Kaks Basement Finishing & Remodeling

Basement Finishing Boston, the smart way to finish your basement.

How Do Bathrooms in the Basement Work?

“We’ve been considering converting the basement in our Hingham home into an apartment for our oldest daughter,” Jeffrey said, “but I’m not sure how that would work out from a plumbing perspective. If she needs to come upstairs into the house every time she has to use the bathroom, that’s really going to take away from the sense of a separate space we’re trying to create.”

If you’re familiar with traditional bathroom plumbing systems, you know that a toilet’s drain pipe runs downward, generally into the basement where it is then connected to a municipal sewer system or the home’s septic tank. Gravity plays a pivotal role in keeping everything running smoothly. So what happens when you’re already at the home’s lowest point and there’s no further down to go?

Enter the upflush toilet. These specially designed toilets can be installed on any flat, finished surface. Upflush toilets contain a macerator, which breaks waste products down into tiny pieces, and a pump that quietly and efficiently lifts the waste materials up to the home’s existing sewer infrastructure when the toilet is flushed. Upflush toilets were first introduced in the early 1990’s, and have been functioning reliably in basement bathrooms ever since.

Having your basement finished to serve as living space can involve creating several different functional areas. In the bathroom, in addition to the toilet, you’ll need a bathing option as well as a space for washing up. Shower units are the most common option, but free standing tubs can also be installed. Talk to your Hingham basement renovation specialists for details.

The bathroom in a basement remodel doesn’t have to be bare-bones or utilitarian. Working with skilled basement renovation contractors, you have a wide range of options, from family friendly to spa-like elegance. Choosing the right flooring, lighting, and wall finishes in addition to your plumbing fixtures can result in a gorgeous bathroom in the basement that you love!

Finished Basements Don’t Have To Be Dark!

One of the top concerns homeowners have about finishing their basement is that the resulting space will be dark and gloomy. This worry was born during the 1970’s, when many basement conversions didn’t make the best use of available lighting options. Couple that with the era’s penchant for wood paneling and burnt orange shag carpeting and it’s true: you wind up with a dark space. But we’ve come a long way since the 1970’s!

If you’re thinking about having your Plymouth basement finished, here’s what you need to know about creating a bright, airy space. Every home’s layout is different and in some instances, your basement may be configured to allow for a maximum amount of natural light to enter the space. This is particularly true for basements that have traditional cellar doors that can be reconfigured into separate entrances – a very popular option when basements are being finished into living space for adult children or in-laws. Talk to your Plymouth basement renovation contractor about what the natural light options are for your space.

Additionally, artificial lighting options are almost limitless. Choose your lighting based on what you’d like to do in your new finished basement. For example, home offices need steady, bright white lighting while the home theater basement needs dimmable lights to accommodate film viewing. Don’t skimp on lighting, and choose wall finishes and decor accessories that maximize the amount of light in your room. White and lighter colored walls reflect more light than dark walls or paneling; mirrors are a tried and true trick that can do wonders to increase the amount of light in your new space.

Up or Down: 2nd Story Addition or Basement Remodel For Extra Space?

“We’re a blended family,” Cecilia said. “I have three daughters, and my husband Mike has two sons. And now we’re expecting our first baby together.” She laid a hand on her stomach and smiled. “All of this is wonderful – six children means we’re truly blessed! But we’re running out of space for everyone to fit comfortably.”

The family needed at least two more bedrooms; that much was clear. “Mike’s boys were sharing a room, but considering the fact there’s six years between them, that’s not exactly ideal,” Cecilia said. “And the baby’s going to sleep with us for the first few months, but they’ll need their own space eventually. So we were left with a choice: have a second story addition added to the home, or have the basement finished?”

“We needed to know what the numbers looked like before we made our decision,” Cecilia explained, “So we got bids for both projects, from a local contractor and a Duxbury basement remodeling company. I also wanted to know how long the project would take, because I needed to have everything absolutely wrapped up and done before the little one arrived.”

“The basement renovation won on both counts. Not only was it many thousands of dollars cheaper,” Cecilia said, “but the work would be done in less than half the time it would take to have a second story put on. Everything was faster and more affordable; permitting, getting the boys’ rooms set up, the whole nine yards.”  With the money saved by choosing to have the Duxbury basement remodeled, Cecilia and Mike could splurge on a treat for the older kids. “They’ve wanted a swing set for forever and a day,” she said. “So we got them one to play on. It’ll give them something fun to do while I’m taking care of the baby. Everybody wins!”

The Rise of the Super Basement

Basements were once known for being dark, dingy spaces that held the essentials of a home’s heating and plumbing systems and little more. Now, in Marshfield and in surrounding Western Massachusetts communities, we’re seeing the acceptance of basement renovations as a way to add living space to a home, create an area for a home office or private gym, or to serve as studio space for creative endeavors.

But apparently that is only the tip of the iceberg. According to this article in Insurance Age, high wealth families in Great Britain are taking basement remodels to a whole new level. Dubbed the Super Basement, these luxury renovations include astonishing amenities, such as bowling alleys, in ground pools, gun rooms, wine cellars, and our personal favorite, a two-story rock climbing wall! These are some truly super Super Basements.

Realistically, most Marshfield basement remodels are done on a budget that doesn’t have space to accommodate super-car storage. But the best of these ideas are scaleable, meaning that you can enjoy your own version of what the rich and famous enjoy. Wine cellars can be voluminous rooms – but they can also occupy approximately the same square footage of your college dorm refrigerator. Your basement renovation can certainly include built-in gun safes and other secure storage, single or double lane bowling alleys, and climbing features for your home gym. It’s just a matter of careful planning and working closely with your Marshfield basement renovation specialist.

Don’t discount an idea because you’ve only seen it done to its grandest, most expensive extent. The Super Basement features are often built to entertain large groups of people, far beyond what most of us will need in the course of our everyday life. A private basement theater that seats a dozen comfortably has far wider appeal than that built to seat 200! Dream big, build small – that’s the secret to being happy with your basement remodel.

Basement Remodels Offer Great Payback According to Remodeling Magazine

Every year, people renovate their homes, both here in the Pembroke area and across the nation. There’s consistently interest in which type of remodels truly add value to the home. While everyone agrees that anything that is broken, from a non-functioning bathroom to a leaky roof, needs to be fixed right away, figuring out the other choices can be tricky. Remodeling magazine tracks the payback rates of many popular home renovations by comparing a job’s cost and the impact that job has on the home’s resale value; they release these numbers annually.

This year, once again, basement renovations appear near the top of the list of the renovations with the best payback rates. The basement renovation used to calculate the payback rate included a 20-by-30-foot entertaining area with wet bar, a 5-by-8-foot full bathroom with vinyl floors and a two-piece fiberglass shower unit and a 24-foot partition wall to enclose the mechanical area.  The cost for that job was a little more than $81,000, and the positive impact on the home’s selling price was nearly $51,000, resulting in a payback rate of 62.8%.

That’s a better rate of return than you’ll get from a major kitchen remodel, two-story addition, or even roofing replacement! From our experience doing basement renovations in Pembroke, we know that most homeowners have no immediate plans to sell their homes: they’re upgrading the basement to provide more living space, room for a home business, or for other immediate needs. But it’s good to know that in the long term, a basement renovation can have a significant positive impact on the value of your home.

 

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KAKS Basement Finishing & Remodeling

155 Webster Street Unit C.
Hanover, MA 02339
781-871-8887