Can You Add a Bathroom to a Finished Basement?

Inspection

• Before beginning the construction process, and even if the basement is finished, homeowners need to inspect the basement and ensure the walls are in good condition. Any major cracks will need to be fixed to prevent them from caving in during the remodeling process. Individuals also need to see if the proper wiring and plumbing options are available for a bathroom.

Location

• Once the basement is approved, homeowners need to decide where to locate the bathroom. While options may be limited in a finished basement, individuals often choose to place the bathroom in one of the corners, because the location already has two walls. To ensure efficiency, it's important to install the bathroom near the closest drains.

Materials

• The materials needed for a bathroom will vary, depending on whether someone is installing a full or half bathroom. In any case, individuals will need to purchase tile, a vanity, a sink, a faucet, a toilet, towel racks, a shower stall and a toilet-paper holder. To make the bathroom work properly, individuals will also need to purchase several pieces of equipment, including a shower valve, sewage pump, electrical wiring components and an exhuast fan.

Expense

• The cost of adding a bathroom to a basement will vary widely depending on the price of the fixtures and whether someone is handy enough to perform much of the work himself or have a friend to assist. According to HVTVPro.com, homeowners can have a bathroom installed in a basement for about $15,000, with just under $10,000 of that coming from the plumbing. However, HouseLogic.com estimates that adding a basement will cost about $10,000 even.