Basement with Sauna and Wine Room, Calgary
A completed Grains Construction project in Calgary. Consultation, 2D structure design, permits, construction, inspections and handover, walked through room by room below.
Walkthrough
Inside this project
The kitchen
A full kitchen with cabinetry, counters, sink and appliance connections on their own dedicated circuits. Plumbing was brought in and tied to the existing stack, and the range and dishwasher were wired by licensed trades and inspected before the cabinets went in.
The layout keeps the working triangle tight so the space functions properly rather than just looking complete in a photograph. Backsplash, counter and cabinet hardware were specified together, and the appliance package was planned into the elevation from the start rather than squeezed in at the end.
A glass enclosed wine room
Lighting was planned to show the bottles without heating them, and the enclosure was positioned to become a focal point from the main living space rather than being tucked out of sight.
A glass enclosed wine display is as much a structural and mechanical detail as a decorative one. The enclosure needs proper support, sealed glazing and controlled conditions, with racking set out and anchored before the glass goes in.
The sauna
A sauna is a small building inside a building. It needs its own insulation and vapour control rated for high heat and humidity, a dedicated high load circuit for the heater, cedar benching and a door built to take repeated thermal movement without binding.
Ventilation and the surrounding floor finish have to be specified for constant moisture. Done properly it is one of the few features that genuinely changes how a lower level gets used through a Calgary winter.
The wine room
A glass enclosed wine display is as much a structural and mechanical detail as a decorative one. The enclosure needs proper support, sealed glazing and controlled conditions, with racking set out and anchored before the glass goes in.
A cedar sauna, built in
Ventilation and the surrounding floor finish have to be specified for constant moisture. Done properly it is one of the few features that genuinely changes how a lower level gets used through a Calgary winter.
More Photos
The rest of the build
Scope Of Work
What this build involved
Free 2D Structure Design
A measured layout showing walls, room sizes, lighting and finishes, prepared at no cost before any construction starts.
Permits & Inspections
City of Calgary development and building permits applied for and managed, with every required inspection booked and attended.
Framing & Structure
Walls framed to code around existing beams, posts, ducting and mechanical runs, with proper headers and bracing.
Electrical & Plumbing
Rough in and final by licensed trades. New circuits, pot lighting, switches, outlets and any added plumbing runs.
Insulation & Drywall
Insulation and vapour barrier to Alberta building code, then board, tape, texture and paint.
Flooring & Finish Carpentry
Flooring, baseboard, casing, interior doors, hardware and fixtures supplied and installed.
Do I need a permit to renovate my basement in Calgary?
Yes. Once you add bedrooms, bathrooms, walls, electrical or plumbing, the City of Calgary requires a building permit, and often a development permit as well. We prepare the drawings, submit the applications and manage every inspection through to final approval as part of the job.
How long does a basement renovation take?
Most basement projects run 6 to 12 weeks from the first day on site, depending on the size of the space and how much plumbing and electrical is involved. Permit review time sits ahead of that and varies with City workload.
Can you build around my furnace and hot water tank?
Yes, and it is planned rather than improvised. Mechanical locations, duct runs and beam positions are measured at the consultation and designed into the layout, with bulkheads and service clearances allowed for before framing starts.
Is there a minimum ceiling height for a finished basement?
Alberta building code sets minimum finished ceiling heights, and it is one of the first things measured at the consultation. If headroom is tight under ducting, the layout is planned so the low points fall in storage or circulation space rather than in the middle of a room.
Does a finished basement add value to a Calgary home?
It adds finished, heated living area, which is what buyers and appraisers look at. A permitted basement with closed inspections is also far simpler at resale than undocumented work, which frequently has to be opened up or corrected before a sale can close.
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