Get a basement that does not feel like a basement!
Do you need more space in your home?
Has a loved one moved back?
Do you need a new “work from home” office?
Finishing your basement is a great way to quickly increase the livable space in your home. The challenge with basements is if you don’t properly renovate you will have a finished space that no one enjoys using! Your basement will feel dark, cold, and uninviting.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
We at Destination Estates are experts in creating basements that feel like an extension of your home rather than an afterthought. We know renovating your basement is a big investment. We work with you to ensure the finished basement is both beautiful and functional for your needs. Our clients love the basements we create for them. They also appreciate knowing we are increasing their home’s resale value.
Read below to see how our basement renovation transformed Andrew and Christine’s basement into a beautiful in-law suite with a home gym!
Andrew and Christine's Basement Renovation
"I sit there looking around at what was done I think it was the best money I ever spent on my house."
~ Andrew L.
- Location
- Guelph, Ontario
- Duration
- 3.5 Months
- Budget
- $140,000
- Would you recommend us?
- "See Andrew's full testimonial (click here)"
Project Highlights
Andrew and Christine's basement renovation transformed their space into an inviting in-law suite and home gym
- More livable space
- Andrew and Christine doubled the livable space in their house. They now have a complete in-law suite and a spacious home gym
- Does not feel like a basement
- The insulated hardwood floors, bright lights, spacious layout, complete bathroom and kitchenette make this basement feel like anything but a basement
- Increased home value
- Andrew and Christine love their basement. They also enjoy knowing that their basement renovation has increased their home’s value
- Spa-like bathroom
- The contemporary bathroom with a walk-in rain shower and heated floors make the space feel like a spa
- Save the environment and money
- By insulating the floors and spray foam insulating the walls we increased energy efficiency and made it easier to keep the basement temperature at a comfortable level
The Finished Basement Renovation
See step-by-step this basement renovation
Before The Renovation
We met with Andrew and Christine to understand their vision for the space. We also wanted to understand their main priorities and any potential concerns they had with the renovation process.
We want to make sure that before starting any project we align with our clients on what a great outcome looks like. We also want to be completely aligned on how the experience should go.
Setting expectations early means no surprises and a smooth renovation experience.
We agreed that the best approach would be to gut the basement. This would allow us to address more fundamental concerns like temperature control, energy efficiency, layout, and add a kitchenette.
The Demolition
We removed everything from the basement. We take special care during demolition to minimize the disruption to you and your family’s life. You can see that we routinely clean the job site. We use plastic barriers and drop sheets to reduce dust. We agree on working hours and ensure we are not making noise when you are on a conference call or your child is trying to sleep.
Adding a Kitchenette and Shower
We cut the cement floor. We then reached out to our trusted plumbers. We use the same plumbers on all of our jobs because we know they produce quality work. The plumbers expanded the plumbing system so we were able to add a shower, and a kitchenette into the basement.
Here is a photo of us filling in the concrete after all of the modifications were made to the plumbing. A lot of people think that this is a difficult or scary step however when you work with professionals like we do, we have peace of mind knowing the work is done correctly.
Want to see how we can transform your basement?
The Finishing Touches
One of the best ways to make a basement feel like it is not below ground is to eliminate that “always cold” feeling. There are several things you can do to help eliminate that feeling. In this basement we added insulation to the subflooring, which reduces the radiant temperature of the concrete.
We also removed the batt insulation and used spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation has the highest R-value of any type of insulation. This means it’s energy-efficient and makes it easier to maintain a comfortable internal temperature.
Andrew and Christine loved the idea of having a gas fireplace in the basement. The fireplace is a great supplemental heat source and it adds to the ambiance of the space. They wanted the fireplace to feel modern and we worked with them to select the perfect stone.
There are several things that we think make this bathroom special. When it comes to the shower, we enclosed the entire shower with glass. The shower is oversized and has both a rainfall shower head and a hand shower faucet. We took care to ensure we arranged the porcelain wall tiles so the grain pattern across the tiles looks aesthetically pleasing.
We added in-floor radiant heating which Andrew and Christine can control using a switch on their wall. We also adjusted the layout to make the bathroom larger and more functional.