What do you do with finished basement space?

1. Go Double with Living Rooms.
2. Turn a Basement Space into a Bedroom.
3. Make a Small Apartment.
4. Sweat It Out in a Home Gym.
5. Enjoy a Theater Experience at Home.
6. Entertain Guests with a Wet Bar.
7. Show Off Your Wine Collection.
8. Let Your Kids Be Free in a Playroom.

In what order should I remodel my basement?

1. Apply for a Permit.
2. Take Care of Dampness.
3. Pick Your Materials.
4. Gather Your Tools.
5. Install Insulation.
6. Frame the Walls.
7. Install Utilities.
8. Mount Drywall.

Is remodeling a basement worth it?

Many people wonder if finishing their basement is worth the time, effort, and money to remodel their downstairs space. To answer that directly, yes, finishing your basement will almost always increase the value of your property. The standard return is around 70%, according to Remodeling.HW.net.

How do I design my basement?

What is the hardest part of finishing a basement?

What’s the biggest challenge in finishing a basement? “Typically, the biggest challenge is working around obstructions. There are heating ducts, plumbing drains, water pipes, gas lines and electrical wires that are all off and hung below the floor joist.

What to Know Before finishing a basement?

• Check the Foundation. Before starting any construction in your basement, assess the state of the foundation.
• Identify Code Violations.
• Eliminate Water Issues.
• Insulate Properly.
• Assess the Ceiling.
• Work Around the Essentials in Your Design.

Does adding a bathroom in the basement add value?

Adding a basement bathroom can increase your home’s resale value by 10%-20%. It also can turn a wasted space into an enjoyable addition to your home. The average basement bathroom will cost $3,000-$25,000, depending on the existing plumbing and condition of your basement.

Does a finished basement add value to appraisal?

The appraised value of finished basement space is generally 50% to 60% of the value of the main level square footage. To maximize the cost/value ratio, the market experts recommend keeping the basement budget below 10% of the existing home’s value.

Do basement bathrooms count appraisal?

As a general rule of thumb, listing agents and appraisers don’t count a finished basement toward the overall square footage, especially if the basement is completely below grade—a term that means below ground level.

How can I save money to finish my basement?

1. Opt for an inexpensive, prefabricated egress window and well.
2. Test exterior walls for moisture before finishing.
3. Cut out some studs.
4. Install drop ceilings.
5. Skip the carpet and install luxury vinyl tile instead.
6. Add a bathroom (or at least a half bath) near existing plumbing.

Should you put insulation in basement walls?

Walls. Basement walls should be insulated with non-water sensitive insulation that prevents interior air from contacting cold basement surfaces—the concrete structural elements and the rim joist framing.

What type of flooring is best for basements?

The best type of flooring for basements is vinyl. Vinyl flooring can come in the form of vinyl plank and vinyl tile, giving it the ability to look nearly identical to hardwood and stone products with the added benefit of being waterproof. Vinyl flooring is made of PVC making it durable and waterproof.

What is the cheapest way to finish an unfinished basement?

You can save on the cost to finish a basement by doing things not bound by codes: installing trim or doors, painting walls and woodwork, and installing flooring, says Buckeye Basements’ Jon Smith. Beyond that, count on using some pros.

What’s the first step in finishing a basement?

Many unfinished basements have simple concrete walls. To finish them, you’ll need to first insulate, then frame, and then finish up with drywall.

What is a Yankee basement?

What Is A Yankee Basement? A Yankee basement is a root cellar. The name for the space comes from the dugout in baseball, which is the area where teams have their benches located in foul territory.

Do I need to seal my basement walls before finishing?

Nothing will ruin a beautiful remodeling job like soaked carpets, moldy drywall and damaged furniture so it is essential that a basement be fully waterproofed before any finishing work begins.

How can I cover my basement walls without drywall?

1. Paint.
2. Basement Panels.
3. Wood Fiberboard.
4. Fabric.
5. Vinyl and Wallpaper.
6. Stone Veneer.
7. Pargeting.
8. Exposed Brick.

How do you put a toilet in a basement without breaking concrete?

You can tie a bathroom tub or shower into an upflush toilet system, which eliminates the need to break into the concrete floor. The system sends the wastewater from the shower drain and toilet to a holding tank before being pumped to the main sewer line.

What adds the most value to a house?

• Kitchen Improvements. If adding value to your home is the goal, the kitchen is likely the place to start.
• Bathrooms Improvements. Updated bathrooms are key for adding value to your home.
• Lighting Improvements.
• Energy Efficiency Improvements.
• Curb Appeal Improvements.

Can a toilet be installed in a basement?

If you think plumbing can be difficult above ground, then you can only imagine the challenges that arise when installing a basement toilet. But don’t give up just yet: With the right plumbing solutions for your space, you can easily install a basement toilet.

Why do people not finish basement?

Use As Storage Some families prefer using the basement as a storage space for unused devices or nostalgic items that can’t be thrown away just yet. A basement used as a storage space does not need to be complete as the space won’t have as much traffic as other areas.

Is a finished basement considered living space?

While a finished basement is considered living space where your property value is concerned, it’s only in rare instances that this living space is counted towards the square footage. Even if your basement is not an exception to the rule, a finished basement is an asset to your property value.

Does adding a bedroom in the basement add value?

Does adding a bedroom in the basement add value? Absolutely. Buyers are all about usable space and are willing to spend a little extra to have more of it. According to Remodeling Magazine, a midrange basement refinish yields on average 70% ROI.

What does RR mean on appraisal?

This translates as follows: 1rr means that the basement includes 1 recreation room (rr), 1br means it has 1 bedroom (br), 1.0ba means it has 1 bathroom (ba), and 1o means that it has one “other” type of room.

Why are finished basements not included in square footage?

The entire level must be above grade in order for that space to factor in to the official square footage. This almost always means that if any portion of the basement is below grade, the entire level will typically be excluded from the calculation of the home’s square footage.