The Best Basement Plans

Functionality

• A good basement plan has a purpose motivating the design. For example, if you are creating an entertainment lounge for your family and guests, include the construction of a wet bar in your plans. The plans you create for your basement will help you accurately plan for the materials you will need to purchase. If you are going to convert your basement into a guest suite, for example, you may want to include additional windows in the space. On the other hand, if you want to use the area as an office, you may want to consider built-in floor-to-ceiling shelves and a private restroom. Plan the plumbing, electrical wiring, lighting and ventilation to meet the needs of the space you are designing.

Head Space

• Sometimes basements are large crawlspaces that offer you barely enough room to walk without hitting your head. Good basement plans should include details regarding the relocation of plumbing or ducts to run along beams or within walls to help you maximize the amount of vertical space. If the vertical space is still not enough, you may need to include excavation plans and the construction of a new concrete slab. Because removing posts or columns may compromise the structural integrity of your home, make posts and columns part of the design or consider concealing the support items within walls.

Entrance Into the Basement

• If your basement does not already have a staircase with a handrail leading down into the room, you will need to include a way to enter the space. Many homeowners opt to add a staircase that begins on the current lowest floor of the home down into the new basement space. Alternatively, if the basement is meant to be a more private area, such as a rental unit, you may want to build the entrance from the outside of the home.

Water-Damage Prevention

• Water damage is a costly problem that may ruin your basement before any other room in a home. To help prevent water damage, include the installation of new pipes in your plan if the current plumbing is old. The basement plan should also include landscape changes you may need to make around your home. For example, make sure water does not pool near your home and that gutters drain rainwater in a direction away from your property. If you have faucets outside of your home that are near the basement, include plumbing insulation in the plans to prevent burst pipes in the winter. In addition, plan to store valuables in your basement a few feet off the floor in the event of a flood or burst pipe.