Should I Renovate My Basement?
The answer to this question is based on how finished the basement is prior to the start of your project. Typically basements in Toronto are started as unfinished when homes are built, so the buyer can tailor the space to their own preferences or simply leave it as is. When you’ve decided on what you want to do with the space and begin forming a basement finishing plan, it is a good idea to bring in a contractor to help you create a layout for electrical* work including electrical* boxes, switches and fixtures. Then you will need to bring in a certified electrician* to ensure the plan you made can be done to your liking. The electrician* can add breakers to the breaker box and setup the amperage to the needed levels.
Steps involved in basement finishing electrical* work
- Before you bring folks in to create a layout and add wiring, you should spend some time in the basement to understand where electrical* outlets and sconces or various fixtures will work best. For instance, you may want to plan hanging fixtures over study areas or a pool table. Another option would be in a dining area. Recessed lighting works well in a bar if your goal is to create a man cave or other adult entertainment area. If the basement finishing project is for a recreation room, you’ll probably want to identify a wall that the entertainment center will be against and add a few extra electrical* boxes for outlets. This would also be a good time to discuss wiring the space for sound as well.
- When you’ve chosen a layout, it’s a good idea to bring in your contractor to mark each outlet and electrical* box, so the electrician* can come in and knock out the wiring in a day or two. The electrician* will drill holes in your studs and run all of the wiring through them and along the overhead joists. He will then install electrical* boxes at various points and wire any canned or recessed lighting that you have requested.
- The next step is selecting your fixtures, which can be a good area to play with your budget. High-end fixtures can run into the hundreds of dollars pretty easily and can eat up your basement renovation budget pretty quickly if you’re not careful. You can plan your fixtures with your contractor during the initial estimate phase and upgrade or downgrade them as needed at this point. All of the labour for bringing in contractors and electricians* can get very costly, so you should plan for these costs as well.
In general, your electrical* work in your basement finishing project will probably run in the neighborhood of $5000 with an average sized floor plan. Special wiring for fiber optics or stereo can make that figure somewhat larger. Bringing in a skilled contractor like The Reno Pros will help you find the most satisfaction for your money when wiring your basement. They’ve helped remodel many basement projects in the Toronto area and are able to handle most any obstacle that might be impeding you from completing your goal of a beautifully light and warm basement. *The Reno Pros will contract out all electrical work to registered electrical contractors licensed with the Electrical Safety Authority.