Basement remodeling

What is the average cost to remodel a basement?

HomeGuide puts the average basement remodel at $30 to $75 per square foot. Structural changes such as moved walls and new plumbing push a job toward the top of that range.

A remodel often costs more than a first finish of the same size. Old finishes must come out and hauling adds cost. Problems found behind the old walls add more.

Local markets can run higher. A metro Atlanta design-build firm lists $45,000 to $80,000 for a typical full finish there.

What is the most expensive part of remodeling a basement?

Materials are the most expensive part of a basement project. HomeGuide puts them at 60% to 80% of the total cost.

Among the trades, plumbing and flooring swing the most. HomeGuide lists basement plumbing at $2,500 to $20,000 and flooring at $1,000 to $36,000. A bathroom or bar sink far from the drain line pushes plumbing to the high end.

What is the cheapest way to remodel a basement?

The cheapest way to remodel a basement is to keep the layout and the plumbing where they are. Money then goes into surfaces and light, which change how the room feels the most.

• Keep sound walls and repaint them
• Leave fixtures on their current drain lines
• Paint exposed joists and ducts in place of a new ceiling
• Lay floating vinyl plank over a sound slab
• Swap old fixtures for LED recessed or surface lights
• Handle painting yourself if your contract allows it

What are common basement remodel mistakes?

The most common basement remodel mistakes come from covering problems up. New drywall over a damp wall will fail again.

• Hanging new drywall over walls that still show water stains
• Adding a bedroom with no egress window
• Placing a bar or bathroom far from the main drain
• Planning too few circuits for TVs, a gym or a mini fridge
• Boxing in the sump pit or water heater with no access
• Skipping permits that a buyer's inspector will ask about

What should you check before tearing out an old finished basement?

Check for moisture, mold and old wiring before you pick any new finishes. Pull a small piece of paneling or drywall at the base of an outside wall.

Stains, soft framing or a musty smell point to past water. Find the source before the rebuild starts.

Older basements can hide ungrounded outlets and splices with no junction box. Ask your contractor to price these fixes as their own lines so you can see them.

How should you lay out a basement remodel?

Lay out a basement remodel around the fixed points first: the stair, the furnace and water heater, the drain line and the windows. Plans that move those items cost the most.

Group the furnace, water heater and panel in one utility room with a door wide enough to replace them. Put bedrooms and offices on outside walls where windows can go. Keep a bar or bathroom near the drain line.

Sound travels through open joists. Insulation between the joists and a drywall ceiling cut noise between floors. A home gym works best on a rubber floor away from bedrooms upstairs.

How do you make a remodeled basement feel less like a basement?

Light makes the biggest difference in how a basement feels. Layer recessed lights with wall sconces and lamps so no corner goes dark.

Pale walls and ceilings bounce light around. A larger window or an open stair rail lets daylight reach further in. Warm flooring and a defined zone for each use make the space feel like part of the house.