In many homes or commercial buildings have basement rooms constructed below the ground floor. In most cases, homeowners use these basements as utility rooms where they install boilers, breaker panels, fuse boxes and water heater. In cities where property markets fetch higher prices, client rent basements at higher prices. Today, you can renovate and rent your basement to earn income, but before check you local Toronto basement contractors to get quotes from them.
Planned renovations for your basement
A basement renovation has become popular in many homes and other commercial buildings because client rent them for other jobs. In addition, your basement renovation increases the value in market prices.
The planning stage
Planning your basement renovations is the critical factor to have in mind. First, you need to consider how clients use the basements after renovation. This can be a living room or a business workshop. Put yourself in another person’s shoe. Will the room be a good renting space for another family? Consider all aspects’ of a standard house like the guest room, gaming room, and laundry room and toilet facilities
The exits
One critical thing to consider when you want to renovate and rent out your basement includes planning for exits. Any good building code must have a safer exit when emergencies occur. For example, make sure there is a big opening window to climb out. It must be easy to reach. Here, you have to cut the foundation and build a window.
Moisture and water
Some basements are prone to excessive moisture content. Examine basement walls and floors for any cracks that cause moisture to enter. Sources of moisture inside basements must be corrected or they ruin the You also need to check on the structures like support posts and sewer lines that give challenges during the renovation process. Building owners must call professional inspector who recommends on what to do.
The height
During initial construction, contractors do not plan the basement well and might have a small height. After completion, some basements heights are not ideal for human living. Remember to check on this. If contractors installed home fittings inside the basements, it is time to relocate them elsewhere. Installations like ductwork, waste piping and electricity boxes must be relocated.
Draining problems
People renovate basements to be used as a home for another family. However, the problem of drainage occurs. When renovating the basements, you have to install new bathrooms. This means some concrete must be removed to connect new lines from toilets and shower to the main. To have a good drainage, this depends on how deep waste lines were built below the concrete surface floor. This requires a good slope to allow waste water leave through gravity. When this is not possible, you have to install sewage ejection pumps that drain waste from rooms.
Other renovations
When renovating the basement for rental check out hazardous items like asbestos and lead paints. For earthquake prone areas, bolt down the basement by installing shearwall in a process called retrofitting by fitting plywood.
After carrying out several renovations and painting the rooms in your basement, you can now advertise the basements for rental. In big cities, clients use these rooms as offices and living rooms, and they fetch a good monthly income.