A "Suite" Way to Stay Connected

The Plan

I hear this phrase a lot, “We want to have an area for our children that we can rent out later.” At one point in time, the growing trend was adult children at home was “common,” and now has become the new normal. Therefore, dedicating the lower floor to anticipate this next chapter heavily depends on having your basement suite done right!

Keep This Mindset

I like to tell people when it comes to your basement suite “plan for distance, not for time.” Your approach to your secondary suite project is to minimize the amount of work to repair, replace, or remove. That doesn’t mean be EXPENSIVE! Instead, try to set your budget, so you come in the middle or higher. You want to experience the gains from your goals.

Give It Some Personality

Make your suite personable. I’m going to go out on a limb and say, every adult can make some form of spaghetti. However, everyone has a personalized method or recipe to enjoy eating it. Your suite should be the same. Following the rules is one thing, but your signature design adds a lot more.

How About This?

So, what should a person look into for their suite if to be used by family members? Here are a few suggestions:

• The basement suite Entrance: A separate entrance is always ideal, especially when folks are coming in or leaving at non-regular hours of the day. The new entry is not only to be safe but, also to provide an excellent means of security. If the suite door cannot be viewed from the street, then sufficient lighting is recommended. I would suggest motion lighting.

• Heating: First of all, you are required to supply an independent heat source. For a new suite, always go to two furnaces. The size of the basement furnace can be small and not required to run for a long time. And besides, your basement should be properly insulated and sealed, so it will not take long for it to heat or remain heated. Electric base heaters are cheaper but consume too much energy.

  • Pssst! Remember to get an HRV unit! Watch my first video.

• What About Your Windows? If you can, try to have more than one window. The more natural light, the better! More natural light means less usage of light switches. Also, try to have your windows more deep than wide. A 36” window height makes a difference when it comes to accessibility.

  • Pssst! Speak to your window supplier about different egress basement window dimensions.

Photo: Soundproofing Mineral Wool Insulation within Ceiling Joists.
Journal Title: 7 Ways To Soundproof A Ceiling That Really Work
Author and Website Creator: Dominic
Website: https://soundproofcentral.com/

Link: https://soundproofcentral.com/soundproof-ceiling/

• Soundproofing Is A Must! Soundproofing has now become the new code requirement from 2019. However, it would be best if you always looked into it. You want to minimize sound transfer and vibrations as much as possible. Talk to your contractor about making sure the stairwell doesn’t become an echo chamber too.

• Appliances and Fixtures: Start investing in the washer and dryer all in one machine. Laundry combo appliances don’t require too much space and allow for other forms of storage. Try not to oversize the appliances or furniture for your space. The smaller the fixtures, the roomier the place feels.

In the end, your secondary suite is a “space.” Therefore, how you invest will reflect in your return. Next week we will look into basement suites created for strictly strangers.

Thank you and have a great week!