Their first baby on the way, Trent and Ragan Haston knew their one-bedroom bungalow on Lake Wylie was about to seem a whole lot smaller.
But they adored the cozy house and its location. So instead of moving out, they moved down.
To the basement.
A $150,000 renovation turned their wood-paneled dungeon of a basement into a bright, inviting retreat, with a master suite complete with a spa-like bathroom and a living space that opens onto a back patio with a lake view.
Builders say they're completing more basement and attic renovations these days. Families who need bigger homes find it tougher to sell and move in this housing market, or decide that it's easier to stay and renovate amid the uncertainty.
“It just makes sense. People aren't moving around like they were three years ago. They're trying to maximize the investment in their home,” said Trent Haston. He's a vice president with Andrew Roby General Contractor, and made the same decisions that many of his company's clients do.
He said that while the renovation cost about $160 per square foot, he expects the upgraded space to generate about $300 per square foot upon resale.
Andrew Roby project manager Brendan Hackett handled the 980-square-foot renovation, which was completed just in time for the birth of the Hastons' daughter, Tatum, almost 5 months ago.
Now, Tatum's bedroom is in the couple's former master bedroom on the first floor. The Hastons have moved to their new master suite downstairs. The basement also contains a den where the family can watch TV and entertain friends.
Hackett worked with Eric Binder, an intern architect with Meyer-Greeson-Paullin-Benson, to make the renovated walkout basement best serve the young family's lifestyle, and complement the arts-and-crafts-style home.
The project turned out so well that it won honors earlier this year in the remodeling contest hosted by the Remodelors Council, an arm of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte.
And, say those who made the project a success, you can turn a dark, dusty basement into an enjoyable living space by following a few guidelines:
Ceilings
The ceiling should be at least 8 feet from the floor for a comfortable, livable space, Binder says.
The ceiling in the Hastons' basement was just 7 feet high, with a dropped ceiling in place to hide ductwork snaking above. Binder got creative and moved the ducts so they could be disguised by a tray ceiling in the master bathroom. Now, the Hastons' ceiling is 8 feet 4 inches in some places. The higher the ceiling, the bigger the room will feel, Binder says.
Homeowners also face other ceiling choices.
Suspended ceilings are easier and cheaper to install than drywall ceilings. But they are generally less attractive and need to be hung 3 to 4 inches below the rough ceiling, which can be tough in a basement where every inch counts.
Windows and doors
If you're going to put a bedroom in the basement, law requires that there is a door or a window large enough to escape in case of a fire and to allow firefighters or rescue workers to enter.
Code requires that windows must be at least 20 inches wide and 24 inches high, and the bottom of the window can't be more than 44 inches from the basement floor.
The minimum net clear opening – which is the actual opening through which a person must crawl – can't be less than 5.7 square feet.
If your basement has no windows, you can brighten the space with window wells. Window wells are used to keep earth away from basement windows that are below ground level. Windows in wells allow in natural light and ventilation.
If a window well is the only way to exit a basement, the window-well must have a floor space of 8 square feet, with minimum dimensions of 36 inches wide and long. If the window well is more than 44 inches deep, it must have a permanent ladder or steps up to the ground, the code says.
Heating and air conditioning
Pay extra attention to planning the basement heating and air conditioning system, or you'll need an extra sweater or two down there in the winter. A heating professional should be able to tell you how to properly ventilate the area so the temperature is the same downstairs as upstairs.
The Hastons cut channels in their concrete floor and installed electric radiant heating below the porcelain tile in the master bathroom to take the chill off the floor.
Too much moisture in a basement can make it feel dank and cold, and be unhealthy. If you think moisture is a problem in your basement, seek the help of a contractor to assess any problems and determine a solution. Sealing water vapor under floors and behind walls can lead to big problems.
You may need to regrade the land outside the house to direct water away from the foundation, or add gutters and downspouts to carry the water away from the home.
Also, be sure to test your basement for radon before starting a remodeling project. Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in some soils, rocks and water. It can cause lung cancer.
Because radon levels can vary from season to season, it's best to keep a radon detector in the basement for at least 90 days, writes Peter Jeswald in his book, “Basement Ideas that Work: Creative Solutions for Your Home” (Taunton, $19.95).
If radon is detected, you'll need to seal all cracks, joints and gaps, and install an exhaust fan that vents to the outside to remove the gas.
Lighting
Give special thought to lighting before walls go up.
The Hastons used lots of recessed lighting, installing his-and-hers spotlights in the ceiling above both sides of the bed. That way, one can have plenty of light to read in bed while the other sleeps in relative darkness.
Doors with glass in them can allow light to travel from room to room, even if doors are closed.
A bright space will make the room seem bigger.
Make it seem bigger
Some layout and design tricks can make your basement seem bigger than it is.
Jeswald recommends reducing the number of full-height walls to create an open floor plan. Also, using light-colored paint, flooring and furnishings can make a small space seem bigger.
Vertical elements like narrow bookshelves or patterned wallpaper make spaces feel taller.
Binder, the Hastons' architect, recommended narrower crown moldings to make the ceilings seem higher.
And instead of using plain double doors between the master bedroom and bath, he added updated, finished barn doors with sliding barn hardware – a nod to the fun-in-the -outdoors feeling the Hastons have about their house.
