Lower Levels a Good Opportunity to Increase Living Space

by Dave Clark

‍A lower level is a good alternative to an addition because you don’t have to dig a foundation or budget for a roof extension. When we are asked to do a lower level, we always ask how the space is going to be used.

Then we can design efficiently and incorporate the space to fit the items you want, perhaps a queen-size bed, a game table, a bar…with everything sized accordingly, there won’t be any dead space.

Lower levels can be anything you want them to be; home office, playroom for the kids, media room, craft room, kitchen, guest bedroom, or all-around living space that can incorporate all of the above.

When remodeling a basement, you don’t have to “finish” off the entire space.

It’s always a good idea to leave some storage space for tools or seasonal home goods, or other miscellaneous items you might have stashed in crates or boxes.

A powder room and a bar area are commonly requested amenities in a lower level remodel. Powder rooms are evolving from two-piece fixtures to inclusion of a shower or steam shower, especially if there is a bedroom.

Bars run the gamut from small service bars or snack stations to bars that resemble the corner tavern. Fireplaces are a nice feature to add and they can now be directly vented. Years ago, there were concerns about make-up air because the furnace and hot water heater had exposed flames. That is not as much of a concern now with sealed combustion units; however, make-up air is still required by code when a lower level is remade into a living space.

Make-up air also is necessary to avoid air becoming stale and to dissipate any volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Depending again on your budget and what you want to use your lower level for, there are just as many cabinetry options as for a kitchen or bathroom.

Flooring choices are varied too.Carpeting is very popular; it’s usually less costly, soft, and warm. But laminates can be used as well as long as there is a substrate so moisture doesn’t affect it. When you do a lower level remodel, no matter its use, you want it to transition nicely from the main floor living area. Opening up staircases and putting in balustrades and handrails make it feel more like upstairs. The biggest thing when doing a lower level conversion is bringing in as much natural light as possible. This can be done with enlarging windows to egress windows. Egress is also required if you have a bedroom as part of the project.

Because ceilings are a bit lower in the basement, I don’t recommend halogen lighting because you will feel the heat when you are under them. Instead, I recommend four-inch LED lighting. They are slightly more expensive to install, but they have a long shelf life, as much as 50,000 hours. While recessed lighting certainly can brighten the space, I also like to add pendants by the snack bar or service bar for more of a statement.

Sconces, crown lighting, down lights, and rope lighting are other lighting accessories that add a little bit of flair as well as adding warmth to the space. Basement “rec rooms” that many of us grew up with featured drop ceilings.

Now drywalling is preferred, not only for a more finished look, but because it makes the room an extension of the main level living area. However, I still get requests for dropped ceilings from homeowners who are worried about having access to mechanicals. We can accomplish the access to mechanicals in different ways and disguise them so you don’t know the access panel is there.

With a lower level, you can’t avoid I-beams. Depending on the layout, I try to build them into the wall.As that’s not always possible, we can often disguise the I-beam by turning it into a column. We also can work around the furnace and hot water heater, but they can be relocated if necessary.