Cost of renovating a basement: How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement? (2023)

How Much Does a Basement Remodel Cost?

The cost varies greatly and can be jaw-droppingly high. With an average return on investment of 70 percent, though, it’s a sound investment.

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The basement in my sister’s home in Arlington, Massachusetts is an all-in-one example of the three possible basement conditions: finished, partially finished and unfinished.

There’s a fully renovated living area at the bottom of the stairway, complete with a bathroom and steam bath. Passing through a door takes you to the laundry room, with new flooring and unfinished walls. Through another door you’ll find the workshop and storage area with a concrete floor and walls, a single light fixture and exposed pipes and wires along the walls and ceiling.

Paul Conway, my sister’s partner and a general contractor, did most of the remodeling work. Though his labor was free, he assures me it was an expensive project. While fuzzy on the exact amount they spent, he does remember one significant cost: $12,000 to remodel the bathroom and add the steam room.

“Unforeseen problems are bound to arise, no matter how carefully you plan a basement remodel,” Conway says.

“When budgeting for your remodel, you can get ballpark costs that depend on the size of your basement and what you want to do with it, but they will be approximate. Every basement is different, so to go over the details of your remodeling project with a contractor before you start.”

If budget is a concern, it’s a good idea to get estimates even if you plan to do a lot of the work yourself.

Before starting your remodeling project, learn about the concept of daylight basements.

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Benefits of Remodeling a Basement

People often use the terms “remodel” and “renovate” interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing.

A basement remodel typically involves changing the layout and bringing in new materials, while a renovation involves repairing or upgrading what’s already there. A remodel is more complex and expensive, but there are good reasons to do it:

Extra usable space: Who can’t use more living space? A basement can become anything from a gaming room to a studio apartment. If you include bedrooms, you need an extra egress window for each one. If zoning allows, a remodeled basement can even generate income.
Improved energy efficiency: Cold air from an unfinished basement wafts up into the rest of the house and pushes up your energy bill.
Better air quality: An unfinished based is a moisture and mold trap. If there’s a blower in the basement, mold circulates through the rest of the house through the HVAC system. By controlling mold, a basement remodel makes the air throughout the house safer to breathe.
A good investment: A finished basement adds value to the house. Though a remodel is expensive, you’ll get on average a 70 percent return on investment when you sell.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Remodeling a Basement

Just like major auto repairs, there’s no standard cost for basement remodels. All kinds of factors come into play, such as:

Size of the basement: A bigger basement costs more to remodel.
Condition of the basement: Moisture issues must be addressed before you can remodel. If you need to waterproof the floors and walls, expect to add at least $3.50 per square foot to the cost of the project. If drainage must be improved, that adds even more.
Scope of the project: A remodel that includes new plumbing and electrical costs much more than one that doesn’t. You may also be planning to install new windows, subdivide the space into separate rooms or raise the subfloor to prepare it for wood flooring. Perhaps you want a steam bath. All these raise the cost.
Choice of materials: Quality materials may look great and last longer, but they also cost more.
Permits: If you install new plumbing or alter the structure, you’ll need building permits. The cost varies by community and can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $2,000.
Contractor rates: You can save a lot by DIY-ing as much as possible, but it’s unlikely you can do it all. General contractor rates vary by location. In Massachusetts, they’re around $65 per hour. Conway estimates they could be as high as $95 per hour in California, where I live. Plumbing and electrical contractor rates are typically higher.

How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Basement?

With so many factors to consider, it’s no surprise there’s a wide range of costs for a basement remodel.

At the low end, converting a small basement into a modest rec room with a vinyl floor and finished walls might run as little as $4,000. At the high end, remodeling to create a living space with a bathroom and kitchen might be $80,000 or more. The average national cost cited by online sources like Angi and HomeAdvisor is around $21,000.

Here are some typical labor and materials ranges for the basics almost every basement remodel would include:

Framing: $700 to $1.400;
Insulation: $1,500 to $4,000;
Drywall: $1,000 to $3,000;
Paint: $1,250 to $3,500;
Flooring: $1,500 to $12,000.

Typical labor and materials ranges for items in higher-end remodels are:

Windows: $1,000 to $7,000;
Electrical upgrades: $3,000 to $12,000;
New plumbing and fixtures: $2,500 to $15,000;
Furniture and appliances: $1,000 to $30,000.

Money-Saving Basement Remodel Tips

Conway strongly advises double- and triple-checking the foundation for leaks and moisture before beginning a remodeling project. In their remodel, failing to properly seal a gap between the foundation wall and a plumbing pipe created a leak that necessitated tearing out and replacing a new interior wall.

“There’s nothing more wasteful than going back and redoing work you just did,” he says.

Conway offered these other money-saving pointers:

Code mandates at least one egress window in a finished basement, and each bedroom you build must have one. Save money by installing recycled windows. Put them on the side or back of the house to maximize curb appeal.
Install drop ceilings. They’ll make the space look finished, and you won’t have to move the pipes and wires attached to the ceiling joists.
Install luxury vinyl tile flooring. It’s inexpensive, waterproof and long-lasting. It also looks convincingly like real wood or tile, and it’s comfortable to walk on.
You don’t necessarily need to remodel the entire basement. You can save money by leaving part of it unfinished and using it for storage.

How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Basement In 2023?

Last updated on February 9, 2023

With the high costs of new construction, you may be thinking about turning your basement into a more functional room, such as an entertainment space, an extra bedroom, or even a home office.

That’s a great idea!

A freshly remodeled basement not only adds another viable room to your home to use and enjoy but also adds to its overall value. But don’t get carried away with your Pinterest boards just yet— every basement remodel comes with a strict budget, with the average basement remodel costing anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000.

The cost to spruce up your basement (or completely redo it) will depend on a variety of factors. Therefore, the most important things you’ll need to consider are how you plan to use your basement in the future as well as what you can afford to change.

Consider this your basement remodel guide, in which we’ll break down the factors that determine your ultimate basement remodeling cost and other things you need to be aware of.

Basement Remodel Vs Basement Renovation

The words “remodel” and “renovate” are often used interchangeably. However, there is a difference between the two, and it will directly affect the cost of your finished basement. This is why we want to give you a brief overview of what the differences are and how those differences may fit into your vision and budget.

Remodel Defined

For starters, a basement remodel typically involves changing its overall layout and adding or replacing finish materials. Finished materials would include things like;

New flooring
Fresh paint
Replacing the panels of a drop ceiling

Remodeling can also mean changing the space’s purpose, such as installing a kitchen or entertainment center.

Essentially when you remodel your basement, you’re looking to repurpose it, which is why it can get pricey (especially if there’s a kitchen involved!)

Renovation Defined

On the other hand, renovations have to do with making repairs. For example, the most common basement renovation projects have to do with restorations for old homes or houses that have recently suffered damage from a fire or flood.

Renovating doesn’t change the space’s purpose, however, it can still become costly depending on the renovation needed, as it’s meant to restore the space to a like-new condition.

What Determines a Basement Remodeling Cost?

By now, you know that your basement remodel can run you just under $100,000. The greatest factor in determining what the potential costs will be so you can plan your budget appropriately is what you plan to use the basement for.

If you’re planning an entire remodel, then you’re obviously planning for more than storage — such as a living space. If living space is what you have in mind and your basement doesn’t already qualify as legally finished, it’ll have to be brought up to code.

This can tack on quite a bit to your remodeling costs, and it’ll also be a non-negotiable part of your budget.

What Qualifies as a Legally Finished Basement?

For a basement to be considered a legal living space, there are two crucial factors you must plan for (especially if you want to rent it out):

Ceiling height: Legal basement living spaces require a minimum ceiling height of seven feet. Anything lower than that and your basement won’t qualify as a living space. What’s more, having to dig out your basement to gain ceiling height can run you between $3,000 to $4,000 for the architectural design alone.
Egress (emergency exits): When it comes to your emergency exits, you’re required to have an egress window. The egress window must be positioned no more than 4’4” from the floor to the lower sill and be a minimum of 20” wide.

Now let’s jump into the other factors that will play a part in your basement remodel budget and costs:

The Basement’s Condition and Size

Your basement’s current condition and size are two very essential factors in determining its finished costs.

A partial remodel for a basement that’s less than 700 square feet could cost anywhere between $9,000 and $52,000. A complete remodel for a space with 4,000 square feet could be six times that amount. What’s more, a basement that has moisture problems or leaks will require waterproofing — which is another $7,000, give or take.

Subcontractors and Labor Needed

Each home comes with its own architectural layout and design. Therefore, no two basements are alike, which means that the remodeling project will likely require different subcontractors.

Starting with a redesign (and hiring a designer) can range from $2,000 to $13,000. A licensed electrician will charge between $500 and $2,500 to wire or require the whole basement. A plumber will charge between $400 and $1,800 or more to take care of existing plumbing and install new bathroom fixtures.

Again, much of this will depend on your basement’s size and current condition.

Permits

If you have to install new plumbing or want to add new walls for your basement remodel, you’ll likely need to file for permits with your local building authority before the job can be started. Permit and inspection fees vary by city and state, and may come as either a flat fee or a percentage of the basement remodel project’s estimated cost.

Generally speaking, permit fees can range from $100 to $2,000 or more. Your primary contractor will be in charge of getting those permits and they’ll include the costs in their invoice.

Materials, Appliances, Decor, etc

Depending on what you want to use your basement for, the materials, decor, and potential appliances will vary.

Take the flooring for example — hardwood can cost up to $15 per square foot or more for specialty wood and porcelain and ceramic tile can range from $1.50 to $5 per square foot. Stone tiles will cost a little bit more, but the type of flooring you’ll need will depend on what the basement is going to be used for.

Having said that, if you plan to turn your basement into an efficiency-style living space to rent out, you’ll have to budget for different types of flooring, appliances, and more. If you’re going to use your basement as an entertainment area, you’ll likely have more room in your budget for decor, furniture, and other items since you won’t have to worry about buying new appliances.

Tips For Saving on Your Basement Remodel

You may find that your basement is much bigger than your budget or you may just be thrifty and want to curb your spending. While you can’t cut corners in a way that violates official building codes, there are plenty of ways to save a few bucks on your remodel (without sacrificing quality or finish):

Choose a Prefabricated Egress Window

If your remodeling project requires egress installation, you’re looking at roughly $3,750 or more per egress window. Of course, this is if you’re like many homeowners that choose to go with the more expensive custom-made egress windows that align with the materials and design of the overall house.

However, you can cut costs here by purchasing prefabricated egress windows, which run for about $600 or $700 with an installation cost of around $900 — without compromising your home’s curb appeal.

Test Exterior Walls for Moisture

Basements are known for being damp and musty, which is typically due to groundwater from rain or melting ice and snow that seeps into the walls and floors. Plus, many homes have issues with interior sources of moisture as well.

Even if you’ve never had an issue with water damage, mold, or dampness, you still want to test for moisture before finishing your basement. If it turns out that you have moist walls, you’ll need to have them fixed before the project can start to save you from a large headache and renovation bill in the future.

Opt for Drop Ceilings

We know what you’re thinking — but hear us out:

Drop ceilings are an excellent money-saving option because they offer a finished look while allowing easy access to plumbing and wiring. You can also find premium drop ceiling tiles and grid rails for a nicer aesthetic.

These ceilings can shave money off of your remodel costs immediately and save you money in the future since you won’t need a contractor to cut into the basement’s ceiling to gain access to pipes and wires.

Cut Down on Studs

If your basement remodels plans involve adding extra rooms, you’ll need to put up walls to divide the space properly.

The good news is that for any walls that aren’t load-bearing and don’t have to hold up the house, you can forgo the number of studs needed. Non-load-bearing walls allow for the studs to be placed every 24-inches, which will significantly reduce the number of required studs from six to four in an eight-foot wall.

Plus, fewer studs in the walls can help reduce your energy costs by 5% by reducing thermal bridging. You’ll also be saving on labor costs and material costs.

Is it Time to Remodel Your Basement?

A lot goes into remodeling basements, so if you’re thinking about remodeling yours in the near future, it’s time to sit down and start planning.

Once you have an idea of what you want, book an appointment with Homeworx so we can check out the space, give you an estimate, and help you with your design ideas for the perfect finished basement. We’ll also help you make sure that your overall basement remodel cost fits within your budget.

Repair of the basement of apartment buildings in St.

Petersburg, prices and estimates

The company “Beautiful Petersburg” offers to order the repair of the basement

The ground floor is one of the most important elements of an apartment building. The purpose of the basement is to create a buffer zone between the foundation and the walls, to evenly distribute the bearing loads, to protect the ground floor apartments and basements from dampness and other negative factors.

You can order basement repair in St. Petersburg in our company. “Beautiful Petersburg” has been specializing in the repair of multi-storey buildings for more than 5 years, so we are guaranteed to eliminate defects of any complexity.

What is included in the repair of the plinth

The list of works performed by us includes:

plinth lining – elimination of voids in the brick base, replacement of individual blocks;
plinth plastering – remove peeling fragments of the plaster layer, restore and level the coating;
waterproofing – we use deep-penetrating coating materials to protect the basement from sewage;
insulation is a prerequisite to eliminate heat loss in lower-floor apartments and common areas.

The service can be ordered by representatives of housing cooperatives and homeowners associations, whose duties include maintaining housing facilities in a technically sound condition.

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Basement repair rates

The cost of the work can be clarified with our specialist. When you leave an application on our website, an employee of the company visits the facility to draw up an estimate, assess the complexity and scope of work. The price of repairing the basement of an apartment building is calculated per m2, the cost of the service includes the work of the team and building materials.

Our advantages:

experience – more than 1300 renovated apartment buildings and feedback from grateful residents;
comfort – our craftsmen do not interfere with the residents of the house, they always clean up construction waste;
reliability – we give a guarantee for all types of work;
honesty – we work strictly according to the estimate, we accept cashless payments;
simplicity – all questions can be agreed with our appraiser, who travels to any area of the city for free.

Has the basement fallen into disrepair in your house? Call! We carry out repair work of any complexity at a professional level.

Why choose us

Only workers with extensive professional experience will work on your site.
You can visit any of our sites and get feedback from a current or former Customer directly.
There are no pitfalls in our estimates and contracts, repairs will cost you the price indicated in the contract.
We work only with high-quality building materials, so we are not afraid to give a guarantee for our work.
We have been working since 2013. We always complete the work within the agreed time frame and do not violate these obligations.
It will be convenient for you to continue to cooperate with us year after year, as we are a diversified company with a wide range of services.
You will have a personal manager ready to answer any of your questions even on a day off!

Materials and suppliers

Customer reviews

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July 27, 2018

Repair of the plinth and blind area of the house, installation of drainage systems, laying of a / b coating.

On behalf of myself and the members of the board, I express my gratitude for the responsible approach to the work performed, the choice of high-quality building materials, compliance with all deadlines and the courteous employees of the working teams and specialists.

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ZhSK №277 Vitebsky pr., 79, k. 1
Chairman of the Board Perova E.I.

May 10, 2023

ZhSK-460, represented by the Chairman of the Board, expresses gratitude to the entire team of Krasviy Peterburg LLC, which is not the first time carrying out work in our house. Everything was done, as always, with high quality and on time. The guys always go to a meeting in any matters and listen to all the wishes – as real professionals should do. Thanks a lot to all of you! With great pleasure we will invite you to implement future plans for the improvement of our house.

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Saint-Petersburg st. Science 37.
Chairman of the Board of ZhSK 460 Kharitonova E.P.

April 26, 2017

Cosmetic repairs in 10 front doors

On behalf of the residents of the house and the Board of the HOA, I want to express my gratitude for the cosmetic repairs. From myself, I will note that I really liked: 1. Efficiency at the beginning of cooperation, the contract was signed in 1 week from the first meeting; 2. Maintaining cleanliness during work; 3. Attentiveness of workers to residents; 4. Compliance with the order in everything, 4. Compliance with all deadlines. In the future, I will recommend the company you manage to my acquaintances.

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Nash Dom 32-2 HOA, 32/2, Koroleva Ave.
Chairman of the Board of the HOA T.V. Telesh

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Repair of front porches No. 10 and No. 11 on Chudnovsky, 8 k2 porch 10.11

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Repair of the porch, entrance doors, ramp on the street. Demyan Bedny 6k1

Repair of basement for HOA “Komendantsky 21”

Repair of basement at Komendantsky pr., 21, building 1

Cosmetic repairs of front doors

Repair of wooden windows
Repair of wooden doors
Mounting ramps
Attic renovation
Repair of stairs

Replacement windows and doors

Window bars
PVC window maintenance
Lattice doors
Dormers
Fire doors

Video surveillance and lighting systems

Parking lot surveillance
Video intercom installation
Entrance lighting
Acoustic lighting
Decorative lighting

Roofing

Metal roof repair
Seam roof installation
Roof waterproofing
Leak repair
Removing the roof

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Ground floor, construction of a ground floor in Kaluga

Quite often the owners of suburban areas, not having enough space to build large houses, are forced to use every given centimeter of space with benefit. A good idea to use additional space is to build basement floors.

Already during the construction of a country house, if you plan to have a basement, you should pay attention to the nature of the soil. If clay predominates, then it will be necessary to deeply deepen the foundation, but if there is sand and there is no groundwater, then you can safely start construction without special preparations.

The design of the basement implies the presence of walls that are connected to the floor level of the first floor and are a continuation of the foundation. A good material for building in the ground will be brick, reinforced concrete blocks or monolithic concrete with reinforcement of walls, ceilings and foundations.

When constructing basements, it is important to remember that the basement is always exposed to moisture. The most important point in the implementation of the basement project is the installation of waterproofing walls, floors and ceilings. Depending on the type of soil and the depth of the required room, different types of protective materials are used. The specialists of our company will definitely select the necessary method of waterproofing, suitable specifically for your project.

Ground floor construction

Factors affecting the nature of construction work are:

1. Landscape of the area

2. Groundwater level

3. Features of the architectural project

90 085 They determine the choice of building material

Stone. Reliable and durable material. It is especially recommended in wet soils, since it is completely unaffected by water and dampness.
Brick . It is not recommended for the construction of foundations and walls of basements and semi-basements in conditions of low groundwater levels. But in dry soils, it may be the best choice (especially if hollow brick is used), since it has significantly higher thermal insulation characteristics than stone.
Concrete blocks are suitable for building basement walls in all soils. But they have the greatest mass, exerting significant pressure on the ground. The use of concrete blocks significantly reduces construction time.

Monolithic concrete wall. Sufficiently versatile approach:

1. Light weight
2. Sufficient strength
3. Low level of thermal conductivity (when using concrete aggregates)
4. Moisture resistance

Ventilation

When building basements and semi-basements, special attention is paid to ventilation: air exchange in such rooms is difficult. Natural inflow can be ensured by placing exhaust and inlet air ducts.

Heating

If the premises are to be used as residential, it is necessary to supply a heating main (inclusion into the main line of the building, or creation of an autonomous system). Otherwise, the construction of a house with a basement floor does not differ from the construction of an ordinary dwelling.

Choice of a house project with a basement floor

Projects of houses and cottages with a basement floor are very common, their choice is extremely wide. It is worth considering that professionally developed documentation for the construction of houses cannot be replaced by the personal fabrications and conjectures of the developer. For example, many inexperienced builders, without touching the architectural documentation, build too massive basement walls (“for reliability”). Which does not improve the technical characteristics of the building, but increases the cost of work.

Repair

Repair of basement floors – includes waterproofing, insulation, replacement of tiles, installation and reconstruction of engineering systems for heating, water supply, sewerage, electricity, etc.

Waterproofing

Severe damage to the foundation structure can be caused by heavy precipitation such as rain and snow. In order for the walls of the future house to be stable and reliable, you should seriously think about reliable waterproofing of the foundation, and choose the right type of it, suitable for this type of foundation. In order to timely divert surface water from the foundation, and thereby reduce the load on the waterproofing of its underground part, it is necessary to build drainage.