Menu
Both old and new homes alike tend to come attached to basements. While some are built fully finished from the get-go, many are not — especially in older homes. There are endless ideas for an unfinished basement, and at Total Renovations, no matter what yours looks like from the start, we’re here to help you uncover its hidden potential.
Burnaby has a wealth of fantastic homes that can only be made better by renovating the basement. The space doesn’t even have to be massive. Small finished basement ideas are plentiful as well, with fast build times and a great return on investment.
Dark and musty with cracked or bowed walls, water damage and low ceilings—is your basement worth finishing? In most cases, the answer is yes. But you’ll have to check in with local codes first. For instance, if your ceiling is lower than seven feet, it could be an issue. Your basement may be more of a crawl space.
Once you’re all clear with build permits, we can discuss the project at hand. Some common issues older basements in Burnaby face include:
Older homes are built with stone or brick foundations. They do not have the waterproofing material that is applied to newer homes, and so moisture is far more prevalent. If moisture is very extreme in your basement, you may need to fix a bigger problem before considering remodeling.
Older basements may have limited access and so part of your renovation will probably include fixing this. If you access your basement by a hatch, it can be improved, or depending on the layout, changed entirely. If you have a walkout basement that leads outside however, you could be in luck should you choose to turn your basement into a guest suite or rental property.
Air quality is also often subpar in an older basement. This can encourage the growth of mold. When your basement is finished, be sure to invest in a high-quality dehumidifier to keep it in liveable condition.
In older basements and sometimes newer, you may have to do some or all of the following before getting to the fun stuff:
Hiring a professional for your local basement remodeling project is important for many reasons, especially if your home requires extra prep work. While it’s tempting for the home handyman or woman to want to tackle a new project, hold back on this one.
At Total Renovations we promise to:
Paying for a remodeling contractor up front is one thing, but when they are through, the job will be done to perfection. This means you won’t have to take into account repairs down the line. Our basements are built to last.
When finishing your basement, keep Total Renovations in mind. Give us a call for suggestions, information and a job well done.
