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Remodeling Your Basement?
Here are some steps to get you started.
Step 1: Ensuring your Basement is Ready to Remodel
Is my remodel feasible?
Our first step in any project is checking hte feasibility based on building codes and budget. There are three main aspects to take into consideration when starting a basement remodel:
Ceiling Height must exceed 7 Feet, 6 Inches for habitable rooms or 7 feet for corridors and other spaces.
Septic or Sewer:Â If you are thinking about adding bedrooms to your basement and have a septic you will need to have your current system accessed to see if it can handle additional occupants. This may result in having to replace or upgrade your septic. If you have city sewer you may be charged additional fees
Egress: Basements used for living or sleeping purposes are required to have at least one emergency escape and rescue opening. The minimum net clear opening area of the window should be at least 5.7 square feet.Â

Step 2: Designing Your Basement
A proper design can make or break your remodel.
Some important things to keep in mind are:
Direct access to utilities from the exterior. This makes it easier to access HVAC and utilities without having to walk through your finished space.
Ensuring Design plans match structural features of your space. (Checking load bearing walls and structural supports)
Ensure your design has proper lighting with finishes and ventilation that open your space, to avoid feeling like a basement.
Step 3: Starting Your Renovation
Once your design is complete, your remodel begins.
Key elements of basement remodels to consider:
Moisture Mitigation: Including waterproofing, air circulation, and dehumidifiers
Plumbing:Â Pump-up systems and drain trenching can complicate Basement bathroom installations.
Access panels:Â Ensure your contractor has access to electrical boxes, drain cleanouts, and other utilities.
How Much Should My Basement Remodel Cost?
When it comes to adding living space to your home, finishing your basement has one of the highest returns on investment of any home project.
A basement renovation in Connecticut typically costs between $70 and $120 a square foot.
What drives cost for a Basement Remodel?
Selection of finishes.
Installation of plumbing into foundation. (Trenching)
Electrical upgrades, especially meter upgrades when necessary.
FAQ:
Types of Basement Renovations
Basement In-Law Suites
Adding an in-law apartment or accessory suite to your basement is a great use of the space. Coupled with a walkout floorplan, CAPS standards, and ADA adherence, basement suites are a great option for those with limited mobility.

Basement Kitchens
Who doesn’t want an additional kitchen when hosting? Adding a simple wet bar or full prep kitchen to your basement adds functionality and value, while also creating more usable living space.

Basement Bathrooms
If you’re adding additional living space, we always recommend adding a bathroom. Depending on where your waste water exits the home, basement bathrooms may require a “pump-up” system to return wastewater to ground level. While previously cost-prohibitive, these systems are cheaper, quieter, and more convenient than ever.

Basement Home Theaters
One of the most popular basement remodel requests, home theaters require specific attention to sound management and acoustics.

Basement Bars and Game Rooms
Adding a bar or game room to your basement is a great way to add additional living space, while cutting out the costs associated with adding a bedroom, bathroom, or apartment.

Basement Offices
With the increasing availability of work-from-home arrangements, home offices are more popular than ever. Adding an office in your basement can save costs commuting, create privacy you lack at work, and depending on income can sometimes come with a tax deduction for working from home.

Basement Remodel
Whether you’re looking to add a living space to an unfinished basement, or breathe new life into a little-used space, Fine Home’s dedicated teams of interior designers, project managers, and tradesmen have the tools and knowledge needed to carry your project from start to finish.
Using industry leading project management software, our process puts you at the forefront of your remodel: Whether you’d like to keep track of each detail or sit back and relax, we provide a level of oversight and transparency that sets us apart.
Our one-stop-shop approach aims to cut out subcontractors and keep our labor in-house wherever possible, giving you direct access to your interior designer, project manager, and individual craftsmen.
