Teleposts in a basement | What are the options?
When it comes to basement developments, we typically need to work around teleposts in a basement. Summer seems to be a great time to renovate kitchens and develop basements. Currently, we have three basement development plans for three wonderful families where the posts are coming into play with the design.
Working around posts in a basement
Teleposts
I can not remember a time where we did not have to worry about teleposts in a basement when we are looking at creating a new design for the basement. First of all, what are those posts called and why do we need them?
A telepost is the steel column extending from the concrete floor to the underside of the beam. This is used to transfer the load from the main floor to a footing under the basement floor. Their locations are based on the span of the beams, joists and main floor loads.
While there is always a way to move a telepost (it just may cost you dearly), we typically work around them. The cost to move them typically pushes people way over their desired investment.
As Is
When we look at options, we always start with an ‘As Is’ – what the space currently looks like. For one of our basement projects, we are dealing with teleposts that do not line up. I mean…really???
When we look at creating design options for our clients, we like to look at a number of things. Number one is ensuring that we try our very best to check off all of the boxes on the wish list. The wishlist for this family consists of:
- A bathroom with a shower (no bath).
- An area to watch TV
- Exercise area
- Games area
- Bedroom
Option 1
Frame around teleposts
For our clients, Option 1 is always the most budget friendly. When looking teleposts in a basement and where they are situated, the easiest option is just to frame around the posts. Nothing fancy and nothing crazy. This plan allows for the majority of the basement to remain open allowing for flexibility down the road.
Option 2
Incorporate teleposts into a wall
For our second option, we hid the teleposts in walls. Due to the location of the posts, we decided to hide one post in a full wall and partially hide one in another.
Working towards the final plan
A little of this and a little of that
When I presented these two options, together with my clients, we started working on the path to our final plan. What exactly does that mean? Most often clients will like some elements from Option 1 and Option 2. It is in this plan that we marry the two ideas together to work towards a plan that we can receive quotes from.
While we were looking at all of the options, we also decided to add on some additional features and solidify other features such as:
- a dry bar (with the potential to make it a wet bar).
- seperate area for the toilet/bath from the vanity (using a pocket door to seperate the areas).
- the use of a projector and a screen for the TV
- a reading area
- speakers for music
Our next steps
Now that our design is solidified, we are ready to host a trade day. It will be at this site meeting where I will ensure each trade has their scope of work required for this project. This allows the trades to accurately quote on the work that needs to be carried out. While the trades are compiling their quotes, I will start to pull together my ‘pretty’ budget. When we have the labour budget and our pretty budget, those two together equal our total investment.
It is common that we may have to tweak a few things however we are looking at this project o take place over the summer. It is our hope the family can start enjoying their new found space in the fall!
Basement Must Haves
For many basement designs we create, we know we are creating a new space for our clients to enjoy. For most of our projects, we know that movie night and relaxing are all important parts of the design. As such, I’ve rounded up some basement ‘essentials’ that work in any of our basement designs.
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So interesting and informative as always, Sheri!
I am always learning from these posts. This time I was especially interested in the recessed lighting placement—not my strong suit. If you’re taking requests for content, I would love to learn your strategy for this😊.
Thank you!
Recessed lighting is a great topic! I’ve reached out to our trusted electricians and one is coming up (in a couple of weeks).
For decades we had a telepost in an awkward place in the basement. It could be catalogued but rendered the area into very limited options. Every time I asked about it I was told no it had to stay. Finally, a contractor brought in an Architect who realized, as I had long thought, that the steel beam down the middle of the basement ceiling meant more strength, enough to move the posts. One got buried in an existing wall another within a foot of the far wall. Now we had blissfully open space to use.
Good for you, Mark to be persistent. There is ALWAYS as way…it just may take a little bit more money and time (but there is a way). I’m so happy to hear that you have a great open space to use.
The space plan with the posts hidden in the wall is brilliant. Not easy to do with those posts not lining up! Well done!
I can’t believe they don’t line up! A big, ‘ahhhh’.
Now you have made me want to do my own basement- great job!! Can’t wait to see the finished photos!!
Thank you, Christie!
Really interesting and informative, and great ideas and design options on how to deal with the teleposts. Look forward to seeing the end result!
Thank you very much, Mary Ann!
Everytime I see a well designed basement it makes me want one! LOL! Love how you incorporated the posts into the design so that they just disappear! Beautiful!
Thank you so much, Amie!
I love your options for minimizing what we have always called lolly columns. Great post, love your ideas as always!
Lolly columns…I love that! Our terminology is crazy, isn’t it?
Great options, Sheri! I love how you so creatively buried the posts . Basements seem to be really popular now that people have been stuck at home and looking for more usable square footage
Basements are very popular right now! Thank you for the lovely comment.
I’m always learning from your posts, Sheri. I really enjoyed seeing the different options for how you tackled this issue, and I love how logical you are about how you approach the remodeling and design process.
It doesn’t surprise me that you are booked out through Sept. of this year!
Thank you, Leslie. While we could add even more millwork to the posts, we do have a budget we are working with. I’m glad they went with the wall option to hide the posts.
If there’s a teleport or any design obstacle, you would be the designer if call! You have such an easy way of describing solutions that your clients must be thrilled. Love your graphics too! Great post Sheri!