Basement Remodeling Cost of Project

How much will my basement remodeling project cost me? Well that depends on how much of the actual work you are prepared to do yourself and, just how fancy is your new finished basement going to be? Will it have a bathroom? Will it have a fancy bar area? Will it have a home theater? A home gym? A home office???? Only you know the answers to these questions!

But as a rule of thumb, if you are doing most of the work yourself, below I have a list of what you can expect to spend for each different phase of the job. These prices are my own personal prices, the prices I actually use to estimate the cost of the basement finishing projects that my basement remodeling company has been asked to bid-on! At the end of the list, I will also give you some estimated subcontractor (labor only) prices for the phases of the job that you may not want to tackle yourself! Get out your calculators, here we go:

Materials list
800 sq. Ft. Job

300- 2" x 4" x 9'-0".........(best grade!).......................$ 501.00
30- 2" x 4" x 16'-0"...................(Regular)...............$ 165.00
16- 2" x 4" x 16'-0"...................(Treated)...............$ 87.00
7- Bags 3 ½" Insulation..........( 12 pieces per bag)......$ 237.00
5- 6" Cases recessed light cans........(New construction)$ 175.00
3- Rolls 250' 14-2 Wire.........................................$ 74.00
2- Rolls 250' 12-2 Wire.........................................$ 75.00
1- Roll 250' 14-3 Wire.........................................$ 34.00
1- Roll 250' 14-2 Speaker wire..............................50.00
4- 4'-0" Electric 220 volt heaters.............................$ 102.00
1- 220 volt thermostat (single-pole)..........................34.00
2- 20 amp space saver breakers (Square D)................$ 13.00
2- 15 amp space saver breakers (Square D)................$ 13.00
1- Double 20 (Square-D) breaker...(Heat)..................$ 15.00
40- single "blue" new construction electric boxes..........$ 10.00
4- double "blue" nail-on" boxes................................$ 3.50
2- triple "blue" nail-on" boxes..............................$ 3.00
30- recessed 6" trim rings (White w/ black baffles).........$ 75.00
3- Fan JB boxes w/ blank round ...(White) covers........$ 7.00
30- 65 Watt recessed light spot bulbs..........................$ 33.00
1- box Ground copper Grommets.............................$ 7.00
1- box 3/8" romex connectors ........(light cans)...........$ 14.00
1- box yellow nut caps..........................................$ 7.00
1- box red nut caps..............................................$ 10.00
40- Outlets...(white regular)......................................$ 14.00
3- GFI outlets.......(White).....................................$ 25.00
4- Blank single outlet covers...(White)......................$ 1.25
8- 3-way switches...(White)....................................$ 5.00
12- Single pole switches..(White)................................$ 48.00
2- TV wall jacks...................................................$ 2.36
2- Phone jacks.....................................................$ 2.36
2- Battery powered smoke detectors.........................$ 20.00
1- Bathroom light/fan switch..(Over/under toggle)........$ 7.50
1- Bathroom light/Fan combo unit..(Broan)................$ 37.00
1- Bathroom vent kit (metal vent line w/ exterior hood).$ 12.00
5- Water shutoffs.....(1/2" x 3/8").............................$ 11.50
4- 3/8" supply lines..(Braided stainless)......................$ 9.00
1- 3/8" x ½" Toilet supply line..(braided stainless).........$ 1.90
5- ½" escutcheon trim rings....(stainless).....................$ 11.00
5- ½" sweat to ½ " male thread fittings..(for shutoffs)....$ 2.50
8- ½ " copper tees................................................$ 3.00
100'-0" ½" copper...(Heavy gauge).................................$ 72.00
40'-0" ¾" copper...(Heavy gauge).................................$ 46.00
1- 3" to 4" toilet flange.....(metal ring)......................$ 4.00
1- 1½" P-Trap kit...........(Bathroom sink)..................$ 3.50
1- Sewage ejector pit...........(w/lid kit)......................$ 38.00
1- Sewage ejector motor...(Lowes)...........................$ 322.00
1- 2" Sewage ejector "check valve"...(PVC)................$ 11.00
80'-0" 2" PVC ..............(Ejector).................................$ 28.00
20'-0" 1 ½" PVC............(Sink drain)............................$ 15.00
10'-0" 3" PVC................(Toilet line)............................$ 8.00
1- "Purple PVC cleaner.........................................$ 10.00
1- PVC Cement...................................................$ 6.00
1 Bag of ½" ( 90 degree copper elbows).....................32.00
1- Flux...............................................................$ 3.00
1- Roll Solder.........................................................................$ 20.00
1- Emery cloth......................................................$ 2.00
1- Yellow bottle propane gas....................................$ 8.00
1- ½" copper pipe straps......(preset nail))...................$ 6.00
1- ¾ " copper pipe straps......(preset nail)...................$ 8.00
2- boxes 3 ¼" framing nails........(Paslode)..................$ 74.00
2- boxes 2 ¼" trim nails............(Paslode)..................$ 35.00
2- boxes 3 ½" Ramset Pins....(NO washers!).................$ 12.00
1- box 1" Impulse brad finishing trim nails..............$ 24.00
2- boxes Ramset "Yellow" load.......(22 caliber).............$ 6.00
2- boxes of 12-2 wire staples....................................$ 3.00
1- 30" "full light" door .....(slab only 15 pane )............$ 89.00
1- 24" colonist 6-panel door......(Solid w/ 3 ½ " casing).$ 68.00
2- 32' " " " .......(solid w/ 3 ½" casing)..$ 136.00
1- 6'-0" "double swinging) colonist door w/ ball catch....$ 180.00
4- door knobs..........(privacy French style).................$ 67.00
4- Dummy door knobs (2-left, 2-right)........................$ 33.00
6- brass door hinge stops........................................$ 5.00
1- bottle wood glue................................................$ 4.00
1- bag (grey tile thinset)............(bathroom floor).........$ 14.00
1- 3" x 36" cultured marble threshold...(bathroom door)$ 9.00
1- 42" Null Post...(Oak)..........................................$ 54.00
12- Railing spindles........(Paint grade).........................$ 30.00
1- Rosette....................( Oval style Oak)...................$ 3.00
1- 1' x 8" x 8'-0".........(select pine for stair cap)...........$ 13.00
1- 14'-0" Hand rail......(Oak)..................................$ 65.00
4- brass handrail brackets......................................$ 9.00
1- Box 3" Drywall screws.......................................$ 43.00
1- pack ¼ " oak hole plugs......................................$ 1.50
250'-0" Colonial Base trim.(F/J paint grade)......................$ 129.00
140'-0" Colonial W&D Casing...(3 ½" F/J paint grade)........$ 112.00
24'-0" paint grade ¾ " OG for bookcase shelves................$ 36.00
2- sheets of ¾" birch plywood (windows, built-ins)........$ 75.00
24'-0" 1" x 10" ..........( select )...(half wall caps)...............$ 75.00
32'-0" ¾ " round...................(bathroom floor)................$ 13.00
2- Bundles of shims......................................................$ 6.00
10- Gallons of Duron's best interior "flat" wall paint........$ 225.00
3- Gallons of Duron's best interior "semi-gloss) paint......$ 50.00
1- Gallon Kilz stain blocker.......................................$ 19.00
1- Shrink-less spackle..............................................$ 4.00
1- Case painters silicone/acrylic calking.......(White)....... $ 22.00
1- pack 220 grit sand paper.......................................$ 5.00
1- Roll 8'-0" 8 mil plastic (for painting protection).........$ 37.00
1- 50 lb. box of 1 ¼" (course thread) drywall screws.........$ 87.00
1- Case (quart size) drywall glue.................................$ 31.00
70- Sheets of ½" drywall (4' x 8') or 57- 10'-0" board)......$ 560.00
6- Sheets of ½" drywall (m.r. board for bath).................$ 60.00
1- bottle red chalk for chalk lines................................$ 2.00
1- pack saw-saw blades........(course teeth)....................$ 15.00
1- Bilco Window unit (window well + window unit).........$ 1,475.00

*Note: Labor amount for subcontractor to install Bilco unit....$ 2,000.00

Complete job (back-fill, window in, well in, caulked water-tight)

*Note: Labor amount for subcontractor to drywall.........$ 2,500.00

(hang and finish) (70-80 sheets) 4' x 8' Sheets with soffits and built-ins, paint

ready when done.

*Note: Labor amount for subcontractor to plumb bathroom....$ 2,500.00 with a sewage ejector and 5' wet bar, rough-in and set fixtures when ready.

*Note: Need good painter! Must be Fast (got 1 week to do the entire paint package......................................................................................$ 2,000.00

*Note Need price for A/C Heat rough-in and finish when ready.....$ 650.00

NOTE* You will supply ALL materials for Sub's!

I have obviously included EVERYTHING that I would need in this list to finish a basement project! Some of these things you may already have at home! But if you had none of these items, this is what you will need to put the entire project together!

I should add that this is my materials list for a basement project which has the following job design criteria:

1.) The job has a Bathroom w/ a Sewage Ejector System
2.) The job has a eat bar w/ a Tray Pump System
3.) The job is roughly an 800 sq. ft. finished area
4.) The job has 4 interior doors needed
5.) The job has a tile bathroom floor being installed
6.) The ceilings in the basement are drywall
7.) The job has 2 birch bookcases being built and installed
8.) The basement has a floor to ceiling height of about 9' or less
9.) The Basement needs an "egress exit" window or door to pass local codes for permits
10.) Some phases of the project may or may not be finished by the owner (thus the labor prices)

This pricing list should give you a wonderful reference starting point from which to figure your total Do-It-Yourself basement project construction cost!

For more information and ideas about basement finishing projects visit: http://www.1Basement.com

Here's to "Living Down Under"

Edward Case