Finishing a basement bedroom - finally getting a round tuit.
You have heard of the old round tuit.
"I will do (this or that) when I get a round tuit."
The fabled round tuit.
Apparently I found it! When we built our house 18 years ago we had the builder put a window and HVAC in the basement. That would enable me to convert this part of the basement into a bona fide bedroom. It will be our fifth bedroom, so certainly that adds value to the house.
There would be three means of fire egress, one of them being a window large enough to meet the code. It opens to ground level.
All the bedroom would need now is a smoke detector.
Opening to my famous Redskin room (which I call The Cuchihuasi), the other side will open to the remaining basement family room.
The bedroom will be 14'x16'.
A closet will go on in the corner to the right of the double door. And a ceiling fan where the light fixture is. There will be seven receptacles and one switch.
So, what is a cuchihuasi?
When I lived in Ecuador many years ago I learned Spanish (which I still use often conducting home inspections) and Quichua. That is an Ecuadorian dialect of the broader Quechua. Essentially it is the Inca language.
Cuchihuasi means "Hog House." If you know anything about the Washington Redskins, and their history, you know what that means.
Will I be doing this right?
Stuck on my front window is evidence that I pulled a Building and Electrical permit. I will do the building and wiring, but leave the connections and new circuit installation to an electrician.
That way I am obedient to the law, and complying with my home owner insurance.
The county lady told me that last year there were about 20 house fires just in this county due to amateur electrical installations.
Insurance would not, and could not, cover those damages. She said I am being very wise.
My recommendation: if you are doing home improvements, be smart and only do what you can do! Leave the necessary to the professionals. That way there will be no future problems should any issue arise. And you will be able to sleep at night!
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