Basement renovations can be a fascinating and highly rewarding project. In previous articles we have emphasized the fact that careful and complete planning is of great importance for any renovation project. In fact, unless such planning has been completed prior to the start of the actual work, any number of problems, and costly disappointments may occur.
But when a project has been properly planned it will be a most enjoyable experience and will produce results that greatly enhance your home. Everything hinges on how the planning was done.
The benefits of good and complete planning are impressive and should be your guide. Let’s review just a few of them.
1) Good planning makes the whole project easier to do. In other words, every item of the work can be visualized, in proper sequence, and the whole project fits together without trouble or strain.
2) Good planning makes every phase of the project interesting. It becomes a game where every move adds increasing enjoyment as the various details of the work combine to gradually complete the dream you started with.
3) Good planning assures accurate cost estimates. You can be sure that the project will not cost more than you want or can afford.
4) Good planning makes it possible for you to do the work, without confusion or trouble, as your budget and time permits.
5) Good planning lends assurance that every detail of the remodeling will turn out well, and has the appearance, efficiency and comfort you desire.
6) Good planning allows you to buy materials, all in proper order, as you need them. This avoids having piles of unnecessary material around to create inconvenience and possible damage.
7) Good planning allows the project to move toward completion at a satisfying rate without unnecessary delays, confusion, or disappointments!
There are two types of planning, preliminary and final planning.
Preliminary planning
Ask yourself the following questions.
Have you decided on the exact purpose of your reno along with the reasons?
Are you convinced that the reno will be worthwhile?
Can you easily and accurately visualize the basement plan views?
Have you exercised proper precautions to make sure that your ideas will not cost too much?
Have you given careful attention to the materials you would like to use?
By making sure that you have carefully considered and answered these questions you have completed your preliminary planning.
Final planning
The first step of final planning consists of drawing a plan view, accurately and to scale. This is easy.
First, measure the interior of your basement. On a piece of paper (using 1/4in. to 1ft. scale), draw the outline of the basement. Using graph paper and a ruler can really help keep things square and straight. Where there are already interior walls in the basement make sure to draw these out as well.
The stairs, laundry tubs, washer, dryer, furnace, chimney, etc., all need to be drawn into the plan view to scale by measuring them and their locations. The same applies to the post columns, beams, ceiling ducts and windows.
The drawing doesn’t need to be fancy, but it dose need to be accurate and, as you will see, it will be a great help. After this is completed you have a drawing of the way things are. Now you can start playing with how you want them to be.
Some people like to cut out shapes cut to scale for things like laundry appliances and couches and chairs etc. and move them around on your plan view to help get the positioning right. Today there are also fairly inexpensive software programs that will draw plan views fairly quickly. A really good one is Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer They also have symbols and shapes you can position on your drawing. This can be a real help and time saver if you are good on a computer but you still have to measure and enter things accurately.
The first trial remodeling plan is the next exciting stage of your final planning. Now trace or make a new drawing and start including the walls and layout of the new design. You may want to ask your family or a friend for their opinion to help you think it through. After a first try you may like some aspects but want to adjust others. This is quite natural.
There most often needs to be a second trial plan and sometimes even a third before you get things laid out the way you want them. Take your time and get it right as this final plan will be what you use to estimate materials and prices for the project.
Have fun with your planning.