1. Zip System Sheeting – Although this costs more per sheet than your standard plywood or OSB exterior wall sheeting, its important to consider the labour costs involved in the 3 step process. Installing sheeting, air barrier and insulation. The zip system has all three components in one easy installation method – and best of all the sheets can be installed with a typical framing nailer!
2. Egress Windows – when building a basement suite, there are not only legal requirements for a secondary means of egress, but a requirement for daylight entering the space. The amount of daylight is based on the size of each window and will determine how much light each opening provides to adhere to that requirement. Aside from this, adding more light into a basement changes the look and feel entirely.
3. Sound Insulation – STC (Sound Transmission Class) is a rating requirement that the Ontario Building Code sets for walls between dwellings or units. This is a minimum standard, but since this is the number one complaint that comes from tenants – it should be a top priority when considering the build of your new space. Materials that can be used are insulation, resilient channel, sonopan and even offsetting studs to create as much sound deadening as possible.