How to Finish a Basement (and How Much It Costs)
If you’ve been wondering how to finish a basement—or more specifically how much will it cost to finish my basement—don’t get discouraged. Your basement is a gold mine of remodeling possibilities and added livable square footage. But first, let’s tackle how to kick off the process of basement finishing, square foot by square foot, as well as the average cost.
How much does it cost to finish a basement
While expenses vary based on what you’re doing, square footage, and labor costs, the average cost for basement remodeling is about $68,490. According to Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value calculations, basement remodeling will allow you to recoup an average of 70.4% of your costs when you sell. That’s higher than a kitchen remodel (64.9%) or a bathroom renovation (65.7%).
Also, it’s important to remember that a basement finish can include more than just a recreational space. It can include bedrooms, a kitchen space or even an extra bathroom.
Bonus: The average cost of a basement renovation and conversion into, say, a family room is 20% to 30% less than building a same square-foot addition above ground, says Tim Shigley, a Wichita, KS, builder and national chair of the remodeling arm of the National Association of Home Builders.
How to finish a basement: Ward off water problems
Water is a particular problem when refinishing a basement. Groundwater and rain that aren’t properly routed away from your house can enter basements through foundation cracks, loose windows and doors. When you have nothing but some posts and beams in the basement, water is a nuisance; but once you’ve refinished the area, water can be a disaster—destroying flooring, drywall, and pretty much every square foot in its path.
Install French drains (trenches with gravel and perforated pipe) and a sump pump to make sure water doesn’t wreck your remodel. Also, plan to place a dehumidifier after your remodel to continually remove moisture and prevent mold growth. And be aware: Drywall is a mold magnet in damp areas.
Add lighting
Light, bright places are so much more inviting than dark spaces. To add light to a basement, add windows. If you install a door, choose one with sidelights or divided light panes.
Don’t skimp on recessed lights with LED bulbs. Take advantage of drywall by adding sconces. Add enough outlets to service floor and table lamps. You can also add solar tubes, which are tubes connected to the outdoors that tunnel natural light down to the basement.
Pick the right flooring for a basement
Flooring is an important decision, and a smart contractor can steer you in the safest direction. Don’t install hardwood flooring, which is a buckling fiasco waiting to happen. Carpet is another bad idea. You can do crazy things with concrete slab, polishing it to a high sheen and adding stains that make it look like a stone floor.
Bonus: A concrete floor is one of the more affordable options. And tile will stand up to anything water has to offer. Vinyl will repel water, but sheets can peel up when water seeps beneath, so watch out.
Check for radon—and get rid of it
One cost you can’t skip is a check for radon—an odorless, colorless gas emitted by the breakdown of uranium in soil. About 1 in 15 homes has a level high enough that the U.S. government has recommended that action be taken to control the leak.
You can conduct your own test with a radon kit, which costs less than $10, or pay the pros about $165. Radon remediation can cost thousands of dollars and could involve sealing slab or foundation cracks or installing ventilators, but these safety measures are well worth it if you plan on spending time in your new living space.
Article originally appeared on Realtor.com.