When you have an unfinished basement that's already dry, sealed, and up to code, finishing it is typically the most cost-effective remodeling option to add living space to your home. The process involves adding wood-framed walls with insulation against the concrete exterior walls, framing any interior walls for room division, installing drywall, painting, adding finished lighting fixtures, and installing flooring. Many homeowners finish their basements to create media rooms, music studios, play areas, or home gyms. Note that while finishing adds living space, adding kitchens, bathrooms, or utility rooms falls outside standard basement finishing scope.
- Minor layout changes
- Framed walls
- Drywall throughout
- New flooring and paint
- Lighting fixtures
Homeowners often opt for a custom basement remodel to change the space’s function, like adding a mother-in-law suite, bathroom, or laundry room.
Custom basement remodels offer flexibility in transforming the basement into a more functional and livable area. These projects typically involve altering utilities, like plumbing, electrical, or HVAC, and may require concrete cutting, structural retrofitting, or small-scale excavation.
- Major layout changes
- bathroom, kitchen, or laundry utilities
- Concrete cutting
- Updated backsplash
- Lighting fixtures
- New flooring
Foundation remodels involve significant structural and concrete work beneath the home. They are the most expensive type of basement remodel, requiring alterations to the basement structure itself, like converting crawl spaces to full-height basements or replacing the foundation entirely.
These projects may necessitate raising the house on industrial jacks or excavating to lower the basement floor, both of which are costly and carefully planned. Another common scenario is replacing a compromised foundation, which is common in older homes.
- Major structural alterations
- Foundation replacement
- Full house lift
- Crawl space conversion
- Basement dig-down
