When utilized properly, your basement is a major asset. There are so many different things you can do to make your basement more functional. Some things include an entertainment area, apartment, laundry room, home gym, and more. No matter what you decide to do with your basement, one of the things you need to look at is if the ceiling is at a reasonable height. A lot of older homes were not built with the idea of utilizing the basement. They were made with the intention of the basement being used for only storage. This means that the ceilings were lowered to maximize space on the upper floors. Which means if you are now attempting to make your basement into something other than storage, you will have a problem with the height. This changes a simple renovation into a more complex project. Our team at iRemodel Home Renovations is going to talk about how you can add height to your basement.
Benching
This is where a bench or ledge is made around the sides of the walls to hold up the structural support of the base. The flooring inside the frame is what is then detached and lowered, instead of the entire floor. This is a more affordable option. The only drawback to this method is that it shortens your basement working space. A lot of people who decide to do this try to incorporate the ledge into the aesthetic and furnishings of the room.
Raising Beams
Is your ideal basement one that is open but you have a beam running down the middle? If putting up walls is not what you want to do, luckily there is a way to raise the whole beam. It is lifted with all the floor joists butted alongside joist hangers. This means proper support on the ends of the beams is necessary. This technique can only work if the joists are resting on top of a wood beam.
Raising the House
This is the costliest method to give your basement ceiling more height. In order to lift your entire home, it needs to be physically uprooted from the base it’s attached to and then add more base in order to elevate the ceiling.
Underpinning
This is when the floor is excavated lower down into the ground in order to give more height to the ceiling. Sections are detached from the concrete floor and the foundation needs to be strengthened for stability and toughness. This requires trained professionals because there is a risk of your house collapsing if the floor is not excavated properly.
Hire Our Renovation Company Today!
No matter what option you choose, it’s quite a daunting task to undertake. But it is always worth the effort and cost. Having adequate height in your basement opens up the possibilities of fully utilizing the space. Not only does this give you more room in your house but it also exponentially increases the value of your house. Our team at iRemodel Home Renovations can help you with this tricky project! If you are interested in a custom home builder in Toronto, make sure to give us a call at (416) 825-2542 today!