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The post Can My Basement Become A Guest Suite Or In-Law Suite? appeared first on Ohio Home Doctor.

Are you looking to transform your basement into a mortgage helper or an in-law suite?  Maybe you have a loved one, like an aging parent, that you’d like to have closer or need to care for?  Maybe you just want to take that empty boring space and finally turn it into something useful?  Most people would agree that a basement suite providing a little extra income or better family living arrangements would be a good thing.

In this day and age in-law suites in basements are a very common project but they aren’t something you just slap together in a few days.  A good liveable basement suite takes some careful planning and knowledge of construction and local building codes that might pertain to your specific structure.

 If building a basement suite or in-law suite is a project you plan on completing in the near future, consider these points:

Basement Safety Should Be Priority

If your new in-law suite is being constructed for an aging parent or loved one with mobilty problems then safety should be paramount.  Stair configurations might need to be looked at or even the installation of a lift is becoming more popular.  Assuming there will be a bathroom in your basement you want to make sure that the bathroom is a safe-space too.

The installation of railings and grab bars and the construction of a barrier free (easy entry) shower are also options to consider that can improve safety and living conditions.  Try and avoid sharp corners on countertops and vanities wherever possible.

Considering this new space is going to be a “liveable” space you’ll need to make sure egress codes are followed (exit requirements).  This can raise the cost of a basement suite conversion by several thousand dollars if egress windows need to be installed into the basement bedrooms.

What About Basement Suite Privacy?

Privacy is always high on the list for renters looking for a place to call home and it’s also going to be important to a loved-one should they be living in your new suite.  Unless the basement is a walk-out basement it’s usually more difficult to have a separate entrance and could require expensive foundation work, but private entry/exit is always important.

Do you have room for another vehicle in your driveway should your new renter have a vehicle?  What about windows?  Do you look straight into the basement suite bedroom while you enjoy your backyard? What about noise?  Do you have kids stomping and yelling on the upper floor?  Do you think this will disturb a tenant?  Just as some common examples.

Privacy and how best to achieve it with your specific property and home layout is something you’ll want to plan early in the phases of your basement suite conversion.

Consider The Basement Kitchen and Living Space

If you plan on getting a renter for your space you’ll want them to have their own kitchen, eating area, and living space for both of your own privacy.  If it’s a loved one that is moving into your suite then they will probably want to have the independence.  Whether you have a full-kitchen or just a kitchenette will depend on the available space you have and your budget.

Getting much usable living “space” in a basement suite can be tough because it depends on the size of your home but it would be nice for a tenant or in-law to have some space to be able to relax and enjoy some TV or a hobby or entertain company.

What About Your Basement Lighting?

If your basement has many windows and allows in plenty of natural light then it can be a very comfortable for someone to live.  If it’s dark and dreary and you only see the sun when you walk outside, it’s not going to be a very enjoyable place to live.  Natural light can be substituted to an extent by using good quality light fixtures and bulbs and making sure they are placed properly throughout the basement.  Poor lighting in a basement is a safety issue that is easy to overcome with a little thought (and unfortunately some extra money!).

Have You Heard Of Universal or Accessible Design?

This is a growing trend in the home remodeling industry, especially with an aging population of baby boomers.  Universal or accessible design is the practice of making specific spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens that are easily accessible by anyone regardless of their age or mobility.

An example of universal or accessible design would be a barrier free shower.  Because the shower has no curb, anyone (even someone in a wheelchair) can safely use the shower.  Another example would be easily accessible cupboards or cabinets.  Special drawer or cupboard inserts and shelving that make things easy to reach.  There “jumbo” light switches available and thermostats that make it easy for people with shaky hands or poor eyesight, and the list goes on.

Involving a good contractor early in the planning phases of your basement remodeling project will help you with many of these decisions.  Your contractor will know about products and building practices to improve the accessibility of your new basement space.

Why Choose Ohio Home Doctor For Your Basement Suite Construction Project?

When you choose to work with the Ohio Home Doctor for your basement suite construction project you are partnering with a contractor with over 18 years of experience in the basement remodeling industry.

You can count on our team to listen to your needs, answer all of your questions, and offer helpful advice to help guide your project along to the finished masterpiece we know you’re after.  We offer fixed-pricing on our estimates, we stick to rigid timelines and we can come up with basement finishing solutions for almost any budget.

Whether you’d like to transform your basement into a totally “liveable” space for a tenant or an in-law or loved one, we can make sure it’s a beautiful, safe, modern space for them to call home.

If you’d like an estimate for your basement suite project in the Dayton, Springboro or Cincinnati area please give us a call (937) 605-6882 or fill out our contact form and someone will be getting right back to you shortly.

The post Transforming Your Basement Into a Liveable Basement Suite appeared first on Ohio Home Doctor.

Are you ready to finally finish off that basement?  Maybe you’d just like to transform it into a more usable and modern space for your growing family?  What about turning it into a basement suite to earn a little rental income?  With basements remodeling projects the possibilities are endless and only really limited by building codes and budgets!

Ohio Home Doctor Remodeling is a full service home remodeling contractor based out of Dayton, Ohio.  We specialize in basement finishing and remodeling projects.  Many of our customers who want to remodel their basement don’t really know exactly what they want yet, and they often ask us for ideas.

Here are 7 of the most popular basement remodeling and finishing ideas for Dayton, Ohio homeowners.

 #1.  Walkout Basements Are Great For Sloping Lots

Homeowners with a sloped lot, should always consider the advantages of a walkout basement.  Walkout basements allow easy entry/exit from the basement and they allow more natural light in as well because the foundation (usually your basements outer walls) are not completely submerged underground.  If your home is on a slope, then a walkout basement is a very good choice.

Transforming your basement into a walkout basement takes a bit of engineering, and requires some careful planning on the part of your contractor as you’ll literally be opening up the foundation of the home to install an entry way and windows.  This often requires the use of a mini-excavator, or in  some cases even larger machines.

The results of a walkout basement project is more accessibility to your basement, more natural light, and in the case of a basement suite, it offers a separate and private entry for a tennant or family member.

#2. Open Concept Basements Are Still Popular

Large open spaces have always been popular with basement design and remodeling projects and 2017 is no different.  Instead of having rooms closed off from one another, the basement is just one large, open space.  Your basement can still be designed to be multi-purpose, you just won’t have walls as dividers.  Maybe you’d like to freely walk from your entertainment area to the bar/kitchen area or maybe it’s a workout space or a games room for the kids.

Open concept basement design is an excellent choice for those homeowners who have a smaller basement as well.  Removing walls and other barriers from the basement will give you more functional room and open up a whole new world of possibilities for your new space.

For small basements, the open concept design maximizes the limited real estate–creating the perception of light and space. With this design, you have more freedom to mix and match styles to create your preferred overall taste.

3. Open Spaces or Closed Rooms For Entertainment and Media?

Having a dedicated room for media/audio/video is usually something that is reserved for the most hardcore enthusiasts, who want that true “theater” experience in their basement.  But now, thanks to consumer demand and modern technology, dedicated theatre rooms are becoming more and more popular.  Plush movie theater style seating, large projection screens and surround sound systems are all popular requests from our customers.

The alternative is the open-style entertainment room, which makes for a much larger space, which in-turn can reduce the effectiveness of surround sound systems, which for some audiophiles is a no-go.  If budget is a concern, then an open-style entertainment area for the basement is the way to go.

4. In-Law or Basement Rental Suite Construction

The construction of live-in basement suites and in-law suites isn’t new.  It’s been a construction trend for several years as our population continues to grow and suitable housing is always in demand, which makes having a rental suite in the basement a good financial decision for many homeowners.  It’s the only basement remodel that can actually pay for itself many times over!

For other homeowners the construction of a basement suite is an effort to keep family closer together.

Because in-law suites/rental suites are designed to be separate living spaces this usually means extensive construction.  You’ll need a kitchen area, a separate bathroom with bath and/or shower and even a laundry room.  In order to classify a basement suite as living space building code requires egress windows in every room considered a “bedroom”.  This can raise the cost of a basement suite conversion quite considerably but remember, it’s the only basement remodel that can actually pay for itself (if you’re renting it out).

5. Home Gyms and Workout Areas For Your Basement

Are you a fitness freak?  Do you have a few members of your family who are really serious about sports?  If training in the convenience of your own home is important to you then transforming a section of the basement into a home gym is a growing trend you should consider taking advantage of.

By turning your basement or a section of your basement into a home gym you can have all the comforts of a regular gym but in the privacy of your own home.  There are many different types of flooring choices suitable for home gyms depending on your comfort choice, wood, cork, rubber tile or even bare concrete.  Mirrors and proper lighting can be installed, custom weight racks, equipment, a water fountain, and more.

6. Create A Lounge Space For The Family

Is the upstairs getting a little cramped?  Want a larger space for the whole family to enjoy?  Look no further than your basement, where you can literally double the square footage of “usable” space within your home.  Basements are excellent areas for creating those lazy lounging spaces.  With a little kitchenette in one corner, maybe a bar, an entertainment area, and if there is enough space left over, maybe a bedroom or two.

With a little thought and planning you can transform your basement into the room nobody will ever want to leave.  In the case of walkout basements with lots of natural light and all the amenities of the normal upper floor of a home, many of these basements are becoming the central hub of the home.

7.  Basement Offices For Home Based Businesses or Telecommuters

With the amount of people working from home, either running their own business or telecommuting for another the demand for their own private workspaces within homes is increasing.  Cabling for phone and Internet can be easily wired in (in most basements) and all the amenities of a modern office can be installed.  Custom shelving and organization solutions are always popular requests as are windows to allow in more natural light.

Basement Design Services – Hire a Designer Or Not?

We can tell you from experience that with any large scale home remodeling project working with a designer is generally a good idea.  The modern design process is much more than just pencil lines on paper as we can now provide complete 3D renderings of your potential space.  This allows us to change materials and layouts digitally, showing you what different layouts could look like, what different materials could look like and in general giving you a better of visual of the project.  This can shorten the design process and take the mystery out of the equation for your chosen builder.

Some More Basement Finishing Ideas

(these are completed Ohio Home Doctor projects)

Why Choose Ohio Home Doctor For Your Basement Finishing Project?

When you choose to work with the Ohio Home Doctor for your basement finishing project you are partnering with a contractor with over 18 years of experience in the basement remodeling industry.  You can count on our team to listen to your needs, answer all of your questions, and offer helpful advice to help guide your project along to the finished masterpiece we know you’re after.

We offer fixed-pricing on our estimates, we stick to rigid timelines and we can come up with basement finishing solutions for almost any budget.

Whether you’d like to transform your basement into a totally “liveable” space or transform it into a man-cave, theater or an office the team at Ohio Home Doctor will be able to bring your basement vision into reality!

If you’d like an estimate for your basement finishing project in the Dayton, Springboro or Cincinnati area please give us a call (937) 605-6882 or fill out our contact form and someone will be getting right back to you shortly.

The post 7 Popular Basement Remodeling Ideas For Ohio Homeowners in 2017 appeared first on Ohio Home Doctor.

Getting Started With Your Basement Bathroom!

Being a basement finishing contractor we get tons of questions from our clients and potential clients each week. A large portion of the basement questions concern installing a bathroom in the basement of a home. While the task may seem daunting to the untrained eye, getting a fully functional half or full bath into your basement design plan is an attainable goal.

The Plumbing:

First the existing conditions must be assessed. In most homes built after 1990 during original construction the builder will “rough in” the drains to accept a future bathroom. If this is your situation than Congratulations, adding the bath will be a simple and affordable task.

 Even if the “roughed” layout isn’t just perfect for your plan we can remove the surrounding concrete, and modify the drains to comply with your desired floor plan. The average cost for adding a bathroom to a basement finish which has all the roughs in place is $ 4-5,000 dollars.  We have a comprehensive description of what’s included at this price point here.

Now if during your initial exploration of the unfinished space does not yield existing plumbing hook ups the next step will be to determine if an ejector pump will be needed or not. This can be determined by discovering the height at which the drains leave your home. If you can see the large 4 inch drain line leaving the exterior wall mid way up from the floor, then a pit will be needed. If you see existing floor drains or a drain stack which dives straight into the basement floor then the drain height is such that a bathroom may be added without needing an ejector pump.

An ejector pump will cost $ 500-1500 dollars depending on the model and output necessities. Installation is typically 2-3X the purchase price including, concrete removal, digging, plumbing, and inspections. From the picture you can see that the ejector pump is essential a waste catch basin and a pump. Once the collected waste reaches a pre determined level the pump pumps it up following the newly installed drain lines to the closest approved drain location. As a rule of thumb the farther the away the closest drain is the more powerful of a pump will be required and the higher up the price scale you will be footing the bill for.

Drains are always the primary concern when laying out a potential basement bathroom but it’s most definitely not the only consideration. Water lines must be run to feed the new fixtures. Most frequently there are plenty of acceptable lines to attach to for this in your existing basement. You must be careful however not to attach to a line which will not provide the proper amount of flow for the new fixtures. Best case approach is always tying onto a ¾ or 1 inch run to assure that both you will have enough pressure in the new fixture but also to guarantee that existing upstairs fixtures and or appliance aren’t being robbed by the new addition. It’s always best to have a licensed plumber run your new lines. Not only is it the law in most state including Ohio but it is generally just a good idea to have a professional tackle such an important task.

The Framing:

After the rough in plumbing is complete the next step is the get the wall framing started. Be sure to always use pressure treated material any time a framing member i.e. stud touches the cement wall or floor. It’s also a good idea when framing basement bathrooms to install proper blocking for; the shower wall board, any towel/t.p. bars, and vanity/pedestal sink installation. Taking an hour to install blocking before the drywall goes on will save countless hassle and work in the future. Anyone who has attempted to hang something without blocking can testify to how frustrating it can be.

Also be sure to comply with modern fire blocking codes when installing your framing. Failure to do so can result in numerous re-inspection fees and construction delays.

The Ventilation:

Not only is including a ventilation fan which vents to the exterior required by code but it is imperative to the proper function and longevity of your project. A fan must be installed and be pipe vented to the exterior. In a basement this typically means running a vent pipe in the joist cavity and exiting it through the exterior rim joist. It is a good idea to run the vent to the rear of the home as to not affect curb appeal in any way. When considering what fan to install consider whether a fan light combo makes sense for your situation. Fans are measured in two factors; how many cfms the fans pulls, and the quietness of the fan motor. The more you spend the better each of these values will be.

The Drywall:

It is a good idea to use moisture resistant drywall in all wet areas however it is especially important in a basement bathroom. For years moisture resistant drywall was green, now most of it is purple in color. Regardless of the color make sure your board complies with these standards. There are also products such as Denshield which has a fiberglass face instead of the traditional paper facing which can work well in these situations.  

The Shower:

Shower options for basement bathroom mirror those for every other area of the home. Be sure that proper waterproofing techniques are utilized while construction your shower. Failure to do so will result in premature failure and considerable loss in investment.

The Paint:

When selecting paint for your bathroom, consider sheen more so than any other factor. A higher sheen paint such as eggshell, satin, or even semi-gloss is ideal since these higher sheen paints better guard against moisture intrusion into the wall board substrate. Some companies such as Sherwin Williams even have special paint especially formulated for the unique demands of a bathroom. A few extra dollars up front can save a lot of money down the road.

When preparing to install a basement bathroom these are all important and helpful considerations. If you have a question not covered here please let us know bellow. We always enjoy hearing from potential clients, DIYers, and other contractors alike. Hopefully this article gets you started off in the right direction to maximizing the impact your newly finished basement bathroom will have on you and your family. Thanks for reading!

Want more info on basement finishing? Check this out!

The post How To Build A Basement Bathroom Properly in Ohio appeared first on Ohio Home Doctor.

Not only do you get to enjoy your new amenities, but you can also reap its rewards such as improved quality of life, heightened energy efficiency, and the ability to recoup most if not all of your investment through the resale value of your home.

The economy has effected home prices, and the cost of home improvement has declined as well. There has never been a better time to dive into the home remodeling or home improvement project you and your family have been anticipating for years.

The road to a successful project begins with proper prior planning. You must first decide which area of your home is in the most need of repair.  Basement finishing yields the highest resale value, return with kitchens and baths not far behind. New flooring and paint also has a huge impact and often times is more affordable than you would think.

For exterior projects nothing adds to your home’s curb appeal and value like new windows, siding, and roofing.

Once you have decided which area of your home you will be working on, the total scope of the project must be formulated.

Lets take bathroom remodeling as an example. There are many options for updating or repairing your existing bathroom. New tubs, shower base, tile flooring, wall surround, tile walls, vanities, vessel sinks, lighting, comfort height toilets, grab bars, shower doors, towel bars, medicine cabinets, storage closets, the list goes on and on.

Ohio Home Doctor can present all your options for you along with pricing so you can decide how to get the largest home improvement impact for your budget.

For larger projects such as room additions, hiring an architect to formulate an initial drawing or blue print can save both time and money. Providing a blue print to your proposed contractors can assure you are getting apples to apples estimates, and can decrease the time from selecting a contractor to attaining a permit.

The next step is choosing the correct home improvement and remodeling company for your project.  There are lots of options, many good, but a lot of poor ones also. Make sure you select someone who sounds like they know what they are doing, and has the answers to your questions.

Typically when somebody knows what they are talking about, they are able to articulate it verbally. Its true some people may be talented carpenters and poor oral communicators but do not gamble when it comes to your money, family, and home improvement projects.

Get at least three estimates for your proposed project. Getting several estimates will allow you a chance to hear several opinions, and weed out the guys just trying to find there next rent check. It is very important to choose the right remodeling contractor not just the lowest price.

Here at Ohio Home Doctor we strive to be both, the right contractor, and the lowest price, but its not always possible since we always deliver top quality work.

Choosing the wrong contractor will be the most expensive route for you regardless of the initial estimate.

When you have narrowed the selection down to a couple, check out each at the BBB’s website.

Hiring a member of the BBB not only provides you with a qualified contractor but also acts as an insurance policy since hiring members gives you the consumer instant recourse in the event something goes wrong. It is also a good idea to check and make sure the company name on the letterhead matches registered business names with the Secretary of State. Hiring somebody who is not a LLC or INC can only end poorly.

Finally ask to see a copy of there business insurance and make sure the coverage amount covers your home. Upon receiving a copy it is a good idea to call the insurance company and verify the policy is current.

Some contractors pay for the initial few months in order to attain the certificate and then stop paying leaving you exposed to risk. Insurance is one of those things you hope you never need but when you do you really do. Its is worth 5 minutes to verify that you are protected from freak accidents and mishaps.

Upon selecting your contractor it is time to begin work.  Make sure you schedule the work to be done during a time that you will be able to break away from your schedule to make decisions or investigate unforeseen issues.

Some people like to go on vacation while work is being done to decrease the stress level. However, it is generally a better idea to be there and available to ensure you are getting what you pay for.

If you are not available and lets say there is structural rotting which wasn’t seen pre-estimate, your contractor has no choice other then to proceed without your permission charging you an additional sum without your approval.

If you are available you can inspect the additional damage yourself and verify the additional some is fair.  Often times pre-pricing is much lower than post-pricing. Also being present allows you to make minor design changes maximizing the results to your individual tastes. Sometimes small changes make huge differences and it is better if you are around to give yourself that opportunity.

Once your contractor has completed his work make sure you inspect everything thoroughly. Formulate a “punch-out list” addressing any issues you may have and give your contractor time to address them.

Finally, before making the final payment ask for a copy of the warranty pertaining to the specific project unless it exists on the signed contract. Keeping a physical copy of the warranty will make it easier on yourself in the future if you ever need to use it.