If you’re considering developing your basement, then great! You’ve come to the right place. Basement Builders loves all things “basement” – and we’ve a track record to show what kind of expertise we have in the area. Homeowners who are looking to take that next step and finish their basement might have grandiose ideas of what that basement is going to look like, and it can be a very common thing to think, “I can handle it myself,” or “I can do the job cheaper if I handle all the renovations on my own.” You might be right. On the other hand, you might land yourself in a sticky situation where you’ve cost yourself months of your own precious time, you’re thousands of dollars over budget, and you’re risking bad workmanship.
To avoid a basement development nightmare, read on for a list of pros and cons for homeowners. Familiarizing yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of DIY basement finishing might be just the thing to make or break your decision on whether you want to tackle the job yourself, sub-contract yourself, or leave it entirely to the professionals.
The Pros for Your Own DIY Basement Renovation
Developing your own basement is possible. However, before you choose to tackle your own basement development project, it’s important to consider the various pros and cons. There are always two sides to any coin. Let’s get into a few advantages of doing your own DIY project.
Having a finished basement increases resale value.
Renovating virtually any room in your house will add back to its overall resale value, but especially your basement. Your house may stand out over those without finished basements. Whether your project is DIY or professional, generally having a finished basement is a good thing – but having a basement poorly “DIY’ed” might not bode so well.
Free rein over design choice.
DIY’ing your basement development means you get 100% of the decision-making responsibilities, so you’ll get to design it however you want. It could be a man cave,
Of course, as well as having free reign, you’ll also be completely on your lonesome without any professional advice or tips on how to make your design “work.” One of the great things about working with a professional is that they’ll bring your design to life – in a manner that fits building code and regulations and doesn’t put the integrity of the work into question.
Opportunity to rent out a basement suite.
Having a finished basement, complete with a bathroom and bedroom, may be a prime opportunity to rent out to prospect tenants to serve as supplemental income and may even help you to pay off your mortgage.
However, note that making a basement suite legal is an entirely separate matter, which you would have to be keenly aware of when undergoing development as your own sub-contractor. Calgary has especially tightened its regulations around what constitutes as a legal basement suite. A professional might be able to give you advice on how to ensure your basement suite is legal and complies with municipal regulations.
The Cons for Your Own DIY Basement Renovation
As you might expect, there are also plenty of disadvantages to DIY’ing your own basement renovation project. Your basement is a lot of space, and with most basements averaging about 1,000 square feet, there’s a lot of work to be done. Here are some of the disadvantages of doing your own DIY basement development:
There is no warranty on a DIY basement finishing.
With a DIY basement finishing, you will receive no warranty. A basement development warranty virtually backs up the integrity of your finished basement. Basement Builder’s own warranty guarantees 5 years on all labour and materials, is bonded with the City of Calgary, and involves a no-hassle claims process. If something happened to your finished basement, and the cause of the damage could be tied to faulty workmanship, you would be left to recoup the costs of any damages or losses on your lonesome. Most homeowner’s insurance policies won’t cover damages to your basement if the cause can be linked to poor workmanship or lack of maintenance, which could leave you high and dry.
Risk of bad workmanship and poor structural integrity.
Flooding is one of the major risks to finished basements everywhere. According to Alberta.ca’s flood preparedness article and data, flooding is considered a frequent hazard in Canada, and has impacted much of the province over the course of recent years. Flooding may occur at any time of the year, not just in spring, and can come because of dam failures, whether natural or man-made, ice jams, rapid melting of ice structures, and heavy rainfall.
Your project could drag on far longer than anticipated.
With a professional, you’ll likely be given a time estimate of when the project will be completed. When you’re subcontracting your own basement development, you have to pull together multiple different trades, schedule them, recruit them, pay them one-by-one – and even with all that, you’ll never know for certain how long the project might take. It could drag on far longer than anticipated, which in turn will cost you more in labour hours and take up your precious time. A professional company can give you a clearer timeline and stick to it better.
You’ll have to acquire all permits yourself.
One of the major perks of working with a professional basement development company is that you won’t have to worry about getting all the permits/handling the inspections yourself. Most professional basement developers will acquire the necessary permits, handle inspections, and ensure your basement is up to code to Alberta’s Residential Measurement Standards.
Choose Basement Builders – A Reputable Basement Renovation Company Serving Calgary, Airdrie, & Surrounding Areas
Of course, while it all might seem here like a DIY job is totally impossible, that’s not the case. You can fully act as your own sub-contractor for a basement development project, but we don’t advise handling everything 100% on your lonesome. Hiring a professional is always the way to go. It can save you money, you’ll have versatility on the design choice, and you’ll have a clear idea of what the timeline and budget will look like.
Basement Builders understands the mentality of “DIY,” but we also some things are better left to the professionals. When it comes to your basement, there’s just too much on the line to not enlist the aid of a reputable company to do the work. They also have the experience to prevent common mistakes that might otherwise put the safety of your home and family in jeopardy.
We’re a reputable basement development company serving Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks, Chestermere, Cochrane, Strathmore, and High River. Give us a call to discuss your next basement development project or take a look at our recent projects to see examples of what we do. We’re always happy to talk basements.
