If you’ve recently thought about adding a bathroom to a basement, read this blog post. But first, most importantly, congratulations on your idea. It’s an incredibly smart renovation to tackle that can instantly increase the value of your home, add livable space and elevate the entire functionality of your property. Building a bathroom in the basement is virtually always a sound investment but there are some considerations you need to make to ensure that you’ll get the best results. In this article, the Reno Duck team runs through everything you need to know about building a basement bathroom from idea to design to construction.
Also, consider the cost to install a bathroom in a basement in Canada, as this will determine your budget, and ultimately almost every feature of your space. Basement bathroom cost is key. Neglecting even one of these areas of consideration could severely hamper your basement bathroom experience, and that’s why the Reno Duck team is here for you.
Assess Planning and Feasibility for Adding a Bathroom to Your Basement
This is the basement bathroom rough-in. Before you start picking out vanities and shower curtains, you need to determine if your current situation can even accommodate a basement bathroom installation. Most importantly, do you have the space needed for the bathroom you want? For example, if you desire a full bathroom for your guests with a shower or tub, plus a sink and toilet, evaluate if there’s enough square footage to get the job done. If not, basement expansion is always an option, although quite pricey.
Next, think about your home’s existing plumbing system. If it works for your vision, you may want to consider placing your washroom beneath existing sewer and water lines on upper floors, for ease of installation. However, anything can be done by consulting a professional contractor or plumber, like the ones at Reno Duck, who can quickly and expertly evaluate the space for potential solutions including the addition of new plumbing. Your bathroom designer will create 2D and 3D renderings of the space so you can be sure of every detail before construction begins.
Choose Fixtures and Materials for Your Basement Bathroom
From there, it’s time to choose your favourite materials and fixtures to deck out the basement bathroom plumbing. Now that you know the space you’re working with, it can help narrow down what types of fixtures, or the colours and textures of materials you plan on working with. Consider what style you’re going for with the bathroom. Are you going for something traditional or a motif that’s a bit more elegant? In many cases, going for some fixtures that are more compact in style can maximize your space.
In terms of textures for materials, with flooring for example, ensure that your chosen material is water resistant because basements are often very humid and exposed to lots of moisture. Wooden floors would not be a good idea, but an alternative such as tile or laminate would be just fine.
Basement Plumbing and Drainage
Plumbing a basement bathroom is serious work. Of course, you cannot design and build a basement bathroom — let alone any other kind of bathroom — without thinking about plumbing and drainage. In some cases, homeowners have been able to harness the power of existing lines and quickly tap into them for faster installation. However, other times there are no existing pipes to tap into and a professional plumber will need to make additions to the system. It’s an added cost to your budget, but well worth it to ensure that you’re getting your basement bathroom set up just the way you want it.
And don’t forget about the drainage. Because any basement runs the risk of flooding, you must think about floor drain placement and installation, floor slopes inside the shower and outside the shower, and more. It’s always best practice to consult a professional plumber from a reputable contracting service provider to know what constitutes a new plumbing and drainage system being up to health and safety codes and standards.
Basement Bathroom Framing and Construction
After the drainage and plumbing considerations have been made, you can finally progress to the construction, including the framing, of your new bathroom in the basement. Utilizing metal studs or pressure-treated lumber is essential to keep your structure moisture-resistant and long-lasting. The framing process firms up your basement bathroom’s location and layout, laying the groundwork for the installation of other components such as electrical and plumbing. The frame serves as the housing for these features that connect to your various fixtures.
At this stage, you’ll choose the right insulation to regulate humidity and temperature while repelling any kind of moisture formation. Basements need special insulation more than other parts of your house because there are more likely to be wild temperature fluctuations. Be sure to consult your contractor or another professional tradesperson about choosing insulation that is specifically designed for basement bathroom renovation projects.
Electrical and Lighting
Never attempt to let an amateur or yourself work on electrical aspects of your basement bathroom renovation unless, of course, you are a certified electrician. It is easy to make a mistake and cause harm or worse to someone in the household. Professional electricians such as the ones that work with Reno Duck, know the local building codes inside and out, to take all the stress and uncertainty of a critical portion of your basement bathroom renovation. Electricians will ensure all of your desired light fixtures, outlets, and switches are installed to perfection and provide adequate lighting for the space.
Harnessing the powers of both natural and artificial light is very important for the design and construction of your basement bathroom. When possible, you want to use as much window space as possible to brighten up and open up the basement bathroom. However, if your basement bathroom has zero windows, you can get creative, using LED lights that mimic natural light applications to the space. Even if you don’t have natural light, it’s still easily possible to achieve the warm and welcoming environment you want for you, your family, and your guests.
Flooring and Wall Finishes
You want to maximize your function and visual appeal when it comes to selecting the right materials to finish the construction of your basement bathroom walls and floors. You need to ensure that you’re considering the materials’ ability to repel moisture and possible water damage. Vinyl, tile and laminate are all acceptable choices. Basements are traditionally moist and the first part of the home to go under in the event of a flood, water line break, or sewer backup. Your flooring and wall finishes should be durable and easy to clean.
Thankfully for homeowners, they make cement board and water-resistant drywall that was specifically engineered to withstand the challenges of basement bathroom construction. Consider a tile backsplash all around the bathroom to ensure longevity and cleanliness of the space. Hire a professional to grout and seal all of your tiles to prevent moisture buildup in undesirable spaces. This may also be the stage where you talk with your flooring contractor about the ability to install heated flooring, great in any bathroom, but especially a basement bathroom renovation.
Plumbing Basement Bathroom Fixture Installation
So you have the framing, you have the plumbing and electrical, and you have the flooring and the walls finished, so now it’s time to add your desired fixtures. Adding fixtures to your basement bathroom should typically start with the toilet, followed by the shower or bathtub and sink. Closely consider the manufacturer’s directions that come with each fixture to ensure that the fixtures will operate properly.
You can also take this time to make sure that everything is properly sealed and connected to avoid leaks and damage. Again, this is a good time to go back to the professional plumber to inspect that everything is up to code and properly installed. Your plumber will do a complete analysis of the space and its plumbing and drainage systems to suss out any problems and apply a quick and proper fix if deemed necessary.
Final Touches and Detailing
Now it’s time for the details and final touches of your basement bathroom renovation. You’ve made it into the home stretch! Looking at different accessories including toilet paper holders, mirrors, tower racks, and even towel warmers will help you boost the look of your bathroom and increase functionality and comfort. Stick with accessories that go along with the theme of your design.
Storage is also part of this category and it’s so essential both to the look and usability of your basement bathroom after the construction of the new bathroom is complete. Consider adding recessed shelves, mounted cabinets, vanity units with storage, and creative shelving setups to get the very most out of your space. A bathroom that’s clutter-free and organized is one you won’t mind spending time in every day.
Final Inspection and Completion
Finishing a basement bathroom is very exciting. Your new bathroom looks complete and ready to use…but there are still a few more steps to follow before you can officially declare the basement bathroom renovation “over” once and for all. Every new space should undergo an inspection by the proper officials depending on your municipality’s and region’s rules regarding home renovations.
After the basement bathroom renovation passes inspection by local authorities, you can apply for paperwork and permits that may allow you to access home renovation tax credits or rebates. Research online to see if you apply for any of these programs within your province. It might seem like a pain and you may be tempted to skip this step, but you don’t want to risk having to pay a hefty fine or being ordered to destroy the space. Don’t skip the official steps, like hiring a certified electrician or going for that final inspection. You don’t want to risk losing all of your hard work and hard-earned dollars.
Maintenance and Care after Finishing the Basement Bathroom
This is the stage where you finally get to enjoy your bathroom and allow guests to marvel at the beautiful work you’ve overseen in your newly finished basement bathroom renovation. And while you’re encouraged to enjoy your new bathroom as much as possible, we ask that you keep on the lookout for possible signs of erosion and damage as a part of a routine of maintenance. This includes any hints of water damage, leaks, or moisture buildup.
If you catch something early enough, it can be easily fixed and save you money in the long run. It’s the same story when it comes to your accessories. Clean them often, inspect them for leaks, and consult a professional contractor if you think something requires immediate attention before it’s too late. Taking these careful steps to take care of your new basement bathroom ensures you’ll enjoy it for many, many years to come.
Ready to add your basement bathroom?
As you’ve now seen, there are many steps to be taken to properly install a basement bathroom from the original idea to construction and the finishing touches. If you’re ready to elevate your home’s value and functionality, then it’s time to tackle a renovation project like this one.
The process seems intimidating, but working with expert contractors like the ones at Reno Duck can ensure that you are following every step of the process. Our experts make it pain-free, offering you an all-in-one basement bathroom renovation service. We consult you every step of the way to ensure you’re getting exactly the basement bathroom that you wanted. But you’ll never be the one responsible for juggling schedules and personnel. Leave that to us, as you make the big decisions. Your wish is our desire.
If you want to take the first step of creating a plan for your new basement bathroom, contact Reno Duck today to book your free consultation. All of our tradespeople are fully insured, licensed, and certified to be working on your home. We have extensive basement bathroom renovation experience and countless references from pleased homeowners who have raved about our first-rate customer service offerings from start to finish of the job. And all of our work is backed by industry-leading warranties.
Don’t wait anymore, you deserve the bathroom of your dreams! Connect with Reno Duck now.