Hi All - Finishing my basement in central NJ. Its a clean dry slate about ~1000 sq ft. Will be looking for just one big open space and a small full bathroom.
I have fielded some quotes from GCs as well as some subs (where I would do the management of it all). Living in my township, I can pull my own permits and only need a rough inspection for the electrical - the town will do a final inspection when its all complete (guessing its a basic check as everything will be behind the walls).
I plan on using a SaniFlo toilet and keeping everything else very basic and clean. I am looking to hear some BBI stories, field some important tips and considerations, and get a take on where I stand with pricing.
To avoid going into too much detail (although I can if someone wants to provide in-depth analysis on all this) - the labor cost on the job for just the framing, drywall, bathroom and trim finishing is 11K. The electrical and plumbing labor - is about 2K. And the Planned materials + paint and labor (they are not handling this) will be around 14K.
All in, I am projecting around 27K for around 900 finished Sq ft.
Other quotes I received were upwards of 32K - but a lot less stress and work on my part would be involved. Happy to hear opinions, guidance, or referrals to potential GCs.
I spent $70,000 but I have a lot of high end finishes. An accent wall. Custom built cabinets, a 75 inch 4K high depth tv, 1000 bottle wine cooler, and more.
That included framing, drywall, new windows, painting, heat (separate zone obviously), drop ceiling, electric, carpet, and furniture.
no other advice other than make sure you include flooring and furniture in your budget, they can be expensive and if not planned for maybe hit you with an unexpected cost.
That included framing, drywall, new windows, painting, heat (separate zone obviously), drop ceiling, electric, carpet, and furniture.
no other advice other than make sure you include flooring and furniture in your budget, they can be expensive and if not planned for maybe hit you with an unexpected cost.
Thanks Pjcas - can you share your pricing in more detail?
For reference my labor costs were quoted at:
Framing - 3000
Insulation- 400
Drywall/Spackle (no paint) - 3200
Floor Install - 2200
Trim - 200
Total- ~9K labor
Note- mine includes a sheetrock ceiling. Bathroom install was another 2K but not comparable to your basement.
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($27k), I did around 1200 square feet of my basement 18 months ago without the bathroom for ~18k.
That included framing, drywall, new windows, painting, heat (separate zone obviously), drop ceiling, electric, carpet, and furniture.
no other advice other than make sure you include flooring and furniture in your budget, they can be expensive and if not planned for maybe hit you with an unexpected cost.
Thanks Pjcas - can you share your pricing in more detail?
For reference my labor costs were quoted at:
Framing - 3000
Insulation- 400
Drywall/Spackle (no paint) - 3200
Floor Install - 2200
Trim - 200
Total- ~9K labor
Note- mine includes a sheetrock ceiling. Bathroom install was another 2K but not comparable to your basement.
Unfortunately, I had a local home builder do it that we're friends with - he did it basically as a favor - not the kind of job they normally do), and he did it all and subbed out what he didn't do (heat and flooring) for 15k - didn't break out the pricing (I didn't ask him to either)
I spent 3k on furniture - a decent quality sleeper sofa (kids love having that down there), a love seat, a TV stand, and a ping pong table (kids love this too).
I'll see if I got any competitive bids that were broken out - I remember getting multiple bids.
My contractor said the best option was an ejector toilet because the basement is below ground level and I wasn't thrilled with the sounds of an ejector toilet, but I may add a bathroom at some point.
Don't put in carpeting. Gets old an awful real fast especially if the basement is humid/minimally ventilated.
Don't get hardwoood, too expersenive
Get a vinyl wood laminate. Cheap, takes a pounding (wet or dry), last forever and looks great.
My contractor said the best option was an ejector toilet because the basement is below ground level and I wasn't thrilled with the sounds of an ejector toilet, but I may add a bathroom at some point.
That 2K was for the labor - materials are probably another 3K so 5 in total, which is relatively cheap and why I am all for it. Looking for a sense check on all others.
Plans for waterproof PVC laminate floors.
Hints? We had a B-Dry system put in several years before, French drain double-sump system. Dry as a bone. Worth every penny.
In hindsight, I wish I'd have insisted on good doors. Contractor used cheapest luan, kids have pushed holes in 2 of em accidentally.
We did painting ourselves. Saved money, but JESUS does new drywall eat paint!
the kids love the carpet down there since they have a lot of sleepovers. air mattresses or sometimes just on blankets on the carpet.
if I didn't have carpet, I'd have rugs anyway.
My contractor said the best option was an ejector toilet because the basement is below ground level and I wasn't thrilled with the sounds of an ejector toilet, but I may add a bathroom at some point.
We have a below grade full bath that has a sewer ejector pump in a sump pit. My understanding is they are more reliable and easier to repair when necessary. But certainly more expsive to install, and might not be worth it for a half bath with minimal usage.
Is anyone familiar with the approximate costs of having a stone patio built? That would be our next step. Perhaps a 250sq foot stone pavers patio and some work done to replace a retainer wall surrounding our driveway. I know much would depend on materials and whatnot but does that sound like a $10k job or closer to $20k?
Is anyone familiar with the approximate costs of having a stone patio built? That would be our next step. Perhaps a 250sq foot stone pavers patio and some work done to replace a retainer wall surrounding our driveway. I know much would depend on materials and whatnot but does that sound like a $10k job or closer to $20k?
I got a quote to do a paver patio with an accent border for the following (a little larger than yours but maybe this helps):
Location: Back of house
-Create a patio measuring 15 x 25 using Quarry Blend pavers
-Create a charcoal border around patio using a 6" x 9" paver
-Spread poly sand on patio joints
The total price is $7,850.00
2. Do you insulation yourself. It's the easiest DIY job down there.
3. Definitely get the bathroom done. At least a toilet.
4. Instead of drywall... We put up wooden wall panels, cost was very close to drywall but without any of the labor.
5. Paint it yourself. Seriously save yourself the money.
Is anyone familiar with the approximate costs of having a stone patio built? That would be our next step. Perhaps a 250sq foot stone pavers patio and some work done to replace a retainer wall surrounding our driveway. I know much would depend on materials and whatnot but does that sound like a $10k job or closer to $20k?
I'd really think about or do some home value research on having a one car garage as opposed to a single. A 2 car garage is usually way more desirable.
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but I'm doing something somewhat similar in adding to what already is a finished basement. I'm looking to convert our two car garage, attached to the basement, into a one car garage with the second car port (200sq feet) being finished and added to the living area of the basement. I was told I could get out of there below $10k.
Is anyone familiar with the approximate costs of having a stone patio built? That would be our next step. Perhaps a 250sq foot stone pavers patio and some work done to replace a retainer wall surrounding our driveway. I know much would depend on materials and whatnot but does that sound like a $10k job or closer to $20k?
I'd really think about or do some home value research on having a one car garage as opposed to a single. A 2 car garage is usually way more desirable.
*two
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but I'm doing something somewhat similar in adding to what already is a finished basement. I'm looking to convert our two car garage, attached to the basement, into a one car garage with the second car port (200sq feet) being finished and added to the living area of the basement. I was told I could get out of there below $10k.
Is anyone familiar with the approximate costs of having a stone patio built? That would be our next step. Perhaps a 250sq foot stone pavers patio and some work done to replace a retainer wall surrounding our driveway. I know much would depend on materials and whatnot but does that sound like a $10k job or closer to $20k?
I got a quote to do a paver patio with an accent border for the following (a little larger than yours but maybe this helps):
Location: Back of house
-Create a patio measuring 15 x 25 using Quarry Blend pavers
-Create a charcoal border around patio using a 6" x 9" paver
-Spread poly sand on patio joints
The total price is $7,850.00
Quote:
but I'm doing something somewhat similar in adding to what already is a finished basement. I'm looking to convert our two car garage, attached to the basement, into a one car garage with the second car port (200sq feet) being finished and added to the living area of the basement. I was told I could get out of there below $10k.
Is anyone familiar with the approximate costs of having a stone patio built? That would be our next step. Perhaps a 250sq foot stone pavers patio and some work done to replace a retainer wall surrounding our driveway. I know much would depend on materials and whatnot but does that sound like a $10k job or closer to $20k?
I'd really think about or do some home value research on having a one car garage as opposed to a single. A 2 car garage is usually way more desirable.
Also, if possible, move all of your plumbing to one side of the basement and create a boxed in channel for them. Then sheet rock directly to the floor joists to gain as much height as possible. Even with newer drop ceilings, nothing screams basement like a drop ceiling. It won’t feel like part of the house if you don’t have enough height. Sheet rock and recessed lighting on the ceiling will make the basement feel more like the rest of your house. Also, I’d recommend a Wave or similar air purification system to eliminate any mustiness or dampness down there. They are an excellent investment.
Good luck!
Also, if possible, move all of your plumbing to one side of the basement and create a boxed in channel for them. Then sheet rock directly to the floor joists to gain as much height as possible. Even with newer drop ceilings, nothing screams basement like a drop ceiling. It won’t feel like part of the house if you don’t have enough height. Sheet rock and recessed lighting on the ceiling will make the basement feel more like the rest of your house. Also, I’d recommend a Wave or similar air purification system to eliminate any mustiness or dampness down there. They are an excellent investment.
Good luck!
height is a good point of something to pay attention to. My basement is 8 feet (or whatever is standard) and I have a drop ceiling and I think it's kind of tight (too tight sometimes when I've tried to replace tiles that were broken with a ping pong paddle), and I have an elliptical trainer and my head hits the tiles if I have it on incline and i'm on the upstep - barely - brushes the tile but it's noticeable.
the room doesn't seem small or low ceiling at all, in fact you probably wouldn't notice it if no one told you, but that was something I wasn't expecting.
We spent roughly $20k on about 500 sq ft. The bulk of the cost was spent on replacing two support columns and re-enforcing the existing support beam.
We didn't add any frills or upgrades other than a closet for the kids toys, a heat zone and went with a wood looking ceramic tile. We already had a built in dehumidifier that filters into a sump pump.
At some point we'll pull the carpet from the stairs and convert them to oak wood, but that upgrade wasn't in the budget for now.