Candice Olson’s best basements

The DO’s & DON’Ts

Is your basement reno-ready?

Does your basement smell musty, have traces of mould, cracks in the floor, wall or ceiling? Do you need to duck your head to avoid a beam or duct? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to incorporate the fixes into your reno bill.

Assuming your basement is in prize-fighter condition and ready to be renamed Games Room, here are some finishing tips:

– Never finish the basement in a home less than a year old. “The outside walls need to dry and settle first,” says renovator Jason Klassen. “In the first year, check for cracks, make sure the floor is dry. In first or second year, check for ice behind the insulation. That’s a good indication that your concrete is still wet.”

– Don’t bother roughing in electrical and plumbing for bathrooms or kitchens. “The homeowner pays a contractor $500 because they think it’s going to save them some money, but we often have to break open the floor to move the pipes a few inches,” says Klassen, “which costs about $1,200 plus the original $500 you wasted with the rough-in.”

– If you’re having a new home built, upgrade window size and type to egress. The upgrade is typically about $300 a window, but if you wait till it’s time to renovate your basement, “you’re looking at $3,500 for the window-well cutting and framing, plus the cost of the window,” says Klassen.

– “Always upgrade to spray-foam insulation,” says Klassen. “The Building Code calls for regular batt insulation for basements, but it doesn’t work well in basements because of our cold climate.”

What it Costs

Homeowner Mark Liberman doesn’t mess around. When it came time to renovate his 1,100-square-foot basement, he didn’t hold back: bedroom, bar/kitchen area with granite countertops, home gym, modular storage units, bathroom rough-in and an entertainment area “for a TV and a couple couches,” says Liberman.

He hired a contractor to do the basic job-studs, drywall, electrical, plumbing, trim, pot lights, subfloor-and multiple specialists will round out the job-flooring, bar, granite countertops, cabinetry, carpeting and tile-for a total cost of about $25,000. “Most people want an open-concept room for a home theatre with a side bathroom,” says basement specialist Jason Klassen, owner of Klassen Advanced Renovations Inc. in Ottawa. A typical basement reno takes four to six weeks, or about 25 working days-here’s a breakdown of basement reno costs.

The Reno

Basic reno
What you get: Subfloor, studs, insulation, drywall, carpet, trim, painting, electrical and plumbing, cold-air return
Cost: $23,000

Gas fireplace
What you get: Fireplace, tiles, basic frame/mantle
Cost:$3,500

Bedroom
What you get: Egress window (if not already installed), interior walls, door, framing
Cost: $5,000 with window (window plus installation is $3,500)

Bathroom
What you get: Sink, vanity, shower, interior walls, door, framing, tiling, lighting, painting
Cost: $7,000 with shower ($5,000 without)

Home gym
What you get: Rubber-mat flooring, extra lighting
Cost: Flooring tiles $2.75 square foot

Wine cellar
What you get: Cooling unit, racking, separate room (a small bedroom minus window).
If basement is naturally 14ºC a separate room is not required
Cost: $15,000 (Price varies widely and depends on room construction, type of cooling unit [$438 to $5,000] and type/size of racking)

Basement apartment
What you get: Separate entrance, fire-rated insulation from rest of house, bathroom, kitchen (on separate breaker), plus other possible variables
Cost: $45,000 (Price varies widely; if separate entrance needs to be built, major construction might be involved)

Home office
What you get: Basic room (doesn’t require egress window; could install soundproofing, extra electrical outlets)
Cost: $3,000 (Price varies depending on construction)

Air-gap subfloor
What you get: Dimpled membrane that allows concrete floor to breath, eliminates moisture, allows for installation of
any type of flooring
Cost: $3,000

Spray-foam polyurethane insulation
What you get: Eliminates chance of moisture/condensation and mould; keeps basement warm and dry
Cost: $2,700