Photo by Andrea Dudeck
Gone is the musty, little-used basement of old. Thanks to today’s construction standards and the beautifying expertise of Basement Builders of the Lehigh Valley, the subterranean is as welcoming as any floor of the house. With a team of in-house professionals, Bob McGinty, of the family-run Basement Builders, has narrowed his decades of construction experience to apply perfected drywall, lighting, flooring and other techniques to the Valley’s basements. From the practical to the luxurious, learn more about how simple storage space can become your home’s bonus level!
Basic Requirements
First off, most homes built in the last 10–15 years are set up with a secure foundation and already meet height requirements. Even the unfinished basement is sealed and comfortable. This is where McGinty does most of his work. It means that a lot of the majestic old homes in the area are not great candidates for the kind of basement that doesn’t feel like a basement, but they’ve got their own dark-cellar romance.
For issues of waterproofing, dirt floors and that sort of major overhaul, Basement Builders will recommend someone else to come in and handle it. A finished space needs an egress, or way out, and McGinty’s company does install windows, doors and steps to the outside to satisfy this requirement. Don’t let these possibly additional necessities take you by surprise.
Don’t Think Dungeon
Assuming a suitable space, it can still be tough to picture something called a “basement” feeling just as welcoming as any other level of the house, but McGinty insists on the same quality. “People go in thinking it’s this old, dingy, musty basement of the past,” he says, “but it’s not a place no one goes.” Instead of just clumsily covering up ductwork, Basement Builders’ craftily coffered ceilings and other tricks camouflage any fusty features in ways one might not anticipate, while a wealth of recessed LED lights can ensure that this is never a gloomy space.
Forget claustrophobic drop ceilings and even tunnel-like stairs. “Basement stairs tend to be walled in all the way down,” he says. “We always try to open up the space around the steps.”
McGinty shares Basement Builders’ vision with 3D plans and a selection coordinator to help pin down design options. It would seem like light colors should be employed to brighten the space, but McGinty continues to stress that with adequate lighting, you can treat the basement like any other room in the house.
Keep On
With inventive use of the basement space, all that storage doesn’t need to be lost. Wall off as much of the lower level as necessary to retain basic unfinished storage space for boxes of holiday décor and sports equipment early in the design stage. Basement Builders has mastered the art of tucking cubbies and nooks in the basement, both out of the way and accessible.
Under the stairs is a natural place for a closet, but for those with kids, McGinty’s got a better idea: “We put a roofline on the side of the steps, siding and a window box to make a playhouse.” The picturesque and private space is a winner for youngsters, and when they get bigger it can go back to storage again.
Photo by Andrea Dudeck
Useful or Utopian?
Many newer homes are built in a colonial style, which can be matched in the basement or left on the ground floor while the additional space gets a more contemporary look. Though descending to the basement can be a seamless transition, it could also cross the threshold into a place where you leave life’s worries behind.
While the modern basement can translate to simply more living space, there can also be an exciting separateness to it that allows for some creativity. Obvious uses like a guest room with its own bath, office space or just a safe, cozy family room for youngsters are all well and good, but McGinty says some of the most popular basement renovations create luxuries like personal gyms or bars with beautiful wood tops where adults can sling their favorite cocktails with conversation in the comfort of their own home. Theater rooms with stadium seating are a bit of a niche, but for movie buffs, there’s nothing like that immersive experience.
Envision a theater hybridized with half walls and gyms with rubber flooring and a mirrored wall to make workouts way more welcoming. Start to see the basement as a space you can really make your own.
The Expert:
Bob McGinty
Founder and Owner
Basement Builders
4310 W. Saucon Valley Rd., Coopersburg
610.791.4225 | basementbuilderslv.com
