1. Are we eligible for a Basement Renovation from a structural and legal position?

Most towns do not allow basement finishing where the ceiling height is below 7'0'. Measure the height from the floor to the underside of the floor joists. There may be some irregular height with larger beams and good basement remodeling professionals can design a solution for this. In most cases you need about 7'4" of clearance for the support system and wiring of the finished ceiling.

2. What will we do with the extra space?

To make sure you have enough square footage to realize the full benefit of your finished basement it's important to consider how you plan to use the remodeled space. For example if you need an additional bathroom, two bedrooms, a gym and a home theater room; a 700 square foot area would probably not be adequate and should be considered early on.

3. Adding Bedrooms

Although basement finishing is a very low cost way to add additional living space to your home, if you are thinking of using the remodeled space for bedrooms, you will want to consider if there will be enough daylight to satisfy the occupants. Additionally, your town will almost certainly insist that you have an egress access for fire safety reasons in a space that is being finished as a bedroom. These are just a few things to consider when remodeling a basement to add bedrooms.

4. Electrical Service

When you add a home theater, kitchen, wet bar or anything that adds to the circuit requirements of the home you must consider the electrical and wiring implications. Often, the existing electrical panel is insufficient to support the new demand and must be upgraded and supplemented. Part of a good design and build plan will be to budget for those additional costs in advance.

5. Adding Bathrooms

Adding a bathroom or powder room makes great sense if you have the space. Clearly an additional bathroom is a great asset for a home and will give a greater return when it comes to selling the home in the future. A few considerations include plumbing, sewage and ejector pumps which are required and add to the cost.

6. You need to start with a dry basement

We never advocate finishing a basement that has an existing water problem. The first step is a comprehensive and permanent basement waterproofing solution which will provide the foundation for years of enjoyable living. This can add considerably to the finished investment as you may need a French drain, sump pump, and possibly back up power.

Moisture in the air can be alleviated through the installation of a humidifier and enhanced by a heating system. In many instances we are able to tap into the homes HVAC system, although this is often not needed since temperature variables in this area of the home are usually very modest throughout the seasons.