Five reasons you might be afraid to remodel your basement
Renovating a basement seems like a risk. How could this cave-like environment ever become welcoming and comfortable? But when it is done right, a basement transforms into living space with all the comfort and aesthetics a family hopes for in added square footage.
There are reasons NOT to renovate a basement, but the reasons in favor of renovation are even more compelling. Having the use of additional square footage while you live in the home translates into the value of an appealing “extra” when you sell the home. Realtors tell us that finished basements are more often an expectation–not just a “nice to have”-- for homes on the market.
Here are the five top reasons we hear from clients who are hesitant about remodeling a basement, and how excellent design and construction can make these concerns disappear.
Reason #1: We don’t see how the basement can be made functional or appealing
The basement is not a fun place to visit even to grab some tools, holiday decorations, or something from the freezer. Why would anyone want to spend time there? This is a place for storage and a very occasional table tennis game.
Response:
It might be a basement now, but with good design, it can become beautiful, useful lower-level living. There is space for your exercise equipment, a media room, a bedroom, even a kitchenette. This can be a good opportunity to add a home office away from the hubbub of the kitchen and main living area. Parents can be upstairs in the family room while the kids are happy to get privacy and go downstairs to watch the big screen in the lower-level.
Sometimes it is hard to see the potential in a space that is currently wall-to-wall cement. With quality design and construction, the basement can become the space the family has been longing for.
Reason #2: The basement is too damp
This is the most common concern people express for not moving forward with a basement renovation. How will we ever get rid of the damp feel and smell?
Response:
To be clear, there are some parts of metro DC that are too swampy for a finished basement.
But managing water infiltration in most of the region is not difficult. Walls can be waterproofed and drain tiles can be installed, or old drain systems upgraded. Sump pumps can be properly installed and/or replaced. Dehumidifiers have come a long way, and systems can be added to HVAC that mitigate humidity and remove it from the basement.
An experienced design-build partner can offer options to mitigate the potential for moisture in basements, whether it is a consistent problem or the basement remains mostly dry.
Reason #3: The basement ceiling is too low
There is no headroom in the basement. It feels cramped..
Response:
With low ceilings, sometimes the ductwork can be rerouted, framed and drywalled away from the main traffic patterns in the basement.
If the basement walls are not at least 7 feet high, digging down to create more headroom is another option. To gain 6 inches, the process, although labor intensive, is fairly straightforward to dig down and pour a new slab at that level.
Reason #4: The basement is too dark
There are too few windows, and they are small. The few bare lightbulbs in the basement create an environment that is dark and a little bit creepy.
Response:
Split levels and ranch style homes on down sloped lots are the easiest to renovate because they are fully or partially above grade. We refer to this design as a walkout basement. It lends itself to installation of patio doors and taller windows to bring in plenty of natural light.
When a basement is fully below grade, window wells can be expanded into light wells that bring in daylight from above.
One recent client had an egress window installed in the dressing area of a bedroom, allowing natural light to flow into the whole bedroom.
Along with increasing natural light, good lighting design can enhance the warmth and overall experience of this lower-level living area.
Reason #5: The basement is not conducive to aging in place
Many homeowners want to grow old in the home they’ve lived in where they’ve raised a family. But is it realistic to consider a basement as part of plans for aging in place?
Response:
The potential of having a bedroom and bathroom on the same floor with a kitchenette is appealing to many who consider renovations related to aging in place.
One option is to build a first-floor addition. But the square footage is already in the basement. Why spend three times the cost for the same amount of space?
Why not spend one-third of the cost to finish the basement and add a bathroom, a kitchenette, and bedroom?
How will people access the basement? Well, if a walkout is possible with a pathway that is ADA compliant, that is a great option. But a stair lift could also be installed. Reluctance about a stair lift is often about how it looks on a main staircase to the second floor. A stair lift going to the basement is more private.
Egress during an emergency is another concern for aging in place. Someone with limited mobility trying to navigate an egress window is not ideal. But a walkout or larger staircase with a battery operated stair lift mitigates many of these concerns.
Don’t Let Your Basement Become a Missed Opportunity
The goal is for the basement to transform into a beautiful, functional, finished lower-level. Making sure the basement is full of light, without water infiltration, and as pleasant to spend time in as anywhere else in a home requires good planning and quality execution.
By facing the challenges head on, “what ifs” are avoided. What if we had invested in waterproofing and drainage instead of just hoping for the best? What if we had gone ahead and created more opportunities for natural light? What about those patio doors to a garden that could have been?
Renovating a basement is a great idea from a value perspective. A new home and the cost of moving are high-cost in dollars and in the emotional toll that process can take. Renovating existing space is much less expensive than designing and building an addition.
Want to learn more about creating a welcoming and enjoyable basement as part of your home renovation? If so, then please consider downloading the free eBook titled "The Essential Elements of Renovating an Older Home." If you are ready to discuss your basement remodel, please reach out to us for a discussion about your basement remodeling opportunities.
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