Basement Apartment
Basement Apartment - The Home within a Home If you have extra space in your basement, it can easily be converted to a basement apartment. By doing so, not only can you bring in some extra income, but as a homeowner, you can add value to your home. Before you begin the conversion of extra space, there are some important specifics and standards you will need to take into consideration. Basement Apartment Specifics and Standards Provided your two-unit home meets applicable municipal standards, most of these structures are permitted under new legislation. Also the two-unit home should meet Fire Code requirements. In general a new basement apartment must comply with the Building Code, and existing apartments must comply with the Fire Code also. Both new and existing apartments must comply with certain property and municipal planning standards. Municipalities do have the right to decide where they will permit homes to have additional dwelling units. They can also designate areas where they will not permit homes to have additional dwelling units. What to Know Before Building a Basement Apartment The first step in building a basement apartment is to consult the Building Code section relative to your area to determine the possibility and practicality of the project being constructed. Also, be sure to apply for a building permit as well. Consult with local fire and building officials before actually starting construction to ensure that the apartment will pass required inspections. What to Consider When Building a Basement Apartment? There are many aspects to take into consideration when building a basement apartment. Walls, floors, and ceilings should be covered with materials with a 30-minute fire rating. The same materials must also cover 15-minute fire rating, and interconnected smoke alarms throughout all dwellings in the house. All homeowners must maintain smoke detectors on each elevation, even if the dwelling is not rented or sub-let. Check with your local, provincial, or state authority to inquire about and confirm requirements for smoke detectors. Materials not rated for fire protection are not recommended, and usually require installation of a sprinkler system throughout all dwellings in the home. A private entrance must be provided to the basement apartment, and the route must not involve entering another dwelling. A second means of exit must be provided which can be another door; this exit should be easily accessible and unobstructed. Builder Beware As a homeowner building a basement apartment, you be remain vigilant of scams and scam artists. Some so called “private inspection firms” are attempting to capitalize on this opportunity by advertising their business as basement apartment and fire code specialists. However, municipal building and f ire departments are the only organizations that have the authority to determine constitute code compliance. Ask for references or contact the Better Business Bureau. One final thing to remember is the estimated cost to upgrade or correct an existing basement apartment can be very expensive, so know what you’re getting into before beginning construction. This is only part of the article Read the full article here...
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