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: Does a finished basement count as square footage?

• <div><p>A finished basement does not always count as square footage, though this varies by state regulations. You may live in an area that allows for below-grade spaces to be considered in a home's official square footage. In those cases, the basement must meet certain conditions, like having a functional egress and being a livable space with flooring, finished walls, and temperature control. Your local assessor can confirm your area's policies regarding basement square footage.</p></div>

Q: Is it less expensive to finish a basement or add an addition?

• <div><p>It&rsquo;s less expensive to finish your basement than it is to build an addition to your home. The average cost to refinish a basement is <b>$32,000</b> (between $7 and $23 per square foot) while building an addition to your home costs $50,325 ($80 to $210 per square foot). Depending on the size of your basement and other factors, like moving plumbing and electrical, refinishing a basement is a more cost-effective option in most cases.</p></div>

Q: How long does it take to finish a basement?

• <div><p>Finishing a basement normally takes four to eight weeks, but the timeline depends on the size of your basement, your contractor's availability, and the extent of finishing work. Framing the basement will take three to five days, while adding electrical and rough-in plumbing can be another three to five days. Adding drywall can take five days, and floor installation can take two to three days. Final touches, like painting and adding trim, will take another week.</p></div>

Q: Are walkout basements included in square footage?

• <div><p>Walkout basements are not generally included in a home&rsquo;s square footage, although they may be if they meet certain conditions that depend on local regulations. A finished walkout basement used as a living space may be counted toward square footage in some locations as long as all codes for livable space are met.</p></div>

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*The Angi rating for Basement Remodel companies in Crab Orchard, TN is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Basement Remodel needs.

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Last update on October 27, 2025

Reviewed in September 2024
Redline construction does a wide range of construction jobs. We used them for a remodel project with jobs including framing, drywall, and tile. Each job has been done in a professional and timely manner and we are very pleased with their work. We will continue to use Redline construction for...
Red Line Construction, LLC
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Reviewed in January 2020
Steve was a pleasure to have in our house because he is polite and respectful. He is has a vast amount of knowledge from his many years experience in the field, and he strives for excellence. If there's any underlying problems he will fix them, he does not cover over any that could be...
Sullivan Home Service
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Reviewed in September 2019
We are so lucky to have found Pappas Enterprises. They have completed a lot of work for us to date. They remodeled my bedroom, made a new walk in closet, repaired a leaky wall in my son's bedroom, painted around our house, repaired leaks, replaced a very difficult window and helped with our...
Pappas Enterprises
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Reviewed in August 2017
AMAZING! The original kitchen, utility and two baths install was over 18 months ago during an extensive, two year long remodel effort...the last install was completed today! Through it all, Hernando ensured availability of matching granite in our entire 3700+ sq ft house (kitchen, 3 and 1/2...
Exotic Marble, Granite & Tile
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Reviewed in April 2013
The basement of our former home started taking on water during the storm that hit the Chicago area in April 2013, thus creating major problems for our tenants. We had been very satisfied with prior dealings with Handymen and Mrs. Helper, so we advised our tenants to contact them to troubleshoot...
Handy Men & Mrs Helper Kitchen & Bath
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Reviewed in July 2012
The biggest problem I experienced was that the salesman oversold their company. Marcus and Troy, the people that did the job were punctual with stated arrival time, cleaned up worksite and removed all rubbish, very conscientious with customer service and communication.Sadly that can't be said...
Keystone Partners LLC
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Reviewed in February 2011
We are active duty military and move around a lot. It is hard to find reputable, honest, & efficient repair services, whether for home or auto, when you are not in an area for a long time. We truly rely on Angie's List and the reviews. We bought a repo home, badly in need of repairs, and have...
Able Plumbing Inc
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Reviewed in October 2010
Bob Birch & his wife are quite the team! Not only did they do the sheetrocking, finishing, and painting, but they also had to create a bulkhead down the hall due to plumbing and relocate some ceiling fixtures. They did those at no charge. The quality of their work is nothing short of...
Resident Handyman
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