Square Foot Basement Pricing Is A Guess...

Basements should never be priced on square footage alone, so if your potential contractor gives you a square footage price for a job...buyer beware!  Don't bother asking your neighbour what they spent on their basement either, it's irrelevant and not a good benchmark. You may have different vision and needs for your basement than they did. Square footage is a shortcut. Your basement project should be priced withdetail and purpose.

Let me walk you through three most common types of basements we are called for (Legal suites, media/entertainment rooms and/or wellness/spa areas) and what should be considered.

Ottawa's economic and housing market alongside the aging population have brought us into the era of Legal/Nanny Suites and Duplexes in hopes of keeping families close or bringing in extra income. There are many costs here that homeowners need to consider for a project like this. 

• Fire separation to hinder spread of fire and smoke in an emergency

• Separate entrance

• Egress Windows

• Soundproofing

• Permits/Inspections to ensure you have complied with zoning bylaws, safety codes and structural standards

• HVAC/Electrical/Plumbing reworking and upgrading

  
  

You can see there is a complexity to pricing out a secondary dwelling in your home that goes way beyond a common price per square foot. That method of pricing is so generic, you are bound to be hit with scope gaps throughout your project.

If you are not looking to have someone move in, but need space for entertaining, there are many elements to consider. If you are looking for an area to entertain such as a media room, games room or even a regular recreational and tv area, there are several cost drivers to consider.

• Designer fees if you need layout changes

• Ceiling bulkheads, your duct work and any reworking of locations

• Soundproofing (for your media room or in case your kids have all their friends over)

• Built-ins, cabinetry and or wet bar areas

• Bathroom or powder room

• Lighting for function and dimmers for mood lights

• Flooring and flooring upgrades

• Feature walls

• AV wiring if needed

You can see there are many aspects of a renovation to consider that warrant discussion and investigation prior to handing out a broad spectrum price. Not all contractors have the experience and attention to detail to execute on basement projects. You should discuss with your potential contractor the experience they have in the specifics of what you would need for your own project and not assume they have done it before. 

One more basement type we want to discuss is the wellness basement. If you are eco conscious, gym buffs or plan on a spa/sauna area, you may want to consider some of the following costs with your project. 

• Humidity control

• Ventilation

• Air Quality and Radon testing (this should be in all basements in our opinion)

• Flooring (heated, gym floors, hardwood, luxury vinyl etc.)

• Sump pump/backwater valves

• Insulation upgrades (especially if your Ottawa house was built before the 80's)

• Sound proofing

• Bathroom area shower

• Office spaces

You can see there are so many aspects to consider, some of them belong in more than one category, but now you get the picture on how generic square footage pricing is not a clear picture and rarely ever accurate. Make sure you discuss all elements with your contractor of choice to avoid surprises later. 

The bottom line, if you are looking for the cheapest basement quote, we are not the right fit for you. If you want a basement built properly, with a clear scope, clean finishes and no surprises...Lets talk! We will tell you what matters, what doesn't and help you create the space for the way you live!

-Emily Jossinet