Going up? Adding Ceiling Height to Your Basement Remodel

Last post we started the discussion of adding basement ceiling height to your remodel. We discussed the strategy of digging down to gain height in the basement. In this post, we talk about up by lifting the house to gain basement ceiling height.  As mentioned in the last post, these strategies have a high degree of difficulty

First and foremost you have to check what the city zoning will allow. A few things to look for are how will house raising affect your floor space ratio and will the new height be above what’s allowable. Providing you are able to check all the city boxes and get a building permit, then we get to the good stuff.

Let’s Get that House Airborne

Have your qualified contractor and structural engineer inspect the condition of the home ensuring it can sustain a house lift and the additional weight. Next disconnect services like water, gas, electricity and sewage. In the basement demo the existing interior walls. Confirm subgrade condition for stable placement of jacks and support cribs.  Cut holes in the foundation to allow beams under the building. Jacks are placed under the beams and the house is raised and crib supports take the place of the jacks. Now that the building is off the foundation, its time to build the structural supports between the foundation and the bottom of the home. Lower the home onto the new structural supports and voila you have a taller basement. Now you are ready for framing, plumbing, electrical etc.

Questions? Please feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to help out.

Beams Placed for House Lift

Support Cribs Under Beams

A View of the House Above the Foundation

Bringing Height to Your Basement Remodel

Thinking about a basement remodel and need a little headroom? There are a number of reasons to gain some height in your basement. Be it to make a legal basement suite or a more comfortable primary living space. Whatever your reason, I have two basement remodel strategies for you that we have successfully compleated many times. These strategies are major construction with a high degree of difficulty. Sorry DIY guys.

Let’s Dig down

The first piece of business is figuring out how deep the foundation goes below the floor slab. You can figure this out by finding a spot (preferably two) to dig on the outside of your home and keep digging until you find the foundation footing.  The top of the foundation footing is the lowest you can install the bottom of a new floor slab. Providing that a new lowered slab will meet your height requirements and city bylaws then you can move onto the difficult part

An opening in the foundation wall for the excavator

The difficult part entails a complete basement demolition including the concrete pad. First of all, the foundation walls are maintained, modified or replaced with beams (see engineer). Next start digging the basement by hand or excavator (if you can bring one in). At the same time, determine if you will lower your existing exterior drain tile system (very evasive and rarely practical) or install an interior weeping tile system.

Once you’ve got to your desired depth, install the interior weeping tile system, prep and pour the pad and install strip footings (per structural engineer). Upon completing the concrete work, you can begin the process of reinstalling mechanical, framing walls, plumbing, electrical etc.

In part 2 I’ll explain the system which involves lifting/raising the house from its foundation

From Rec to Rentals – What To Do With Your Basement Renovation?

5 Inexpensive Ways To Give Your Basement A Makeover

Basement Makeover

A survey has shown that more Canadians will be renovating their homes this year. Moreover, the rising cost of house prices are making Canadians think twice about buying a new home, and 56% of homeowners are opting to stay put and renovate instead of moving to a new place. One of the top projects that homeowners will be undertaking this year is basement renovation as it has been estimated that by making improvements to an unfinished basement, you can get a return on investment of about 73%.  reVISION Custom Home Renovations specialize in renovations and have completed some fantastic basement renovations adding value to their clients homes. While renovation is the best option for ROI, it may not be and immediate option due to finances. Here are some handy ideas to help improve your basement DIY style. 

Create An Accent wall

One of the best ways to keep your basement remodel within your budget is to find a simple way to update your space. Creating an accent wall is one way to hide design flaws as it can disguise an oddly shaped basement. Try painting one wall with a dark color for drama, such as navy blue, and paint all other walls in a neutral shade.

Stick To A Color Scheme

Sticking to a color scheme gives your basement a richer feel, even if you spent very little money on it. Try to coordinate paint colors with rugs, furniture, accessories, and the like. To create a calming space, try combining a watery blue with graphite, white, and light gray. For a warm and sophisticated feel, combine merlot red with white, cedar, and chocolate brown.

Add A Gorgeous Rug

Basement floors can be very cold, so remedy this problem by adding a big area rug to your décor. Not only will it make the room instantly cozy, but it will also hide unsightly stains and minuscule imperfections on your basement floor.  

Create Storage Solutions

If you’ve been using your basement to store seasonal clothing, mementos, and other knick-knacks, you may want to throw out those cardboard boxes and create efficient and beautiful storage solutions that will add to the beauty of your basement. You can have custom cabinets, or build simple shelves to hold matching baskets or containers to hold your items.

Add Decorative Touches

Enhance colour and light with lamps and pendant lights. Accents such as artwork, pillows, and throws can soften the look of your basement and make it an inviting place to stay in. You can also place a few indoor plants that don’t require much light such as snake plant, dracaena, maidenhair fern, creeping fig, and bromeliads to liven up your basement.

These tips are fantastic to achieve a livable space on a DIY budget. For a larger renovation such as adding a suite, cinema room, storage space or other basement options contact reVISION Custom Home Renovations. They can help with the design and construction of your new basement, helping you to achieve your dream basement.

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4 Steps to Building Your Dream Room – Wine Cellar Edition

“Where there is no wine there is no love” states president of reVISION, Todd Senft. Wine plays witness to our most intimate moments. Over wine we fall in love, celebrate, negotiate, and simply relax. It is the music that underscores our story. Building a wine cellar in your home is a special way to celebrate that most special of substances. With inspired design, wine cellars not only protect your liquid assets, they add flair, intrigue, and prestige to your home and create a unique space for wine tasting and entertaining. You expect the best from your wine and should demand nothing less of the designer and contractor building your dream room. Here are 4 steps to follow.

1. Needs Assessment

The designer should meet with you to assess your needs, budget, and space. Here are a couple of questions you should ask yourself:

*How will the room be used – simply for storage or also for entertaining? *What style do you want – a taste of Tuscany or a sleek, modern design?
*What type of racking is required?
*What are the technical considerations – humidity, ceiling height, ventilation requirements?

Remember the construction of a wine cellar must satisfy the essential conditions for wine preservations.

2. Design

The designer will present multiple design approaches for your consideration and approval. Carefully review lighting options and finishes for floors, walls and cabinetry – these elements will define the flavour of your room.

I recently read an article, “This Man Put A Secret Window On His Kitchen Floor. The Reason? GENIUS“, I was inspired by the creativity of the designer. An absolutely stunning idea.

3. Construction

A qualified contractor will provide a comprehensive schedule, certified trades and warranty. Read 8 Successful Home Renovation Steps – Hiring A Professional Contractor to get an idea of what to look for when hiring a qualified contractor.

4. Cheers!

Remove the cork fill a glass and enjoy!

Creating a wine cellar for your new or existing home should be like a fine wine … easy on the palette with a lovely, lasting finish.