Basements finished like the rest of the house.

Warm floors, dry walls, real ceilings and a bedroom that meets the building code. Most basement trouble comes from skipping the boring parts, so we start with them.

First visit

Before we quote, we check six things

Is it dry?We look for stains, white mineral bloom and old repairs, and check grading and downspouts outside. Water gets solved before framing.
How much headroom is there?Ducts and beams set the finished ceiling. We measure every run before we draw a room.
Where can a bedroom go?A bedroom needs an egress window that meets the code. Making one bigger means cutting the foundation, with a permit.
Is there a rough-in?An existing drain stub makes a bathroom far cheaper than breaking the slab for a new one.
Can the panel take it?Many older panels are full. A subpanel or service upgrade gets planned now, not found later.
What has to stay reachable?Shutoffs, the cleanout and the furnace get access panels, not drywall.

Price

Priced by the finished square foot

$55 to $95per finished square foot

Before HST, for open space with framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, lighting, heat and paint. Bathrooms and egress windows are priced on top, because they vary the most.

Worked example: 800 square feet with a family room, a bedroom and a three-piece bath

Finished space, 800 sq ft: $44,000 to $76,000
Three-piece bathroom on the existing rough-in: $25,000 to $35,000
Egress window for the bedroom: $6,000 to $9,000
Typical total: $75,000 to $120,000

Timeline

About ten weeks on site

The shaded stage is the city inspection of framing, plumbing and insulation. Drywall can't start until it passes.

Framing and insulationWeeks 1 to 2

Rough-in and inspectionWeeks 3 to 4

DrywallWeeks 5 to 6

Tile and flooringWeeks 7 to 8

Trim and paintWeek 9

WalkthroughWeek 10

Included

What goes into the walls

Structure and comfort

Insulated stud walls with a vapour barrier
A subfloor system over the slab where it's cold or uneven
Sound insulation in ceilings under bedrooms

Services

Heat and return air to every room
Bathroom fan vented outside
Smoke and CO alarms wired as the code requires
Plumbing and wiring inspected before drywall

Finishes

Flooring rated for below grade
Solid-core doors, trim and paint
Built-in storage under the stairs where it fits

A separate rental unit (a secondary suite) is a different project, with fire separation, its own exit and sometimes its own heating. We quote those after a site visit, and only where the city allows one.

Thinking about the basement?

Tell us roughly how big it is and what you'd use it for. We'll call to book a visit.

Request an estimate Call (555) 555-0114