What are the pros and cons of finishing a basement?

• <div><p>When considering finishing your basement, take into account a few pros and cons:</p><p>Pros</p><ul><li><p>Can increase the value of your home</p></li><li><p>Separate space from the rest of the house </p></li><li><p>Customize and personalize the basement to suit your needs and style</p></li><li><p>Increase the amount of living space in your home</p></li></ul><p>Cons</p><ul><li><p>May not regain enough value to cover the cost of finishing</p></li><li><p>Lack of natural light if it’s below ground level</p></li><li><p>Moisture or flooding can cause costly damage</p></li><li><p>Installing plumbing and electrical can be messy and costly</p></li></ul><p></p></div>

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Q: What is the difference between a joist and a beam in a basement?

• <div><p><a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/joist-vs-beam.htm">Joists and beams</a> are both part of the flooring system above your basement, with the beams spanning the length of your home and getting support from vertical posts underneath, and joists usually spanning half the width of your home with no support posts underneath. The floor joists provide even support to the subflooring and flooring above, and they distribute that load to the beams. The beams then distribute that load down through the support posts to the foundation.</p></div>

Q: How hard is it to add a basement to an existing house?

• <div><p>The difficulty of adding a basement to an existing house can vary depending on the house&rsquo;s location, the size of the basement, and the type and condition of the existing foundation. Adding a basement is a job best handled by the pros, so you&rsquo;ll need to enlist professional help for this project.</p></div>

Q: Does a finished basement count toward a home's square footage?

• <div><p>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.</p></div>

Q: What are the benefits of remodeling a basement?

• <div><p>Renovation enhances functionality, increases home value, and can add new space for personal or family needs. It typically modernizes older unfinished basements for new uses.</p></div>

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True Grit Resolutions

5.0(

)

Basement - Remodel

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Built a addition, was there on time and cleaned up his mess ,great guy"

Response rate92%

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2006

Credit card accepted

"Amanda was really very good! At first I was very skeptical, thinking why did I pay money to just speak with someone on the phone about my kitchen remodel project... but after just a few minutes of her addressing some of the issues/questions I emailed to her earlier, I knew it was worth it. It was very clear that she knew her business and she gave me several ideas that I had not even thought about. I told her that I would definitely recommend her to friends and I will very likely use her again myself for my next home project!

"

California Client Saves with HMD Designer Discounts

Recommended by54%of homeowners

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Johnny Boteler Construction

4.3(

)

Basement - Remodel

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 1974

Free estimates

"He did very good work and trustworthy"

Recommended by85%of homeowners

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Hampton Enterprise LLC

3.7(

)

Basement - Remodel

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 1989

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They were good. They were pretty fast and came on time. My overall experience with them has been good."

Recommended by60%of homeowners

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

JCT Construction prides itself on being the number one home improvement in the area. We have built an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction by providing quick estimates, great attention to detail, and competitive pricing. Being a screened and approved professional gives you the peace of mind you need to allow us to give your home the attention it deserves. Call us today and let's get started!\n

Response time4 days

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 1998

Free estimates

We pride our company on reliability, great communication, integrity, and quality work. We are experts in our trade and will do our best to keep you as educated as we can on your particular task or project. We look forward to earning your business!

Response time6 days

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 1999

Free estimates

David Ferguson's construction business is dedicated to quality and outstanding customer service. Our job is to provide you with quality service at a great price. Please don't wait call us today.

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Ahoe Construction is a client focused company serving the greater Aberdeen community. We're dedicated to providing top quality craftsmanship, customer service and professionalism on every project. Call today to see what our expertise can do for the overall value of your home and comfort of living in it.

Serving Hoven, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2013

Free estimates

Benally's Contracting has been taking care of Pierre and surrounding areas up in South Dakota for 3 years now. Providing excellent addition and remodeling services for residents and commercial business who are looking for their home improvement or plans of expanding. We take care of you from the moment we arrive to delivering a finished project that you will be proud of. Taking pride in our work is what we are known for. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your addition or remodel ideas!

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Basement Remodel questions, answered by experts

Joists and beams are both part of the flooring system above your basement, with the beams spanning the length of your home and getting support from vertical posts underneath, and joists usually spanning half the width of your home with no support posts underneath. The floor joists provide even support to the subflooring and flooring above, and they distribute that load to the beams. The beams then distribute that load down through the support posts to the foundation.

The difficulty of adding a basement to an existing house can vary depending on the house’s location, the size of the basement, and the type and condition of the existing foundation. Adding a basement is a job best handled by the pros, so you’ll need to enlist professional help for this project.

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.

Renovation enhances functionality, increases home value, and can add new space for personal or family needs. It typically modernizes older unfinished basements for new uses.

When considering finishing your basement, take into account a few pros and cons:

Pros

Can increase the value of your home
Separate space from the rest of the house
Customize and personalize the basement to suit your needs and style
Increase the amount of living space in your home

Cons

May not regain enough value to cover the cost of finishing
Lack of natural light if it’s below ground level
Moisture or flooding can cause costly damage
Installing plumbing and electrical can be messy and costly

The Hoven, SD homeowners’ guide to basement remodels

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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