A Great Finished Basement Begins with a Great Plan
Thursday | May 06, 2010 Filed in: Basement Remodeling | General Remodeling
Planning for a basement renovation is exciting, and can begin at any time prior to calling your contractor. A good place to begin is to discuss with each family member what the new space will be used for. Each family member may have something different in mind. Sorting out the purpose of the space is key to the rest of the project moving smoothly and being pleased with the end result. It is also better if you know upfront what you are looking for so that when you meet with your contractor he knows what he is bidding on.
Here are some questions to ask your family:
Determining the uses ahead of time helps narrow down the floor plan. After determining what you want, walk through your basement and take measurements and with a roll of tape, block off your ideas to see if they will work. Consider possible fixture and furniture arrangement and identify possible zones for computers, televisions, telephones, heating units. This will help in the planning of plumbing, electrical, cable, internet, speaker wiring and so forth.
Don't feel the need to have a perfect plan in place before calling the contractor. The reason you are hiring him is for his skill and in-depth experience. Walk through your plan with your contractor. He will be able to identify if what you are thinking will work or not. He knows about where bulkheads need to be built as well as allowances for plumbing, doors, jams, how to build around obstacles such as structural supports, furnaces and so forth.
Your contractor has built in such a variety of configurations that he can suggest unique ideas you may not have thought of such as angled or extended walls, niches, adding pot lights to bulkheads or wall sconces to highlight areas.
Listen to his suggestions, but don't hesitate to remind him of your vision and budget. You know what is best for your family. It's your space and your investment. Work together to find the best solutions, and make your dream basement a reality.
Here are some questions to ask your family:
- Do we want the extra space for a children's playroom, or for a more formal space?
- Do we see it as a place we will use our older furnishings for casual hangouts, or will it become a new primary entertainment area where we will add new furnishings and entertain guests?
- Do we see it being used for large group gatherings? If so, what do we need?
- What events do we see happening in the space: television watching, Xbox playing, club meetings, yoga workouts, weight lifting, crafting, parties, etc.?
- How many different uses should we create zones for? Not every space needs to be walled off. Where might we want televisions, computers, telephone hook ups, a fireplace or heat source, special lighting and so forth?
- Would we like to include a bedroom? Do we have a space that meets the legal requirements for a bedroom? Is it worth dedicating a space as a guest room if it may only be used once or twice a year? Could the guest room double as an office? Or would we prefer a dedicated office?
- Do we have space for and prefer a full-size bathroom or will a two-piece do?
- Do we want any other water sources such as a wet bar, wash tub, art sink and so forth?
Determining the uses ahead of time helps narrow down the floor plan. After determining what you want, walk through your basement and take measurements and with a roll of tape, block off your ideas to see if they will work. Consider possible fixture and furniture arrangement and identify possible zones for computers, televisions, telephones, heating units. This will help in the planning of plumbing, electrical, cable, internet, speaker wiring and so forth.
Don't feel the need to have a perfect plan in place before calling the contractor. The reason you are hiring him is for his skill and in-depth experience. Walk through your plan with your contractor. He will be able to identify if what you are thinking will work or not. He knows about where bulkheads need to be built as well as allowances for plumbing, doors, jams, how to build around obstacles such as structural supports, furnaces and so forth.
Your contractor has built in such a variety of configurations that he can suggest unique ideas you may not have thought of such as angled or extended walls, niches, adding pot lights to bulkheads or wall sconces to highlight areas.
Listen to his suggestions, but don't hesitate to remind him of your vision and budget. You know what is best for your family. It's your space and your investment. Work together to find the best solutions, and make your dream basement a reality.