Basement finishing
Basements that stay dry and warm.
Minnesota basements fail when moisture and cold are ignored. We test first, insulate the right way and frame off the wall. Then we finish it like the rest of your house.
- Typical budget
- $52-$68 per sq ft
- Time on site
- 5-8 weeks
- Basements finished
- 150+
Sheet B-110 / Scopes
Basement scopes and prices
Most basements combine the open-plan finish with one or two of the rooms below. Each is its own line in your contract.
- Open-plan finish$52-$68 per sq ft2 in rigid foam on walls, closed-cell foam at the rim joist, 2x4 walls 1/2 in off the foundation, drywall, LVP or carpet, recessed LEDs.5-6 weeks
- Bedroom with egress$11,500-$16,000Code egress window and well, closet, hardwired smoke and CO alarms.Adds 3-4 days
- 3/4 bathroom$22,000-$32,000Below-slab drain tie-in, tiled shower, vanity, exhaust fan ducted outside.Adds 1-2 weeks
- Wet bar$12,000-$21,000Base and upper cabinets, quartz top, bar sink, under-counter fridge space.Adds 4-6 days
- Egress window only$5,800-$7,900Saw-cut foundation, galvanized or composite well, window, interior trim.2-3 days
Price per square foot is measured on finished floor area. Mechanical rooms and storage left unfinished are not counted.
Sheet B-120 / Details
Basement details we care about
What separates a basement you live in from one you put up with.
One soffitDucts gathered into one soffit along the closet wall, so the ceiling stays flat. Access panelsPine ceiling with access panels at every cleanout and valve. Wine roomWine room on its own cooling unit, vented to the mechanical room. Open stairStair opened up with a glass guard to pull daylight down.
Sheet B-130 / Questions
Basement questions
Usually, once the source is fixed. We tape plastic sheets to the walls and floor for 48 hours and log humidity. Most dampness comes from gutters, grading or a missing sump lid, and we fix those before framing. If water is coming through the wall, we refer you to a waterproofing contractor first.
2 in of foil-faced rigid foam glued to the concrete, seams taped, then a 2x4 wall set 1/2 in off the foam. Closed-cell spray foam at the rim joist. No fiberglass against concrete, which is where most musty basements start.
Yes, for any room used as a bedroom, and code requires one for most finished basements here. It is a 2 to 3 day job: we saw-cut the foundation, set the well and window, and trim it inside. $5,800 to $7,900.
Code requires 7 ft for habitable space, with beams and ducts allowed down to 6 ft 4 in. We measure every soffit on the first visit and draw them on the plan, so there are no surprises about headroom.
If your main drain leaves below the slab, yes. We cut the slab, tie into the drain and patch the concrete. If the drain exits above the floor, we install an up-flush system and quote it as a line item.
Waterproof LVP with an attached pad, or carpet over a dimpled subfloor panel in bedrooms. We avoid solid hardwood below grade. It moves too much with seasonal humidity.
Always. We leave 30 in of clear working space in front of equipment as code requires, add a door wide enough to replace the water heater, and put access panels at every shutoff and cleanout.
Sheet B-140 / Financing
What would a basement cost per month?
A basement is often the first project on a home equity line. Drag the numbers for a rough monthly figure.
Estimated monthly payment
$650/mo
- Amount financed
- $53,000
- Interest rate (APR)
- 8.25%
- Total interest
- $25,007
- Total paid
- $78,007
Estimate only, not a loan offer. Rates depend on your lender and credit.