Last Updated on October 7, 2024 by Advance Design Studio – Home Remodeling
Finishing your basement is one of the most impactful ways to maximize the square footage of your existing home. We’ve said it before, but basements are often the most valuable, untapped square footage of your home! Some of our most exciting projects have been basement remodels – if you need some ideas to spark inspiration, be sure to check out our most popular basement remodels.
As you take your first steps toward this exciting home enhancement, we’re here to help you understand the numerous components that make up the total cost of a basement remodel. Here are the most common factors that can impact your finished basement investment:
1. MECHANICAL MODIFICATIONS:
If your remodel requires you to modify or upgrade your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to heat and cool your basement properly, this can quickly affect your total basement cost. A heat load calculation will typically be completed during the construction walkthrough to see how much airflow is needed for your basement, this will help determine whether or not your existing system needs to be addressed.
The plumbing and electrical work required to add or finish out a basement bathroom, kitchen, wet bar, or laundry room can also impact your investment range. The more of these items you desire to add, the more you need to budget for them.
Sump pumps, which remove water from excess rains, melting snow, or ordinary groundwater are highly recommended for all basements, and are a must for finished ones. If you have an existing sump pump that is old or does not have a battery backup, it’s a good time to replace it as part of your project. Think of it like an insurance policy on your investment in your finished basement.
2. STRUCTURAL CHANGES:
The lower level of your home often comes with ceiling height limitations and structural beams. Our team most often recommends drywall ceilings in our finished basement projects for a seamless extension of your existing home, however there are a few other ways you can address your ceilings. Some other creative ceiling solutions we produce are dry fall ceilings and designed-in drop ceilings. Each of these options will vary in cost.
What is a dry fall ceiling?
A specialty type of paint/coating that is sprayed to cover your ceiling. It is typically a more cost-effective option, adheres well, and is long-lasting. Clients who are looking for an industrial ceiling style often opt for this option and coat their ceilings and exposed mechanicals black. Your ceiling height doesn’t necessarily change, but it looks more finished and intentional than leaving it as is.
Creative drop ceilings:
A drop ceiling hangs below the main ceiling of your basement to hide mechanicals, typically made of a metal framework and ceiling tiles. In our experience, many clients prefer a drywall ceiling to a drop ceiling, unless they are looking for something like a copper drop ceiling accent above a bar or kitchen. Drop ceilings tend to feel more commercial, think of offices or businesses with ceiling tiles. Drop ceilings do allow you to access plumbing or mechanicals, which can be useful if you need several points of access throughout your finished basement.
Are drywall ceilings ordinary?
No! Drywalling your ceiling will make your basement feel like a seamless, finished extension of your other living spaces. Sometimes mechanicals may need to be moved in order to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing drywalled ceiling design, which can impact your cost. A great design team can achieve a more spacious feel amongst the most difficult mechanicals with creative soffits in the design.
One efficient way to opt for drywall ceilings is to drywall the main living areas and expose mechanical rooms or private storage area ceilings. By doing so, you will still have access to plumbing and electrical mechanicals in the future, and it frees up more of your budget for other fun upgrades! A good design team creates some secret accesses to help with access requirements in the future in a great drywall design.
Adding framing to move or add walls, steel beams/posts, extra footings, or a staircase can influence your basement cost as well. Our designers often may recommend dressing up structural poles with decorative panels to incorporate them into the design if moving or removing them isn’t an option.
Partnering with a team that understands how to blend the creative potential and possible structural or ceiling limitations that come with basement remodels is crucial to maximizing the investment you’re making in your basement.
If your basement has cracks that need to be repaired or needs damp proofing, investing in repairs as part of your remodel may prevent additional moisture issues in the future.
3. CUSTOM FEATURES:
Specialty features like home bars, wine cellars, fireplaces, and hidden rooms help create one-of-a-kind finished basement projects. Features like these make ordinary basement finishes stand out from the rest in everyday use and eventual resale value. Your basement can feature custom accents, or even be designed around one large specialty feature, like a golf simulator or theater. One couple called our team with dreams of turning their basement into an old-world speakeasy with a hidden entrance, and now the basement is their favorite part of their home! Adding custom features to your basement is worth the investment but be sure to plan for them as you build your budget.
4. ADDING DOORS/WINDOWS:
Adding or altering openings for doors or windows in your basement is also something to consider as you build your investment range. Many homeowners like to embellish entrances to gyms or theaters with custom interior doors. Upgrading to clear/frosted glass, or a door disguised as a bookshelf to hide rooms, will affect your budget more than a traditional solid-core door (2,3,4,6 panel doors are standard options.). Cutting windows into your basement foundation for more natural light, even in a walkout or English basement, can incur additional costs and involve exterior siding work.
Typically, cities in the Chicago suburbs require two egress points in finished basement spaces. An interior staircase leading to the basement does count as one, and the other can be either an egress window or a walkout door as an exit point. Some city codes have certain height requirements for access.
5. ADDING A BATHROOM:
Adding a bathroom in your basement is a fantastic investment that can help make hosting and entertaining much easier, and add to the resale value of your home. The planning and labor required for plumbing and finish materials can affect your total basement remodel cost. The cost to add a bath can vary depending on if your basement has plumbing roughed in already, or if your team will need to dig through concrete to establish plumbing. The size of your bath, number of fixtures, and material selections will impact your bath budget.
If your basement is roughed for a bathroom, this means the drains and vents for sewage are in, as well as properly prepared for water supply.
6. BASEMENT SIZE:
Larger amounts of square footage will naturally require additional materials (drywall, insulation, flooring, etc) and labor, and all affect your basement cost. However, no two basements are the same, and size may not always dictate how expensive a basement renovation is depending on the finishes and labor needed for the project. Small basements that still include all the functionality or custom features of a larger basement won’t necessarily be inexpensive just because of their size – as there are still so many moving pieces that may go into a finished basement regardless of square footage.
As you build your basement budget, keep them in mind and establish your wants vs. needs list early in the design process to help maximize your investment. You and your designer will create ways to represent your family and make everyday life more fun and functional. It’s an exciting process that results in meaningful design moments for you to enjoy for many years. Your most valuable square footage is under your feet, it’s time to realize its full potential! Check out more basement resources below, or explore our finished basements portfolio here.
If you’re itching to create a customized basement for your family but aren’t sure where to start, schedule a complimentary consultation with our design team. We will help you break down the steps needed to complete your remodel and answer your questions regarding investment ranges, layout ideas, timeframes, and more.