cover. It outlines aspects that your local inspector will raise when you have your basement building plan evaluated. It suggests researching the following:
The following requirements are meant as a guideline, which may apply to most simple residential basement finishing projects. However, a plan reviewer may determine that unusual circumstances dictate the need for additional information on any particular project. It should also be emphasized that especially on interior renovation projects many code requirements are verified through the inspection process and are not necessarily reflected within the approved plan documents
HABITABLE ROOM SIZES & CEILING HEIGHTS
INSULATION, PARTITIONS & WALLS
WALL CONSTRUCTION
NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION, SAFETY GLAZING
STAIRWAYS
CEILING/FLOOR DRAFTSTOPPING, FIRESTOPPING, SMOKE DETECTORS
BEDROOM EMERGENCY EXIT
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING, VENTILATION, AND GENERAL MECHANICAL
ELECTRICAL
PLUMBING
Important stuff to figure out before you commence what is likely going to be the biggest home improvement you will be undertaking in your home. After you have a better idea you must contact your local municipal building permit office to get your local specific code requirements. By doing the leg work in advance, you will make the inspection and building code approval process way less stressful. Good Luck and happy renovating!
Before building a house or renovating houses or buildings it is important to plan first. If you are planning to build your own house, at first you need to start dreaming and imagine for your dream house. Then after a big dream you need to turn your dream into reality. So, it’s time to write a house plan or look for the architect to draw and plan for your dream house.
Considering all your appliances and housing accessories in your house should be included in your plan. You should know where to place your bedroom, comfort room, bathroom, kitchen, living room, study room, and even your music room if you love music. It should be indicated in the plan where you want to locate them including your appliances and furniture. One of the important to be included in your plan is the safety of your house from electrical wirings. The ventilation, ceiling, wall insulations and installing of windows are planned carefully. Plumbing services should be properly installed by the person who is skilled in plumbing to make sure of the quality. To make it all legal, consult your municipality and ask for a building permit and show your proposal if they pass from their building local requirements before you start your repair. The municipal engineer will check your plan and they will inform you if you pass their building qualification requirements.
To make sure of the building quality you want to build or you want to renovate and you are not skilled enough it’s better to hire engineers and architect to design and build your house and pay them to prevent problems in the future because if you encounter problems after building for your basement it will cause repair again and you need to spend more money again.