Basement Finishing
Finishing or remodeling your basement is a wonderful way to add usable space to your home. Transforming an unfinished basement into a sanctuary away from the outside world is extremely satisfying and beneficial as families grow or as needs change.
A finished basement can provide you with extra space for a play room, home theater, wine cellar, home office, home gym, game room, billiard room, extra bedroom, bathroom, extra kitchen and so much more. You can have one, two or all of these, depending on your basement’s size and your budget.
An unfinished basement is really like an artist’s empty canvas. Whatever you can dream, we can build for you.
Finish a Little or a Lot
Unlike the main living space of your house, a basement does not need to be completely finished. So, if you only need a small part finished for a specific purpose, or if your budget is limited, you can finish only part of your basement. Later, as your needs change and grow or when your budget allows, you can finish more or the remainder of your basement.
How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement?
As we just mentioned, with a basement you have the luxury of finishing it in stages, so if your budget is small, you can still accomplish some of your goals now, and some later.
The question of cost really depends on how much you want to do and the level of finish you want.
A bedroom or playroom could be $10,000 or it could be $20,000 (or more) to install basement drywall, flooring, doors, and paint. Of course, the square footage of a room will impact this amount and the materials you select also make a big difference. For example, carpeting costs much less than hardwood floors. You may decide to use ceiling tiles rather than a drywall ceiling. You can add simple lighting or very expensive light fixtures.
You can see that answering the question of cost is difficult. The best bet is to get a free estimate. You could even request that the estimate be quoted by the specific room so that you could include or eliminate a room, depending on the estimate amount and your available budget.
By being flexible in terms of the amount of work you contract to have done and the types of finishes that you use, you can adjust the cost to fit your budget.
Finishing a basement sometimes has financial advantages versus remodeling other parts of a house. For example, if the space is totally unfinished, with nothing but studs, then there’s nothing to demolish and remove. Building basement walls is relatively simple and inexpensive. Walling in spaces can be done quickly. Adding wiring and pipes will add to the cost.
Now, if you want to add air conditioning and heat to your basement, that will add cost and time, but it will make the space more valuable for resale, and it will be much more enjoyable to use. You want to be comfortable, right?
If you are adding a bathroom or a sink, you may need to add water lines, drains or pumps that can get the sewage up out of the basement. Installing these systems will require some additional expense, but they will serve the entire basement if you add more plumbing fixtures in the future.
Choices, Choices, Choices
Today, you have numerous choices when you build out your basement.
- Basement Floors: Unless you have a serious water problem, you can use just about any flooring that you want, from carpet, hardwoods, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or luxury vinyl plank (LVP), ceramic tile and many others. If you anticipate wet foot traffic from a pool, you can select vinyl flooring, which is water resistant. These are all good choices for basement flooring, and come in a wide range of prices to fit your budget.
- Basement Ceiling: Often, basements have exposed pipes, vents and wiring running throughout. The ceilings tend to be cluttered with all of these systems. Building drywall ceilings is normally possible in most basements, but it may be necessary to build around some of these systems if they are bulky. In the case of extremely bulky vent pipes or other items, drop ceilings (also called suspended ceilings) can be dropped down, and ceiling tiles installed.
- Lighting: Most any lights you would use on the upper floors of your house can also be used in your basement. And with LED lights, your options have gotten even better.
- Plumbing: Plumbing fixtures for your basement may be just a simple sink for a wet bar or a full tub and shower and toilet. If your bathroom space is small, you may need to choose a narrow shower, and sink, but these are available if needed.
- Cabinets: If you are adding a kitchen area or just need storage, cabinets are available in any color you want, in a wide range of styles and materials.
- Tile: A bathroom or kitchen would not be complete without a tile backsplash, tiled walls and more. Anything you would put in the rest of your home, will go here as well.
- Much More! Let your imagination run wild and add almost anything you want to this space.
Think in Terms of Activities
As you plan your basement, think about what kinds of activities you want to enjoy in that space. For example, if you have children, you probably want a play area for them. If you like to exercise, a home gym would make a great addition. Love to watch movies? Add a home theater. Need a place to work remotely? Time to install an office.
Make it More Comfortable
Basements can be cold and damp, not a very inviting place for humans! So part of finishing a basement is making sure that it is a comfortable place to spend time.
Fix Basement Water Problems
People are often concerned about water issues in basements, and these do need to be addressed. If you have obvious water damage or leaks, you’ll need to determine the source of the leak or intrusion and have it repaired and stopped.
Basements often have higher humidity because they are not sealed and insulated like the finished parts of a house. Basement walls that are below grade may have large amounts of water on the outside. That water can easily enter the house if waterproofing fails or if the material is cracked or porous. Permeable materials will wick water from the ground to the inside of the house. Also, cracks in the floors can allow groundwater to find its way in, so the humidity is literally coming in from all sides. Water may also enter through pipe leaks, condensation on windows and air ducts and more.
We can take care of water problems for you. A simple dehumidifier may alleviate the problem, and a new HVAC system will also help to reduce the moister level and insure a dry basement. Insulation and proper sealing and more drastic steps may be necessary. We can take care of those for you so that you won’t have to worry about water, humidity and mold problems in the future.
Seal It
Because basements aren’t normally finished to the same level as the heated and cooled living areas of the house, your basement is probably not sealed to the outside like it should be. Adding or upgrading the insulation on all the outside walls will help to keep the space warm in winter and cool in summer. Sealing the windows and doors and other parts of the basement walls will also reduce energy loss and help make it a comfortable living space.
How Long Does Basement Finishing Take?
A typical basement renovation project can take four to six weeks, but this can vary greatly depending on the amount of work, the availability of materials and fixtures, the permitting process and other factors.
Will You Help Me Design My New Basement?
Yes! If you need help designing your basement, we have an in-house designer who will work with you to create the space and functionality that you are looking for.
Our designer can also help you make your selections. Selections are the choices you must make for things like floor material and color, plumbing fixtures, paint color, tile, etc. Making these selections can be challenging, so we’ll help you as much or as little as you need.
Is Financing Available to Finish My Basement?
Yes! We work with GreenSky financing company to make basement finishing projects affordable. Contact us for details on applying for this financing. They have several financing options available, including a 12-months-same-as-cash plan. GreenSky works specifically with contractors to meet the needs of their remodeling clients.
Of course, you can contact your favorite lending company or bank to get their loan availability and rates. If you’ve been in your home for a while, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may be your best bet to finance your renovations.
How Soon Can You Start My Basement?
When you approve our estimate and tell us you are ready to finish your basement, we will map out a project schedule that will fit in with our current projects and our availability. We will start the process of getting the job permitted, which can take just a few days or weeks, depending on the permitting agency.
On most projects, we can begin construction in about two weeks. Before the on-site work begins, we will be ordering materials, working with you on the project design, getting the permits, etc.
How Much Money do You Need to Start My Project?
At the start of your basement project, depending on the size, estimated duration and other factors, we will request 25 to 50% of the estimated total. This will cover the initial permitting, design, materials, etc. Through the remainder of the job, we’ll send you invoices, usually in the 25 to 33% range. Each job is unique, but we will make sure you understand and approve the payments or draws before we begin work.
Before your final invoice, we will invoice for any changes or additions you approved. For example, if you added some windows, or upgraded (or downgraded) your windows, we will invoice or credit you for those items. We want to make sure you understand the costs and don’t receive any sticker shock at the end of the job.
At the conclusion of the basement remodeling project, after a final walk-through, when you have approved your beautiful new basement, you’ll receive a final invoice for the balance, typically 25 to 33%.
Do You Warranty My Basement Project?
Yes!
You receive a one-year limited warranty which covers labor, workmanship and materials against defects. Your satisfaction is of the utmost importance, and we stand behind our work.
Some items and materials such as appliances are covered by their respective manufacturers warranty and terms.
Customer service is at the top of our list, and we strive each day to fulfill our promise to build you the finest basement possible.
Who is Halcyon Remodeling?
Halcyon Remodeling is a fully licensed and insured contractor in the state of Georgia. Since 2015, we have helped hundreds of property investors and homeowners with remodeling, repair and renovation work, large and small. Our dedicated staff has more than 30 years of industry experience, building, renovating and solving customer problems.
We understand that entrusting the updating of your home to Halcyon Remodeling is a major decision. Read our reviews. Ask as many questions as you need to understand our process and your options. We know you have a choice of contractors, and we are happy to discuss the details of your project. Keep asking questions until you are comfortable with the budget, the plan, the process and us.
Request your free estimate today. We will meet with you, discuss what you want and prepare an estimate. Then we can refine the plans to meet your criteria and budget. This is a collaborative effort so that you get exactly what you want.
Whether you want to finish one or two rooms or finish a complete basement, we are ready to help you create your dream basement.
Halcyon Remodeling provides renovation work of all types for homeowners throughout Metro Atlanta. Whether you need new cabinets, a bathroom remodel, kitchen updates, finished basement or other home renovation, our team of professionals, from designers to carpenters to cabinet and countertop installers and other craftsmen, are ready to exceed your expectations and make your dreams come true!
Contact us today to get started on your basement finishing project and get the additional living space you want for you and your family.