How to Add Square Feet to Basements

Check with your local building authorities fort basement square footage guidelines. In most locations, work performed on the basement needs an official permit. The work is inspected once completed. Only after it passes inspection is the additional square footage counted in the total estimate.

Determine the finished basement space’s purpose and draw the plans. If your basement is for a TV room, it will require only a large, finished room and a simple half-bathroom. If the space is for extra bedrooms, several partition walls and at least one full bath may be required. Measure the basement’s total space and draw the plans based on the calculations.

Add egress windows into the basement walls for additional light, and to meet code. Install a drop ceiling, which conceals hanging pipes or electrical lines and allows for recessed light fixture installation. Recessed fixtures eliminate hanging hardware that can become an obstacle in spaces with low ceilings.

Insulating the concrete basement walls with rigid foam board insulation avoids moisture and keeps the space warm. Installing drywall coverings over a wooden framework finishes the space. Installing a subfloor framework lifts the flooring off the cold, hard concrete surface. A carpet creates a warm, softer feel. Tile in the basement bathroom and kitchen reduces moisture and creates a finished look.