Home office TorontoIf you have considered creating a walkout basement to your home, this is not only a great feature to have while you are in your home, but it can actually add value if you ever decide to sell. Here in The Bay Area, especially San Francisco,  many of the homes are older, with basements that were never meant to be used as living space, but a walkout basement can create another floor of living space without all the red tape of adding an extension to the home.

If you have a traditional basement and would like to create a full height basement, you’ll have to hire an experienced home addition contractor that specializes in what’s know as “Underpinning”, more commonly known as basement lowering.  It’s a popular option in Toronto as land is limited and it’s a great way to create extra living space without extending the house and losing more backyard.

Not only can you enjoy another level of living space, but a walkout basement can add value to your home if you ever decide to sell.  

Take a look at five great ways to use your walkout basement

 

Create a living space for parents or adult children

A basement that remodeled and with a privatized entrance is the perfect place to allow your college-aged child live, or even your aging parent. The fact that it is somewhat separated from the remainder of the home offers the same privacy that they would have in an apartment.

 In-law suite basement apartment Toronto

Create the ultimate, privatized home office

If you operate a home-based business in which you need to have clients come to your office, you might not want to welcome strangers into your living space. By allowing clients to enter through the designated entrance it can help to separate your professional and personal life. Not to mention, you don’t have to worry about the condition of your home when welcoming clients.

Home office Toronto

Create an inviting family space

For some homeowners, the basement is best utilized by creating a comfortable living space for your family to spend quality time in. Because of the increase in natural light offered by the door, you don’t have to feel like you are tucked away in a confined box when you are together, and in the summer you can open up the door and let fresh air in.

Fameily room in Toronto basement

Create a kids’ space

What parent doesn’t want to have a playroom for their little ones to house their many toys? The problem with traditional finished basements and playrooms is that it can seem like you are shoving your children in a dark corner to play. But, that’s the beauty of a walkout basement, the entry allows for natural light to enter, and it creates a great entry point to the yard and pool.

 Family play room Toronto

Create a guest suite

What better place to have your relatives come stay than in their own private suite in your basement? Many homeowners who may not have an extra guest room will convert their walkout basement into a bedroom space for friends and family to stay. The exit give them a sense of privacy for coming and going, and the fact that they aren’t sleeping on a pull out couch or in your child’s room means less crowding on the main floors.

Basement bedroom Toronto home

Keep in mind that by adding natural light into your basement, and outdoor access, this space can become anything that you need it to be. You are sure to find that by making this space feel more like your actual living space, and less like your basement, that you are making a wise financial investment everyone can enjoy.

We service hundreds of homes in Toronto every year and most homeowners aren’t sure what kind of water pump they have installed in their basement.  Here’s a little breakdown of the difference between a sump pump and an injector pump and how each is used.

Despite looking very similar and performing the same basic functions, a sump pump and an injector pump perform the same action very differently. Homeowners are often confused by what the difference is, and why you need one or the other. Sump pumps have been used in homes for a long time, but the injector pump still leaves people perplexed. Here, we will demystify these integral parts of a home water management system.

What is a Sump Pump?

Sump pump installation in Toronto basementA sump pump is a water pump located in the basement. It is small and submersible, and it sits in a sump basin, which is set into the ground. The sump basin connects to a drain tile system, where water collected by the drainage system will flow to the sump basin. Groundwater is often collected into the basin, and helps to keep your basement dry. If the pump malfunctions or there is a sudden large rush of water, the basement will flood, but there are battery-operated back-up systems often available and used in conjunction to ensure dry conditions.

The sump basin holds the accumulating water until it rises to a certain height, high enough to activate the float switch on the sump pump. It will then pump the water out of the basin onto the lawn through strategic piping. It often arrives at a storm sewer, dry well, or other dispersal devices.

What is an Injector Pump?

Ejector pump installed in Toronto basementBecause the two look nearly identical and perform the same tasks, people often confuse sump pumps and injector pumps, and wonder why an injector pump would even be necessary. Like the former, it is installed in a basin which is set into the ground. However, it does not utilize the drain tile systems to collect groundwater. Instead, it collects water from floor drains, such as excess water from a washing machine, sink, or even waste water from a bathroom, depending on the home and the quality of its systems.

Because an injector pump is used to handle this type of water, it has a sealed lid on the basin, and a vent pipe to discharge gases. If the injector pump will not come into contact with waste water, it will look the same minus the vent. An injector pumps is connected to a sanitary sewage line through a discharge pipe, very much like a home’s plumbing systems.

If an injector pump malfunctions, it will flood, but not nearly as heavily as if a sump pump fails. However, because this is tainted sewage water, it could create a health hazard if exposed to the dirty water and it must be cleaned up after properly.

If you would like to locate where the injector pump is located in your home, simply turn on the tap or flush your lower-level toilets. It should activate the pump.

Injector pumps are also often installed by plumbers, while sump pumps are often installed by basement waterproofing professionals, who offer a variety of long-lasting pumps and who are knowledgeable in basement water removal.

If you live in Toronto or the surrounding GTA and are interested in a sump pump for your basement, feel free to contact us here.  We offer a free in-home inspection and estimate for all sump pump installations and repairs.