When planning your new basement, with the goal to maximize the design and functionality of this limited space, there are many important considerations.
To help you better plan your basement design and remodel, we have developed a list of 'critical issues' we feel that you as a homeowner should know about prior to selecting a design, and a contractor.
At Sovereign we recognize the importance of educating our clients so that they make informed decisions, and get the most from their investment. Make a selection on the left to learn more about the Sovereign Difference.
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Ceiling Obstructions
During the construction of your home, your builder may not have been concerned about the space planning of your basement.
The nature of the building process provides subcontracting specialist to perform their work in a sequential fashion; the plumbing is followed by the heating/AC vent installation which is followed by the electric etc. The end result is often an array of pipes, vents and wiring, many of which become obstructions when one plans to refinish a basement.
Our goal is to help you maximize your basement living space by addressing ceiling obstructions within our design phase, and prior to construction of your new living space. All plumbing, wiring, vents and other mechanicals are neatly consolidated, yet accessible, so as to maximize your head room and living space during built out.
As with ceiling obstructions, oftentimes, water lines, drain pipes and venting are situated in such a way to make designing living space impractical.
To help you maximize your basement floor space we will redesign plumbing feeds, drains and venting to become hidden within basement walls, and insulated for sound dampening.
Many homes have had the bathroom plumbing "roughed-in" to accommodate a bathroom for future finished the basement. Most often the plumbing is placed directly below bathroom or kitchens in upper floors. Oftentimes the rough-in basement bathroom lies in the middle of the largest living space available.
To maximize livability and space planning, when necessary we will redesign the lower space, relocating bathrooms and utilities in order to maximize space for family, media, and game rooms. This may require rerouting plumbing and utilities through the floor as show in the image. In the end living space is maximized through proper planning and design.
Your basement is most often the location for 'mechanicals' which includes plumbing, heating and air conditioning (HVAC), hot water heaters, electrical systems, and sump pumps. Most often mechanicals are spread throughout the basement area, but can be consolidated into single a more functional and accessible mechanical room within your basement space.
The resulting redesign provides much large living area, and in many cases, easier access for service providers. In addition, while reconfiguring your mechanical layout, we will alert you to any possible problems with existing equipment, and provide options for updating aging and inefficient systems to state-of-the-art, low cost, high efficiency systems.
Most basements do not have adequate natural lighting. To better utilize and enjoy your new refinished basement, careful attention must be made in planning your lighting design.
We will assist you in designing the proper lighting systems for your new space, ensuring new lighting is adequate for the space, and recessed where necessary to maximize living space. In addition your space can be customized with options, dimmers and switched outlets help you achieve your interior design ideas.
Typically we will wire the ceiling for recessed lights that fit neatly into to the ceiling. Six or eight such fixtures are typical for a given room that all can be operated from a given wall switch, and where desired, ceiling fans can be installed
In planning your new space special attention must be made to ensure adequate numbers of outlets, cable, data and phone lines. With the new framing complete, careful is required to provide your new space with the proper number of outlets per code, smoke detectors, HDTV, audio wiring, phone and network connections.
With Sovereign you can rest assured that you will have the capabilities to maximize the use of your current entertainment and technology systems, as well as plan for future devices.
Every County has stringent building codes that must be adhered to and require official permits to be obtained from their offices. Almost all remodeling projects also require the passage of several home inspections to ensure codes are met. Not following these guidelines can render your finished basement faulty, dangerous and legally uninsurable.
At Sovereign, all necessary permits are obtained, building codes are strictly adhered to and a good rapport is maintained with the County inspectors. In addition, all of our work and sub-contractors are insured to prevent any liability issues for the home owner if someone were hurt on the job.
While we feel very strongly that we offer the very best value for your investment, we are often underbid by contractors who do not follow best practices. Low bid contractors may propose inferior materials, may work without a permit, and may not be licensed or insured. Some contractors claim that permits are not necessary; however the permit process is your insurance against poor workmanship and unsafe conditions.
Obtaining a permit requires the local building authority inspect the work of your contractor so that it meets minimum standards and practices set forth in the building code. Here is a brief list of the benefit of having your project permitted:
The obtaining of permits means that the local building authority will inspect the work of your contractor. They check for structural, electrical and plumbing related issues to ensure that:
All work performed and materials used are safe and will not in any way affect the health of the occupants.
Nothing being performed will impact the structural integrity of the house.
All work is done according to local codes, so that:
You get the proper # of electrical outlets, in the proper locations with the proper amperage
Fire prevention measures such as specialized insulation and caulking are performed
Plumbing is performed to strict guidelines to ensure the overall system functions properly with no backups, leaks or foul smells
Electrical circuits are configured to prevent shorts or overloading
Framing and insulation with vapor barriers are in place to guard against mold issues
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) regulations are met so that the space has proper climate control (e.g. the proper # of heating runs are put in place and a cold air intake is installed to ensure circulation which eliminates the musty basement smell)
Inspections, facilitated by the permit process, guarantee that you have an expert government agency providing third party oversight. This insures that your contractor can not take advantage of your lake of knowledge of construction practices, compromise the workmanship, and endanger you and your family.
Permits are also vital for home insurance coverage. In the case of damage claims, your insurance company has the ability determine if the damage claim emanated from faulty workmanship, and work performed without proper permits and government approval, in which case your claim may be denied.
Finally, when selling your home, real estate law requires disclosure of information pertaining to improvements to your home, such as remodeling, and if improvements were done with permit. Non-permitted improvements can affect the value of your home, and may require a remedy prior to sale, or expose you to legal action should problems occur after the sale.
While the permit process will increase the time and cost of your project, sometimes as much as 15%. However, having your project completed with proper oversight will provide that your home is safe and insurable, enhance its value, and provide you and your family peace of mind.
