Games Room and Gym Basement, 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
Room for a full size table
Placing it here keeps the noise well away from bedrooms and the main floor, which is one of the practical arguments for putting entertainment space below grade.
A games area is decided by clearance, not floor area. A full size table needs room to draw a cue back on every side, so the surrounding space and the lighting above it were set at layout stage and the structure planned around keeping that zone free of posts.
The home theatre
A dedicated theatre is built backwards from the seating. Screen size sets viewing distance, viewing distance sets riser position, and the riser has to be framed before flooring. Wiring for projector, speakers and controls is pulled during rough in, because none of it can be added neatly afterwards.
Acoustic treatment on the walls and insulation in the surrounding assemblies keep sound in the room. Lighting is on dimmable circuits with the cove detail framed in, so the room can go fully dark without being unusable between films.
A focal point, framed in
It anchors the room. In a large open lower level, a single strong focal point is what stops the space reading as a corridor with furniture in it.
A feature fireplace wall is framed, backed and wired before any finish material goes near it. The unit is set at the right height, the surround is built to carry the cladding, and the power and any media wiring are brought up inside the wall so nothing is visible afterwards.
The home gym
A home gym asks more of a room than it looks. The floor takes impact and point loading from racks and dropped weights, so it needs the right build up rather than standard underlay. Ceiling height was checked against overhead pressing before the space was committed to.
Mirrors need solid backing, and the space needs its own ventilation and enough circuits for equipment. Basements suit gyms better than any other room in the house: the slab is solid, it stays cool year round, and noise stays away from living areas.
A wet bar with real plumbing
Cabinetry, counter and backsplash were specified as a set, with open shelving and under counter appliances planned into the elevation. It turns the lower level into somewhere people actually stay rather than somewhere they visit.
The word wet is the part that matters. A sink means supply and drain lines run to the location during rough in and inspected before anything was closed, plus dedicated circuits for beverage fridges and small appliances. Adding that later means opening finished walls.
Room for a full size table
Placing it here keeps the noise well away from bedrooms and the main floor, which is one of the practical arguments for putting entertainment space below grade.
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.
More Work
Similar projects
Want a basement like this one? It starts with a free visit.
Quick Quote
Tell us about your project.
We'll do the rest.
Answer a few quick questions and we'll prepare your free consultation, complete with free 2D structure design.
- Takes under a minute
- No obligation, no pressure
- Permits and inspections included
