Putting an additional bathroom into your home can boost your property value, and also make your life a little easier and more convenient. No more early morning hours fighting over who can take a shower first, and no more worrying about what to do if your main toilet or bathtub needs a repair. Having a spare bathroom in the basement can do wonders for your sanity and your home’s value. But is it always a good idea to add a bathroom to your basement renovation project for that matter? There are a couple of factors you’ll want to consider before you invest.
The local laws and ordinances
Adding plumbing and running considerable pipework through the basement can be complicated, costly, and sometimes it’s just not feasible. Running pipes through the underground is more complex than adding plumbing into the upper structures of the home.
The first thing you’ll need to do is to contact your local building authority. Starting a new bathroom renovation and running underground piping is often subject to strict local ordinances and zoning laws. If you decide to go ahead with your new bathroom renovation, you’ll want to make sure everything is legal. Ensuring your following codes for any bathroom renovation is important. This will prevent surprise headaches when it comes time to sell the property.
New basement bathroom renovation – location
New basement bathroom renovation – locationWhen it comes to choosing the exact location for your new basement bathroom, try to place it as close to existing plumbing and electrical work as possible. Situating the new bathroom directly below your existing bathroom will make hooking up the necessary pipes and electrical work much easier and ultimately, less expensive. This will lower the overall cost of the project and can make the installation go more smoothly and quickly.
New basement bathroom renovation – size
Next, consider the size of your new bathroom. While you might think that only your desires and imagination are the limiting factor here, the type of basement you have can ultimately determine the size and type of bathroom you get installed. Even the most skilled contractors can only do so much with a basement that does not offer the occupants dry or cozy conditions.
The thing is, basements are often chilly, damp, and sometimes moldy. Ideally, you might want a full-size bathroom with a luxurious soaking tub. But if your basement is chilly for half the year or more and is prone to mold and dampness, you might have to forego the larger bathroom fixtures and install just an additional toilet and sink, or a toilet, sink, and modest corner shower stall. Even if you only end up with a toilet and sink at the end of the project, an extra powder room will make your life a lot easier and still increase your home’s resale value. If you install a shower or can put it in a full-size tub, putting in a ventilation fan is an absolute must. You’ll reduce the humidity and potential mold overgrowth. Furthermore, having a ventilation fan is required by the building code.
The first step to starting a basement bathroom renovation
Adding and completing a new bathroom to your basement renovation isn’t a DIY project. You’ll need a skilled contractor to handle this job. An experienced contractor like All Canadian Renovations Ltd. will pull all required permits and will ensure that your bathroom is built to meet the code. As professionals, we understand how best to position and construct your new basement bathroom for maximum enjoyment, function, and resale value. Contact us today to arrange an in-home consultation to determine if you should begin a basement bathroom renovation project.