Table of Contents
What can you do with an unfinished basement?
If you’re a photographer or blogger, an unfinished basement can serve as a place to take perfectly staged photos. And you can add backdrops, reflectors, dropcloths and manage lighting. Paint walls a flat, neutral color (some experts say medium gray is best).
Can you make an unfinished basement livable?
Unfinished basements are often the most underutilized spaces, sometimes serving as dumping grounds and excess storage areas. By transforming your unfinished basement into a more functional living space, you not only add livable square footage to your home, but you also boost the potential resale value of your home.
Is an unfinished basement worth it?
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. Staying between 5-10% is a good plan.
What is the purpose of an unfinished basement?
An unfinished basement can give you an opportunity to create the house you want, instead of searching for a needle in a haystack. You may be able to convert the basement to a family room, home office, game room or home theater, or turn it into a separate apartment for an elderly parent to live in.
How do you disguise an unfinished basement?
Large spans of bare wall or empty areas beneath the stairs can make an unfinished basement feel dark and dreary. Promote a welcoming vibe (and conceal any unsettling nooks or crannies) by lining blank walls with inexpensive white bookcases or floating shelves.
Should you heat an unfinished basement in the winter?
In short, you should indeed heat your basement in cool and cold climate areas. Some of the coldest air found in your home tends to be in the basement. When this cold air rises, it is drawn across the floor of the main level, causing cold feet and other comfort problems.
What is the cheapest way to finish a basement?
If you’re wondering if paneling or drywall is the cheaper finishing option, generally speaking, drywall is cheaper than paneling. This is because it requires less attention to detail and finish work during the installation process. Drywall also adds better soundproofing than paneling, and it’s easier to repair.
How do you put a bedroom in an unfinished basement?
Steps I took to create a “finished” unfinished guest bedroom. We painted the ceiling black. Paint the concrete walls and concrete floor. Hung canvas drop cloths along stud wall to divide space. Use a rug to warm up the space. Hang a curtain rod from the floor joist to hang some curtains up in front of the window well.
How do you finish a basement without drywall?
Finishing Basement Walls Without Drywall: Options and Paint. Basement Panels. Wood Fiberboard. Fabric. Vinyl and Wallpaper. Stone Veneer. Pargeting. Exposed Brick.
Do appraisers look in unfinished basement?
But unfinished basements — in all their concrete-and-exposed-pipe glory — aren’t without their own merits. “It’s been said that an appraiser will give 25% per square foot of the above-grade value to the finished basement.”Mar 16, 2021.
Is an unfinished basement considered in square footage?
Unfinished basements and attics should not be included in a house’s total square footage. But if an attic or loft space is finished and accessible by stairs, it can be counted.
How much does it cost to finish a basement?
The average cost to finish a basement is generally between $25 and $50 per square foot, but costs can go as high as $90 per square foot depending on how extensive the renovations are and the materials and labor you choose. For most basements, the average cost works out to around $30,000.
Is an unfinished basement considered a story?
Typically a basement is not considered a story. Although, if more than half of the basement is above ground or curb level, appraisers in some areas may count this as a story. Additionally, in a home built into a hill with a walkout basement, the basement may be considered a story.
What comes with an unfinished basement?
An “unfinished” basement is what it sounds like. It doesn’t have the cozy feel to it, and probably not an area you would entertain in and instead has : Pipes and beams exposed- there is no covering by ceiling tiles or hidden. Water heater may be in this room instead of outside in the garage.
What is the cheapest way to finish a basement wall?
Paneling. Paneling can be used as an inexpensive way to finish you basement walls or ceiling. Use a strong adhesive to put strips of wood on your concrete basement walls, and then use wood screws that match your paneling to attach the paneling to the wood strips.
How can I cover my basement walls cheaply?
Fortunately, you can cover basement foundation walls quickly and inexpensively. Attach wood furring strips, Z-shape channels, or 2×4 studs to flat, dry masonry walls, then add insulation and cover the strips or studs with drywall.
How do you cover basement concrete walls?
The most common way to cover concrete walls in a basement is drywall, a.k.a. sheetrock. Drywall comes in panels panels made from calcium sulfate dihydrate or “gypsum.” Panels come in different thicknesses and sizes, the most common being 4′ x 8′ x 1/2″ thick.
