How To Turn A Basement Into An Apartment

There are many benefits to upgrading a dark, damp basement to an inviting living space. Basement renovations can add significant square footage—and resale value—to a home. And it can be a blank slate; something to reimagine for any of your family’s needs, including entertaining, working from home, or relaxing.

What makes a basement livable space?

A finished basement must be directly accessible and contiguous with the rest of the house. If the space doesn’t have permanent stairs or direct access then it isn’t considered a finished living area. Finished spaces only accessed by ladders, such as lofts, are also not considered living areas.

How can I make my basement apartment safe?

Follow a few tips to make your basement lifestyle safer. Make Sure the Apartment Is Up to Code. Any honest landlord and apartment complex owner will make sure that basement apartments are up to code. Test for Mold and Gas. Have an Escape Plan During Fire and Flooding. Have a Plan to Prevent and Deal with Burglary.

How high do ceilings need to be in a basement apartment?

High Ceilings When it comes to basement apartment requirements, the ceiling height should be no less than seven feet for more than 75% of the space. However, the higher the better. Once you start digging down, it becomes a very big project, so keep an eye out for high ceilings when house shopping.

How do you turn an unfinished basement into a bedroom?

Steps I took to create a “finished” unfinished guest bedroom. We painted the ceiling black. Paint the concrete walls and concrete floor. Hung canvas drop cloths along stud wall to divide space. Use a rug to warm up the space. Hang a curtain rod from the floor joist to hang some curtains up in front of the window well.

Can you convert a basement into a bedroom?

A cellar conversion can make space for a new room, add value to your home and prevent the need to move home. Cellar conversion costs can be relatively high and are dependent on a number of factors. A new basement can be used as a gym, a bedroom or even a swimming pool.

How can I finish my basement cheaply?

You can save on the cost to finish a basement by doing things not bound by codes: installing trim or doors, painting walls and woodwork, and installing flooring, says Buckeye Basements’ Jon Smith. Beyond that, count on using some pros.

Is the basement good for living?

Living in a basement apartment may cause several diseases which can be caused by molds and radon. Mold is a type of fungi that grows very easily in damp places. Radon, an odorless and colorless gas that causes lung cancer, is also very common and found in basement apartments that a harmful for human health.

Can you live in an unfinished basement?

Can you live in an unfinished basement? Sleeping in an unfinished basement is NOT safe in the long run because of the risk of allergic reactions, lung cancer, carbon monoxide poisoning, difficulty breathing, and death from fire or flood.

Can living in a basement cause health problems?

Yes, you can get sick from living in a basement due to stagnant airflow and the buildup of moisture. The air quality in your typical basements is deficient, which can cause you to become anywhere from slightly to gravely ill.

Can I count my basement as square footage?

As a general rule of thumb, a finished basement typically doesn’t count toward the overall square footage, especially if the basement is completely below grade—a term that means underground level.

Should I move into a basement apartment?

Not only do basement apartments allow renters to save big on rent, but they can also offer unique advantages over above-ground apartments. That said, cons like a lack of natural light and a propensity for common basement issues are definitely worth considering.

How low is too low for a basement ceiling?

In most cases, a basement ceiling is too low if it violates local building codes. For older builds, that means anything below 6 feet 4 inches. For new construction, ceiling heights under 7 feet or obstructions below 6 feet 8 inches would be too low legally.

Can you raise the basement ceiling?

Raising a basement ceiling typically costs about $19,200 and can range from $16,000 to $24,000. During this process, the house is lifted and the foundation is raised to a new level.

What are the options for basement ceilings?

15 Basement Ceiling Ideas to Inspire Your Space Forget About Boring Basement Ceilings. 1/16. Painted Rafters. 2/16. Natural Wooden Planks. 3/16. Painted Wooden Planks. 4/16. Painted Pipes and Beams. 5/16. Tin Ceiling. 6/16. Corrugated Metal Ceiling. 7/16. Decorative Ceiling Tile. 8/16.

Does adding a bedroom in the basement add value?

Because basement bedrooms are not accounted for in the gross living area space, they are valued separately as an additional line item on an appraisal. As such, you can expect the value of a basement bedroom to be in the range of 50%-70% of the value of a traditional above-ground bedroom.

What can I use for basement walls instead of drywall?

Drywall Alternatives Wood Planks. Wood planks are an age-old drywall alternative that has certainly stood the test of time well. Veneer Plaster. Lath & Plaster. Plywood and Sheet Wood. Texture Wall Panels. Brick & Masonry. Exposed Concrete Block. Cement Board.

Can you finish a basement for 5000?

Average Cost to Remodel a Basement Remodeling a basement costs $5,000-$10,000 on average, so you can easily finish your basement for $10,000 or less.