"We need more space!" is one
of the main things we hear from clients who come to us for help
with renovations.
A
basement remodel can turn unused space, above, into a
warm and welcoming place. See
this project.
Renovation Design Group |
The good news is that most Utah houses have basements that
can provide additional livable space. With a good architectural
design, even shelf basements with low ceilings and small windows,
or basements that have already been poorly "finished," can
be transformed into wonderful, usable space.
Finishing a basement can be a less-expensive alternative
to a home addition, and it doesn't require changing the exterior
of your home or encroaching into your yard. A finished basement
is also preferable if you desire to create a room in which
you want to block out natural light, such as a TV room or
a home theater.
In next week's column we'll tell you how to remedy low-ceilinged,
partial or shelf basements. Today we'll focus on improving
the usable basement space you already have.
If your basement has never been finished or was not finished
properly, the first thing you'll need is a good floor plan.
Consider the architectural principle of "flow" or "circulation."
How will people get from one space to another? Open floor
plans are good, but don't be afraid to include an attractive
hallway to allow people to easily move from one space to another.
In older homes, furnaces and water heaters are often in the
center of the basement, which obstructs circulation. Rather
than trying to work around these utilities, it may be possible
to move them to a more remote location in your basement.
Moving the stairs may be necessary to achieve an ideal floor
plan. If you alter the stairs in any way, you will be required
to bring them up to current building code standards. Remember
that you'll need approximately 3 feet by 16 feet of floor
space for a safe, usable staircase.
The next principle to consider for your basement is natural
light. You can bring more light into your basement—and
make your basement safer — by adding or enlarging windows.
The hallway improves the basement's flow and leads to extra bedrooms
and recreation areas. See
this project.
Renovation Design Group |
Safety codes require that each basement bedroom have a window
whose lower ledge is not more than 44 inches from the floor
and has at least 5.7-square-feet of clear opening space.
In some cases, large window wells can be terraced away from
the window to give the room even more light and a feeling
of connection with the outside. An architect can help you
understand further possibilities and safety requirements for
basement windows and window wells.
Finally, if you want a bathroom in your basement, the easiest
place to install one is under an existing bathroom on the
main floor. If this location does not work for your basement
floor plan, however, drains can be relocated by trenching
into the basement's concrete floor.
With all of today's renovation options, basements that were
once dark and scary are being transformed into highly desirable
living spaces.
Related Articles:
- Add on by excavating basement
Architects
Ann Robinson, AIA, and Annie Vernon, AIA, welcome your design
questions at Ask@RenovationDesignGroup.com.
Robinson and Vernon are founding principals of Renovation
Design Group, a local architectural firm specializing in residential
remodeling design.
To register for "Designing a Remodel with Character &
Class," call 533-5331 or click
here for details.
© 2005 Deseret News
Publishing Company
