Tips to Recreate Your Lower Level

By Jeff Billstrom

Lower levels, those below grade areas that house the washer and dryer, holiday decorations, old furniture, and more, are increasingly getting makeovers to add function and value to homes. Media rooms with bars and mini kitchens, play areas for the kids, exercise room, project room or home office. game rooms, guest suites, or all-around living space, add function and value to your home.

“Basements are ideal spaces to add overall square footage to your home without expanding your dwelling’s footprint,” said Callen Sales Design Consultant Jeff Billstrom. “When we are asked to create living space in a lower level, we always ask how the space is going to be used, and then we can design efficiently and incorporate the items homeowners want to fit the space. We also 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.”

Even though they may be a blank slate, because they are below ground, basements present challenges to be addressed such as moisture, air quality, and dehumidification. “You want to make sure the basement is dry,” Jeff said. “If there are cracked foundation walls, which are allowing moisture to seep in, that needs to be corrected first.”

Air quality also needs to be addressed. No one wants to be in a basement where the air is musty and stale. Air exchange systems draw outside air in, filter it, and exchange it with the indoor air. It can be connected to the furnace and the home’s duct system or put in separately with its own ducting. Air exchange systems also eliminate off-gases from new furniture, carpeting, and other household materials.

Dehumidification also is important in the summer months. Portable dehumidifiers work, but the optimal way to ensure dehumidity is through a permanent system that works through duct work. Dehumidification also is key to installing wood flooring or wood laminates, to prevent warping. If you install a tile or stone flooring, consider radiant floor heating for added warmth.

Another matter to be aware of in lower levels are supporting beams and mechanicals. “With a lower level, you can’t avoid I-beams,” Jeff said. “Depending on the layout, I try to build them into the wall. That’s not always possible; in that case we can 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 too.”

A key focus in converting a dark basement is to make it light and bright. “We look for opportunities to get as much natural light as possible,” Jeff said. “However, recessed lighting, canned lights, pendants, and wall sconces can create any mood from bright white to gently lit.”

Egress, or exit windows, bring natural light in. When converting lower level space to a bedroom, egress windows are required by code to create an emergency exit. Even without a bedroom, an egress window is a nice choice because it leads to a brighter interior and it can be opened to allow cross ventilation.

“The advantage to a lower level remodel is that you can use the space for anything you want, since all significant living areas are above ground,” Jeff said. “However, 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.”

Callen’s design specialists have plenty of ideas on how to create a lower level that best utilizes the available space. Call Callen, the leading remodeling company in Brookfield, for inspiration on how to get started.