The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

How To Remodel Basements And Attics

Introduction To Basement Remodeling

DURING THE ERA when many of our older houses were designed and built, basements served a wide variety of practical needs, all of which required considerable space. For example, centrally located hand-fired heating plants, along with their dirty coal bins and dusty heaps of ashes, sprawled over large areas of the basement floors. All sorts of washtubs and other laundry equipment were scattered here and there, wherever connections to water and sewer lines were available. Shelves and bins for the storage of food and other household items were also given space.

The advent of modern heating plants, with automatic fueling, brought about the first of many changes that altered the complexion of basements. Dirt and dust no longer had to be contended with and the equipment could be tucked away in corners since it required much less space.

The coming of compact and automatic clothes washers and dryers, equally compact deep-freeze units for the storage of prepared foods and many other such improvements and innovations have gradually liberated more and more space in basements.

Many of our newer houses also have been designed with large basements. The designers and builders may have followed tradition when they included such spaces or they may have provided them with future developments in mind.

Today, thousands of homeowners realize the possibilities of the wasted space in their basements and are anxious to convert such space into worthwhile living areas. In this chapter we shall therefore discuss such possibilities and set the stage for definite planning.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF BASEMENT REMODELING

The basement shown in Fig. 1 illustrates what we have discussed, namely, a basement in which modern, automatic equipment is tucked away in a corner and in which a great deal of space is practically wasted. As you will note in the illustration, some attempt has been made to use the space as a child's playroom.