- By Dylan Smith
- In Uncategorized
What You Should Know Before Adding a Bathroom to Your Basement
Are you utilizing your basement as a living space or rental unit?
One of the best things you can do to add value to your property is to add a bathroom to your basement.
You will also be making your basement more functional in the process— no one has to rush up the basement stairs when nature calls!
What you do need to know though is that underground plumbing can be a huge pain. It isn’t easy to get right, which is why you should always hire professionals when you want to build a basement bathroom.
If the job isn’t done properly, it will cost you more money in the long run. It can also increase the chances of your basement getting flooded.
Prevent Basement Flooding
Before we move on to the basics of adding a bathroom to your basement, you should know what you can do to prevent the basement from getting flooded.
Add a Sump Pump
A sump pump will keep your basement dry by pumping out water away from the foundation of the house. Thus, it’s an easy and cheap way to prevent flooding. Remember to install an airtight lid over the sump pump and inspect its functioning from time to time to make sure it’s doing the job right.
Ensuring Proper Drainage
Good quality, leak-proof drainage is vital to keeping your basement dry. When installing a basement bathroom, you will need to connect the existing drainage system of your house to your new bathroom’s drainage.
It’s best to get professionals to handle this for you. They will take care of the plumping depth, bathroom piping and drainage. The flow rate of the drains needs to be adequate to prevent sewage from blocking the drains and causing flooding.
Designing Your Basement Bathroom
Once you’ve handled the drainage essentials, the next step is the actual design of the bathroom.
Size
How big do you want the bathroom to be? Will it be a half bathroom with a toilet and sink? Or will you go all out and add a bathtub, shower, bathroom closets and shelves? Plan for size before construction starts otherwise you’ll end up wasting a lot of money.
Basement Toilet Options
Upflush Toilets
Upflush toilets can be installed in a few hours and won’t be too heavy on the pocket. They can also connect easily to the preexisting plumbing system so there won’t be need for extra construction.
Pressure-Assisted Toilets
These might be the best option for you since they make use of air pressure to get rid of waste in the drains. Your basement bathroom runs less of a risk of getting clogged.
Other Design Elements
Think of the kind of flooring you want. It’s best to go with concrete flooring or vinyl tiles as wooden floors in the basement are prone to rot and mold.
You don’t want your basement bathroom to have a dingy feel, so put some thought into lighting options. It might be best to get glass-block windows to let in natural light. You can also choose bright ceiling lights and vanity lights on the bathroom mirror for added brightness.
Summary:
Adding a bathroom to your basement is a great way to add value and functionality to your basement. Plan for the bathroom beforehand and hire professionals to take care of important things such as drainage and construction.
