"I cannot say enough about this project and Abe! We had a ?sweaty? basement refinished. Abe walked us through every thorough and comprehensive step that he took to ensure the new living space would be safe and functional for many years to come. His estimate was accurate, his pricing, fair, and the subcontractors that he hired for plumbing and electric were professional, friendly, and swift. We asked Abe for a number of specialty finish carpentry projects and all were finished meticulously. We are still finding little surprises here and there that show just how much he cares about the function and beauty of his work! We had a custom glass shower door built, a hydraulic Murphy bed, and a ?secret bookcase door? leading to my husband?s office. Every single thing came out just beautifully, and all of our friends and neighbors are terribly impressed! We will absolutely be working with Abe again?He?s a master of his craft!"
"I can't overstate the quality of the work these folks did. We had our unfinished attic converted to living space, and the space had a lot of funky angles and old framing. G.A. Doughty's team did an incredible job making it work, including a half-bath! We're very pleased with the result. Everyone at G.A., the project manager, office staff, and all the subcontractors were very polite and fun to work with. Everyone who came to the house was very friendly. The only issue we had was that for a few months during the middle of the project, things seemed to stall out for about 6-8 weeks. I think they were having some availability issues with subcontractors and were overloaded from other projects."
"They did a good job especially considering how brittle my old siding had become over the years. I’m pleased with their work and the price was right. I plan to hire them to do a couple more small jobs that I’m to old to do myself."
"We had water damage from a burst pipe in our finished basement. It took out part of our ceiling, an entire wall, and parts of other walls. Mark was able to come in and put up the drywall in a fast timeframe compared to other contractors. This included taping and mudding. Mark gave us recommendations for some other concerns we had in our basement regarding exposed electrical panels. He also added an access panel in the ceiling for us that was not part of the original plan. This new addition now allows us to access pipes that we previously were not able to."
A finished basement does not always count as square footage, as this varies by state regulations. In areas that allow below-grade spaces to be included in a home's official square footage, the basement must typically meet certain conditions. These conditions often include having a functional egress and being a livable space with flooring, finished walls, and temperature control. To be certain, contact your local assessor to confirm your area's specific policies regarding basement square footage.
If you don’t have a crawl space but have a partial basement you want to make deeper, you can expect to spend a little less—between $40,000 and $90,000 on average. However, if you’re not adding new finished square footage, you won’t see much in the way of ROI.
Envision the type of bar experience you'd like to create for your guests. For example:
Does your basement have enough finished space for bar stools or seating?
What type of additional lighting would set the tone for the room?
Are there basement windows or an HVAC system?
Do you need new plumbing in your basement for a proper wet bar?
Could you be happy with a built-in wall cabinet bar rather than a full-scale wet bar?
Kitchens and bathrooms are typically the most expensive rooms to renovate. The high cost is due to several factors, including expensive appliances like ranges, hoods, and refrigerators, as well as costly fixtures. The 'bones' of the room, such as electrical and plumbing, are also expensive to move or replace. Because of the vast amount of prep work, finishing, and specialized labor involved in a relatively small footprint, these projects can cost double or more than a living space remodel. Even when trying to renovate on a budget, kitchens and bathrooms will likely carry a hefty price tag.
Yes, in most cases, finishing a basement is worth the cost. The project adds valuable, usable square footage to your home and typically provides a return on investment (ROI) of 70% to 75%. For example, an average basement refinishing project costing $32,000 could add between $22,400 and $24,000 to your property's value. The final value added depends on factors like your location, the quality of materials and workmanship, and the features you include, such as a living space, bedroom, or bathroom. To be officially counted in your home's total square footage, the finished space must comply with all local building codes, including requirements for points of egress. However, in areas prone to flooding, a finished basement might be seen as a liability by potential buyers and could potentially decrease your home's value.
The Freedom, ME homeowners’ guide to basement remodels
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Hiring a bad basement remodeler can wreak havoc on the look and longevity of your unfinished space. Here are red flags to look for as you vet basement contractors.
