Finishing basement before addition

12/11/2015 at 6:16:45 AM

In my experience I would hold off on commencing with your basement renovation until the completion of your 2nd storey addition. During the course of your addition I am positive you will need to add structural support columns in the basement and run new HVAC and Electrical to accommodate the requirements of the additional space. It would be a shame to go through the time of completing a basement just to rip it apart. Now, with that being said, the timing of your addition also plays a role in your decision making. If you would like to do your basement this year, but are worried that you may do an addition "eventually" then I would say complete the basement and worry about the "what if" when/ if the time comes to do the addition.

Regards,

Fred Carroll

KCL Residential Construction Services.

12/11/2015 at 7:44:47 AM

I totally agree with Fred on waiting until you start working on your 2nd story. But I will add that you could finish your basement and run all the roughing behind the walls and to the main floor so you don't have to to take it apart when build your 2nd story, but you should have the drawing for the 2nd story layout to work according to the plan.

Mike Wise

12/11/2015 at 8:07:00 AM

You should wait, it's an older home probably with issues. It's all about point load on your foundation, whether it's sufficient enough to support a second story. I would take the time to prepare by getting an Engineer and qualified builder on board prior to the addition construction. Information is powerful, will get you prepared.

12/11/2015 at 11:46:17 AM

You should wait till your second story is finished. There will be a lot of work required to be done in the basement to make structural support to your house

Also electrical, Hvac, plumbing will have to be redone

Vincent

12/15/2015 at 9:52:35 AM

All of the comments you have received to date are 100% correct.

You will be running water lines. Electrical runs etc.

And enevitably in a house of your age there will be some issues to deal with. My experience in medium sized to full reno, additions etc in Toronto and the surrounding area all of them have suprised with a property of this age or older.

Good luck and enjoy the results when you complete it.

James Fram