We hate to say it, but colder months are on the horizon. After a summer full of time outside, you might be starting to think about your plans for the fall and winter. Especially if you’re a homeowner, making the most of your space might be at the top of your home improvement to-do list.
Enter: custom basement renovations.
Basements aren’t just for storing the stuff you don’t use every day! So many homeowners have great potential for expanding their living space and home functionality. What would you do with a newly renovated basement?
Embrace Leisure: Build a Rec Room
Haven’t you always dreamed of having a space that’s made just for fun?
Many homeowners take the time to settle into their space, using the top floors for most of their day-to-day activities. But as we’ve all experienced, more time spent inside can lead us to get a little too restless in our common areas. Sometimes, the only retreat we need is the one to our basement!
When you’re planning your new space, you might want to consider what ambiance you are looking for, adding light, texture and colour to bring warmth to the space. Plus, you still have the ability to still build in storage alongside the media room of your dreams – this time with a strategic eye for maximizing space and staying true to your interior design.
Growing Families: What Basements Are Made For
If you have a large family, your basement might be the perfect solution for an in-law suite for extended family, or for an older child to have their own space. A basement remodel with a bathroom and bedroom is very common – for a reason!
Extended Living Space
Other household functions like laundry, an at-home wet bar, an extra bathroom, cozy fireplace, guest bedrooms, home office, and gyms are all great reasons to remodel that basement of yours. Imagine what you could do with that extra space.
If you’re thinking about remodelling your basement, take some time to think about how you’d like the space divided. Do you plan on having your basement serve a multi-use purpose? Is it strictly for guests or family members? Would you like storage or a common area as well?
These are all great questions that we will help you answer and make sure it becomes a reality.
Bonus Income And Additional Bedrooms
The most extensive basement remodelling is typically when homeowners want to create a secondary suite that is income-generating and can be legally rented out.
To make the most of your remodel and ensure your suite is appealing to renters, you’ll want to plan for a few specific features. If possible, adding a second entrance can make your unit more attractive to renters, and makes particular sense when the basement suite is complete with a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. You’ll also want to consider easy access to the mechanical room, or separate mechanicals altogether (like a second furnace).
Legal requirements to think about
The rules are changing constantly, so it’s important to be up-to-date on legal requirements as you start and carry out your basement reno plans, especially when you’re creating another living space in your home. Once you decide to build a secondary suite in your home, be sure to register through the City of Calgary, making your suite legal and compliant with the city’s building code requirements. More info on that here.
Egress windows are legally required for basement suites and any basement bedroom. This is required to ensure that emergency exits are available to basement tenants in the case of fire or other life-threatening situations. If you’re thinking about creating a secondary suite in your basement, visit the City of Calgary’s resources to make sure that your plans are safe or hire your trusted home design specialist who is taking all permits into consideration with the design concepts of the space from the get go.
The planning can become more detailed at the city level, but we’re here to help ensure that your basement meets your expectations, as well as the cities.
Ready to make the most of your home this winter? See what your basement could become by contacting us today!