How Long Does It Take to Build A Basement?

We all know that when building a house, it’s very common to start with a basement. It’s a good foundation, and there are many important uses such as making it as a cellar, utility space for the boilers, heaters, breaker panel, car-park, air-conditioning system. In some countries, it is used as a living space. We researched a wide scope of resources just to help answer every question you have.

When constructing a basement, it usually takes a month or between four to six weeks to complete. There are many factors to consider: how many people are working, the size of the basement, hiring a contractor, or doing it by yourself, among others.

Please keep reading as we delve into the timeline for new basement construction. We'll cover the basics from preparation through finishing so you'll know what to expect in the stages of the basement building.

Timeline for Basement Construction

Below is a step-by-step guide in the phases of constructing a basement. We've provided a brief overview of how long to anticipate for each step in the process.

Preparation

Before anything else, we need to make sure that we have all the things we’re going to need for this construction. From the permits to your materials, keep an eye out that it’s already crossed on your checklist.

Another important thing is to make sure that the area is not dammed and to check for humidity and moistness because that will determine how much you’re going to spend with waterproofing. If you are a handyman, now is the time to take out those tools, too, and prepare for some work.

Framing

The best way to start your basement is by establishing satisfactory framing. This step is the most time-consuming since it takes five to seven days to complete and is said to be the most crucial part of the process. In any construction, it’s always the framing that consumes most of your resources, especially the budget.

Check out "Should You Use Pressure Treated Wood in a Basement" when planning your framing project.

Installing utilities

Utilities in the basement include plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. In this step, you likely need professionals involved to assure every utility is safely and properly roughed-in. Installations could take between one and three days. You may need to allot time for a local inspector as well, depending on the building codes and procedures for your locale.

Insulation

Giving one day or two, whether you have hired contractors or DIY respectively, to install insulation is well worth the time as the insulation will take good care of regulating the basement temperature.

Mounting Drywall

It’s time to close the frames. This step may take one week to finish and includes drying time for mudding. Drywall installation varies due to the environmental factors influencing drying time between mud applications.

Painting

This step is the most straightforward and the easiest. You can even do it by yourself. When your basement is on the average size, painting it would take three to four days, including the drying.

Finishing

The finishing of a basement is a large project so you may want to contact the best contractor near you. In this step, you'll complete the finer details including flooring, hardware for electrical and cabinetry or doorways, installing shelving, adding plumbing and lighting fixtures, and even brining in the furnature and decor. Finishing touches could take one to two days to five days, depending on the extent and expertice involved.

So there's that! You should be able to get a bird's eye view of how constructing a basement will look, as well as the timeline.

What is the most expensive part of finishing a basement?

We already covered this in the timeline, but framing really takes the cake when it comes to your basement budget — and for good reason, too. Since it's going to make or break the whole thing, it's important to not constrain yourself with the cost. Think long-term. Your future self will thank you for saving yourself a ton of maintenance fees in the next few years.

How deep is the average basement? 

Basement depth is a critical factor in making a finished basement, If we're going to be very broad, the average depth of a basement is 8 feet, but that would really depend on what the use is for you. On the other hand, old homes or existing homes with custom basement designs are usually less or more than average.

How much should I budget to finish a basement?

When you’re planning on buying or building a house and you want a basement, look over planning it first because adding it to the house can make you spend more than building it as a foundation. The average cost per square of constructing a basement as the house foundation is $33,000 and upwards of $50,000 total cost.

It also depends on the materials you’ll buy, the size of the area, the labor of the contractor and workers, style, and finishing. It may sound expensive, but finishing a basement is a good investment not just for you, but also for your home.

How much does a finished basement add to home value?

We need to know that appraisers don’t value the area below square footage as much as the area above square footage, so they usually get 50% of the above square footage value, which is not bad as the finished basement budget usually costs around 10% of the total property value.

Finished basements would resemble a normal livable space'. If you could offer a little bit of natural light from the outside and have a bathroom and toilet in it, then it could give a little boost to the property value.

There are certain buyers, though, who specifically want a finished basement, so you could find some markets where it is a specified feature. The consensus is that finished basements are for enjoyment, and it improves the quality of life. It is important to note that you should keep the budget of making a finished basement to an appropriate percentage to not overdo it.

In Closing

Constructing a basement may take well over a month and can strain your financial resources, but it is a worthwhile project to add value to a home with additional storage and potentially living space. Taking the timee to plan each phase of the project is essential to complete it efficiently.

Interested in refinishing a dirt basement? You should read: "Can You Finish A Dirt Basement"