Rustic Modern Basement with Stone Bar, 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
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 wet bar
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.
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.
Waterproofed before it was finished
Plumbing rough in was inspected before anything was closed up, and the finishes went on afterwards: tiled shower, glass enclosure, vanity, mirror and fixtures. Getting the sequence right is what keeps a basement bathroom dry for its whole life.
The bathroom is where shortcuts show up first, usually two winters later. Behind the tile there is a proper waterproofing system on the wet walls, the correct substrate and a floor built to fall to the drain. Mechanical extraction is ducted to the outside rather than into the joist space.
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.
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
