Can I Finish My Basement?
To ensure that finishing or remodeling costs don’t skyrocket your basement should meet most, if not all, of the following prerequisites:
- The current basement floor should be flat, level, and concrete. The existing basement walls ought to be unfinished but level.
- There needs to be sufficient ceiling height. Most homes have a number of places in the basement ceiling that must be easily accessible to service and repair technicians. A common solution for this is a “drop” (or acoustical) ceiling. This type of ceiling, which hangs lower than the ceiling joists and is made up of small, removable panels, requires several inches of space in addition to the standard 7 to 7 1/2 feet of ceiling height.
- Check local building codes for special laws and restrictions in your area. A common requirement for a finished basement is a secondary exit (one that leads directly outside). If there is not one currently installed, adding a door to your basement can add several thousand dollars to the project cost.
- Problems with basement flooding and moisture must be tackled before a finishing project is undertaken. Dealing with water damage after the fact could mean ripping out and replacing what you just paid tens of thousands of dollars for. Consult a basement waterproofing professional prior to the start of work.
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Basement Finishing Ideas
Basement remodeling presents a virtually unlimited number of options. As a starting point, it’s useful to think about what the purpose of the room will be. Some homeowners decide to add a bedroom, a bathroom, and a utility room (such as a laundry room), while others incorporate a secondary living room with a small half bath. Other options to consider are a game room or a recreational area (perhaps with a bar). Whatever specifics you decide on, you’ll also have to address the following basics:
- Flooring: Carpet is a popular choice for basement flooring, but if you expect regular foot traffic from the outside, you might want to also add a mudroom. Other sensible flooring options for a basement include laminate, hardwood or engineered floors, and vinyl. Partitions or Columns: A basement that’s large enough for finishing most likely has lally columns (steel skinned round tubes filled with concrete) installed in several places to support the floor above it. It’s possible to keep these columns and encase them in decorative wood. Another option is to remove them altogether and install load bearing walls.
- Wall Systems: Traditional stud and drywall construction is typically used for basement walls, although an engineered wall system provides another option. These systems tend to be of a lower quality and less durable, but on the upside they cost less and are easier to install and remove.
Basement Finishing Costs
Please note that the figures below assume the use of average stock materials (that is, nothing particularly high-end). They also assume that your basement is ready to be finished (see description above). More generally, basement finishing prices may vary based on local labor and material costs.
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- A basement refinishing project performed by licensed and qualified contractors costs approximately $35 to $55 per square foot. For an average-sized 1,000 square foot basement (20ft x 50ft) this works out to a total estimated cost of $35,000 to $55,000.
- Using wall systems (rather than drywall) for a basement remodel can bring the total project cost down to $25-$40 per square foot ($25,000 to $40,000 for a 1,000 square foot basement).
- Remodeling Magazine, in its annual Cost vs. Value Report,details a basement finishing project that costs just under $65,000 (national average) and includes the addition of an entertainment room, a wet bar, and a full bathroom.
- Problems with basement flooding and moisture must be tackled before a finishing project is undertaken. Dealing with water damage after the fact could mean ripping out and replacing what you just paid tens of thousands of dollars for. Consult a basement waterproofing professional prior to the start of work.