https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 12:52:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experiences-with-finishing-a-basement#post-2624090 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 10:38:36 +0000 snowjewelz 2624090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We completely gutted and renovated the whole house after we bought it, including the basement b/c it was all wood paneling and just straight out nasty lol. </p> <p>So worth it; we absolutely needed the space. It's where our laundry room is, extra storage, a small living area where the couch is also a pull out sleeper, and houses DH's extensive drum set and drums collection! </p> <p>I don't know the cost since it's lumped into our whole renovation budget. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experiences-with-finishing-a-basement#post-2623457 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 07:30:13 +0000 Smurfette 2623457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in the process of finishing ours right now. The old owners had it finished and ripped out everything (we aren't sure why) except the bathroom. So while the plumbing was there, we spent $ to redo all the plumbing since it wasn't done correctly and we made the layout better and bathroom bigger. We hired a contractor, DH could have done the framing, dry wall, tile, etc himself, but we don't have the time. I also feel better about hiring someone and getting it inspected. We don't have years to get it finished. He did run the cable wires and will hang up the speakers in the wall himself, not paying the electrician for that. We are going to have a small finished storage closet, bathroom, guest room, office, and then a big media room. Then another unfinished storage area. The finished area is about 1,000 sq feet. It is really exciting seeing it all come together. Our contractor told us 90 days to completion, all depending on inspections. We are a little over a month in. It isn't cheap, but we received quotes from $30K to $90K (seriously, we aren't doing anything fancy). But I think we are paying more cause of the area that we live in (like everything else, looking at you day care). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experiences-with-finishing-a-basement#post-2623363 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 19:57:50 +0000 NorthStar 2623363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: Your welcome! I believe that our basement is 1,500 square feet, if that helps at all? We tried to keep our selections simple so that they didn't cost a ton of money, but certain things just add up. We are excited to finally see an end (or at least a reduction - Hello Landscaping!) to the large sums of $$ we are paying on completing our home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experiences-with-finishing-a-basement#post-2623357 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 19:50:36 +0000 HappyBaker 2623357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: @NorthStar: Thank you! This is so helpful!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experiences-with-finishing-a-basement#post-2623356 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 19:48:35 +0000 NorthStar 2623356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We built our house 3 years ago and for our walk-out basement, the only part that we paid to be completed was for them to drywall, mud/tape and prime the walls. We also had the tub put in the bathroom so that we didn't need to deal with it later. We are SO close to being done with the basement, so it's taken just over 3 years. That said, it's totally worth it because of how much it would have cost hiring a contractor vs my husband doing most of it.</p> <p>As far as costs, here is an idea:</p> <p>*Carpet for main family room and hallway - $2,600<br /> *Built in entertainment center DH built - $1,000<br /> *Stone work for pellet stove corner that DH installed (haven't purchased pellet stove yet) - $500<br /> *Wood floor for 3 bedrooms - $1,700 (I think - it's been awhile)<br /> *Paint - $100<br /> *Bathroom vanity and top - $3,000 (we paid to have them custom made due to an odd angle in bathroom)<br /> *Trim work and doors - $3,000 (we stained and finished all the doors. We hired the trimwork to be stained by the same place that did our main floor level. However, my husband installed everything himself).</p> <p>These prices are approx. Since some of these things were done over a year or two ago, it's kind of hard to remember. I think that the one thing that I would suggest is trying to think big picture regarding what look you want for each room or at least in general. Thankfully, I still like the paint color in the main room and the bedrooms. I did have my husband repaint the bathroom because I had a WTF moment when I wondered what I was thinking with the color. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experiences-with-finishing-a-basement#post-2623254 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 13:03:29 +0000 erinbaderin 2623254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We finished the basement at our house. My husband semi-finished it himself a few years previously - he framed and drywalled it and put down a cheap laminate floor, and then we hired a contractor to do the rest - mud, tape, redo the floor, put in a ceiling with pot lights. It cost about $7000 just outside Toronto, and took about three weeks, with one guy working (and I don't think he came every day). </p> <p>It was DEFINITELY worth it. Every time we go down there we talk about how it was the best money we've spent. Especially now that we have a second child and turned the guest room into a nursery. The basement is basically a big playroom, all the big toys are down there, plus we have a pullout couch for guests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experiences-with-finishing-a-basement#post-2623249 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 12:32:18 +0000 HappyBaker 2623249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd love to hear your experience if you finished your basement or had someone do it for you! </p> <p>Things I'd love to know-<br /> - if you feel like it was worth it after going through it<br /> - any things you wished you knew before you started<br /> - if you did it yourself / hired a general contractor / managed the subcontractors yourself<br /> - general ballpark of what it cost (obviously it varies a lot by where you are!)</p> <p>We've always wanted to put an addition on our house but the cost to do that is just bananas it seems. We're now considering just finishing half the basement and keeping one side unfinished with a workshop / storage. </p>