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

How To Remodel Basements And Attics

The various aspects of planning are explained and illustrated, in proper sequence, in all of the following chapters. But before any kind of planning can be done, you must definitely decide what the prime purpose of your basement-remodeling project is. As you will soon see, the purpose of remodeling determines the planning.

What caused you to think about basement remodeling? Did your first thoughts about such remodeling stem from any of the following ideas?

1. Need for a children's recreation room.
2. Need for a general recreation room for the entire family.
3. Need for an entertainment area.
4. Desire for a modern laundry.
5. Desire for a workshop.
6. Need for modern food-storage facilities.
7. Desire for a game area.
8. Need for a general storage area.
9. Need for one or more additional bedrooms.

With the foregoing ideas in mind, let us examine some of them to see why it is necessary to decide on the purpose of remodeling before actual planning is started.

CHILDREN'S RECREATION ROOM

When two or more children are involved, the size of a recreation room is an important factor. First, there must be ample space for riding tricycles and other moving toys. Second, there must be ample closet or storage space where all manner of toys can be stored. For best results, such a recreation room should have an area of at least 150 sq. ft. In other words, the room should be at least 10 ft. wide and 15 ft. long. In addition, there should be space for closets and storage.

With the above purpose in mind, you can actually measure the space in your basement and quickly determine if a room of sufficient area is possible while leaving space for the furnace, laundry equipment and other necessary items.