In 2013 almost 90,000 people per month search Google for, “what is the cost of a basement.” Most of the time the websites they find say “it depends”. Thanks, thanks a lot. So let’s start with a super quick and direct answer.
The cost of a basement is between 10 and 35 dollars per square feet. Let’s say an average basement is 1,000 square feet of finished space. So the cost of a basement is between $10,000 and $35,000. 10k if you’re doing most of the work yourself and up to $35,000 if you’re hiring a contractor to finish your basement.
Now. What is the cost of a basement for you? Well…. That depends. I have some information below that will help you figure that out.
To save on the cost of a basement – “Follow the Big Dog”
Don’t be discouraged if you think that amount is to high. I have some cost saving tips that can bring it down significantly.
I’ve nicknamed my best tip “follow the big dog”. It saved me almost 1,500 dollars and [click to continue…]
I’ve been blogging about basements, basement ideas and basement finishing for more than a year now and I thought I’d seen everything.
My basement ideas Pinterest page has 30+ boards and over 240 pins, but I’ve never seen this done.
Big props to Tony for sharing this idea and the photos – this is his handy work [click to continue…]
Finishing my basement would have been quite a bit easier with this.
The tape measure(er). Wait, is it tape measure OR tape measurer?
Regardless, it’s a fun but frustrating little device. It never seems to be quite right.
When I was finishing my basement I would measure a 2 x 4 then walk to my cutting station and mumble to myself something like “80inches and 4 ticks plus a hair”.
I’d say it over and over instead of writing it down ’cause I’m lazy and always forgot my pencil. “4 ticks plus a hair” – what the hell does that mean?
Of course, each of those little tick marks has a name and I feel like a total dumbass when I can’t remember what those names are, especially when another dude is around. [click to continue…]
Even though this website is all about finishing your basement with your own two hands of glory… I completely understand that not every wants to do this.
So I hope this will be the first of many “virtual basement tours” where you can learn first hand the good, the bad and the ugly in the world of basement finishing projects.
This first tour hits close to home because in a way, it is home! I’ve slept in this basement many times, it’s my parent’s basement!
Here’s a tour of their basement. Hi Mom! Hi Dad!
They finished their 700 square foot basement for about $38,000. My parent’s basement took about 8 weeks to complete. If that’s sounds a little steep for just 700 square feet, hang with me till the end, they had some unique issues to deal with – one of which required a saw blade that was the size of an oven door.
1. How Did They Find Their Basement Contractor?
My Mom first saw the company they eventually used in the local paper and some of those advertising inserts. Their website had a lot of good reviews and they [click to continue…]
