Spring is just around the corner, and if you’ve decided to take advantage of the warmer weather and finally tackle some of the renovations you’ve been putting off in previous years, the basement is a fantastic place to start. As one of the most under-sung but important areas of our home, the basement has a wealth of potential and when finished, can easily double the usable square footage for your family to enjoy.

From theatres and gyms to creating a dedicated home office that allows you to work from home comfortably, designing a custom space is one of the best ways to maximize your enjoyment and create value. Below, we’ll cover some of the top things you need to consider when prepping for a basement renovation, as well as the benefit of partnering with Peak Improvements. Read on to learn more!

Common Challenges

It’s no secret that the basement can be a more challenging area of the home to renovate due to the fact that it’s a sub-ground level. The lower temperatures, increased moisture, and other risk factors will take some extra consideration, but with the help of an experienced team, making things work is easy! Areas you’ll need to focus on include:

Lighting

Thanks to being partially underground, basements naturally get significantly less sunlight than the rest of the house. A key part of making your new and improved space comfortable is ensuring that you have enough lighting to illuminate the space properly. Adding egress windows can not only let in extra natural light but also give you a safer exit plan in the case of a fire (which should always be a priority as well). Aside from natural light, you can also turn to solutions like LED lighting, specialized setups, and more.

Flooring

Because of the moisture that lingers in the basements, you need to be careful when selecting your flooring. While hardwood might look good in other areas of the home, it, along with other options that are far more susceptible to water damage are less ideal for sub-level spaces. In contrast, stylish options like Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) will withstand moisture but will be far colder on the feet. Adding an insulated floor panel will help to insulate the floor from the concrete base and will separate the floor finish from moisture. This will increase the comfort and add to the longevity of the selected flooring.

Heating and Insulation

If you’ve spent time in your basement lately, you already know that the lower level of your home is generally quite a bit cooler than your main or upper floors. If you’re designing your space to be a hub for frequent hangouts, you’ll likely want to look into better insulation and heating methods to help get rid of the chill and keep everyone cozy. Working with a skilled design/build team like Peak Improvements’ will make it easy to find the perfect way of keeping things warm and ensuring the whole family is comfortable.

As an added bonus, finishing the basement actually helps to insulate your home against the elements, which keeps the whole home much cozier during the winter months!

Safety Measures and More

Finally, if you’re looking at installing a bedroom or even a legal secondary suite in the basement, you’ll need to ensure that your plans incorporate several safety standards as per Alberta Building Codes. These standards are in place to make sure that occupants and/or additional residents have a valid escape in the case of an emergency and mandate the need for key features like egress windows, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and more.

Stop Dreaming, Start Building

Partnering with the right renovation contractor can help you move forward with a major basement renovation confidently. Peak Improvements team of experts offers decades of combined experience, as well as a dedication to excellence that you can count on to help create the perfect space. Contact us today to learn how we can make your basement development a breeze!