Leon Murphy
(Above) Tracy and Gordon’s basement renovation added living space to their small footprint And it can be a blank slate; something to reimagine for any of your family’s needs, including entertaining, working from home, or relaxing.
In addition to your wish list, you’ll need to consider several technical and building code details, such as minimum ceiling heights, emergency egress regulations, insulation, and moisture control.
A vetted general contractor with basement remodeling experience would provide a more in-depth discussion of what is possible in your space.
Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free. This price point would update an already finished space and include painting, flooring, a new closet, and lighting.
Any problem—bad plumbing, lack of natural light, high humidity, a low ceiling—can all be sorted to create your dream basement. “It’s a balancing act to how much you want to put into the house before you exceed what value it brings,” said Alan, a Sweeten contractor.
Sweeten brings homeowners an exceptional renovation experience by personally matching trusted general contractors to your project, while offering expert guidance and support—at no cost to you. Sweeten general contractor Kyle says that his smallest basement renovation added just 400 square feet of living space, to be used as a kids’ play area.
And don’t forget: If the basement houses equipment, like a furnace or boiler, a mechanical room could take away a few hundred square feet from the livable space. About 50% of basement jobs require the floor to be dug lower to allow for additional ceiling height.
“To be comfortable and have no problems with building inspectors, you will need that second form of egress, such as a window or a door with steps leading outside to ground level,” said Kyle, a Sweeten contractor. Since your basement living space will probably be below sewer lines, you’ll need a pump to get waste out, said Kyle. If a conversion involves a bedroom, it is especially important to control moisture, to prevent toxic from forming.
This could mean using spray foam to fill in cracks and seal windows and doors, along with other insulation products. To prevent toxic mold, the humidity of living spaces should be kept below 60 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Extending your home’s existing HVAC system will also help ventilate the basement area.
