Basement Finishing Golden, CO
Done right, basement finishing turns cold concrete into some of the best living space in your home. We handle the framing, egress, electrical, plumbing and finish work from start to final inspection.
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- We pull the permits and handle inspections
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Basement Finishing
The foundation is already poured, the walls are already standing and the roof is already overhead, which is why basement finishing is one of the most cost effective ways to add living space.
That does not mean it is simple. A basement sits in the ground, so it deals with water, cold, soil movement and radon in ways the rest of the house does not. Most of what makes a finished basement last happens before the first sheet of drywall goes up.
We start every job by walking the space with you. We look at the slab and walls for signs of water, check the grading and downspouts outside, find where the plumbing, ductwork and electrical panel sit, and measure the ceiling height under beams and ducts.
Then we plan the rooms around how you want to use them. A family room, a guest bedroom, a full bathroom, a home office, a gym or a playroom all need different things, from outlets and lighting to sound control and egress windows.
Some homeowners turn the space into a full basement apartment for family or rental income, which is a type of ADU construction. And if you need more than a basement, our remodeler crew covers the rest of the house too.
Below you will find what basement finishing costs, the Colorado issues to plan for and how the work gets done.
What Basement Finishing Costs
In the Denver area, basement finishing often runs about $45 to $100 per square foot for a complete job.
By finish level, a basic basement often lands around $30,000 to $50,000, a mid range finish around $50,000 to $70,000 and a high end finish at $70,000 to $90,000 or more.
A few pieces drive most of that cost. A bathroom can run about $8,000 to $12,000 if the plumbing is already roughed in, or $15,000 to $20,000 or more if the drain lines have to be added. Each egress window often costs about $2,000 to $5,000. A wet bar can range from about $5,000 to $20,000 depending on how built in it is.
Smaller line items add up too. Permits often run about $1,500 to $4,000, extending heat and air can cost $2,000 to $8,000, and radon mitigation usually runs about $900 to $2,500 if a test shows you need it. We show every one of these on your estimate.
Moisture, Radon and Expansive Soil
Three Colorado problems shape every basement finishing job we plan: water, radon and soil that moves.
Water comes first. We check for stains, white mineral marks or damp spots on the concrete and look at how the yard slopes. Fixing gutters, downspouts and grading is often cheaper than any drain system, and it needs to happen before walls go up.
Radon is a natural gas that comes up through the soil. In Jefferson County, more than half of the homes tested in 2023 came back above the federal recommended level. A test takes just a few days, and if levels are high, a mitigation system is a simple add-on before or during the finish.
Much of the Front Range sits on expansive clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. That can push a basement slab up and down. To keep drywall from cracking, we build floating walls that hang from the floor joists above and leave a gap of about one to two inches at the bottom, so the slab can move without lifting the wall.
Egress Windows and Bedrooms
Any basement finishing plan that includes a bedroom needs an egress window, which is a window big enough to climb out of in a fire.
Building code sets the size. The opening has to be at least 20 inches wide and 24 inches tall, meet a minimum total open area and have a sill no more than 44 inches off the floor. Below grade, the window also needs a window well big enough to climb out of, and deep wells need a ladder or steps.
Cutting an egress opening means cutting the foundation wall, so it is done with the right saw, a new header when needed and a well that drains. It is also the best way to bring real daylight into a basement.
A legal bedroom also needs a closet, a smoke alarm and heat, and the room has to meet minimum size and ceiling height rules. We check all of it during design so the room passes inspection and counts as a bedroom when you sell.
How a Basement Gets Finished
Every basement finishing job follows the same basic order, and each step gets inspected before the next one starts.
First comes design and the permit. In Golden, basement finishes need a permit with a plan review, and the city's goal for residential plan review is about 15 working days.
Then we frame. Exterior walls get insulated, interior walls go up as floating walls and soffits get built around ducts and beams. Next the plumber, electrician and heating crew run their rough-ins, and the city inspects the framing, wiring, plumbing and insulation before anything gets covered.
After that the finish goes fast: drywall, tape and paint, then flooring, doors, trim, lighting, fixtures and the final inspection. We walk the finished space with you before we call it done.
Basement Layout Ideas
The best basement finishing layouts start with the stairs, since that is where everyone enters the space.
An open family room near the bottom of the stairs feels bigger and gets used the most. Bedrooms work best along an outside wall where egress windows can go. Bathrooms should sit near the existing drain lines or rough-in to keep costs down.
Storage is easy to forget. We leave room around the furnace, water heater and panel for service, and plan a storage room or closets for holiday bins and sports gear.
Popular extras include a wet bar, a home gym with rubber flooring, a media room with sound control, built-in shelving and a guest suite with its own bathroom.
What Homeowners Say
"I had to redo a basement remodel that was horribly designed. We were able to look at the old layout and come out with a better design for it all... Being an extended project that had many parts that had to be tackled individually it was easy to work with Jeff and his team. Excellent communication throughout the process and no surprises with costs. If I had to do it again I would choose Jeff and his team every time."Zeris, Google Review
Basement Finishing Questions
These are the questions we hear most before a basement finishing project.
What's involved in finishing a basement?
Finishing a basement starts with checking for water, radon and soil movement. Then it is design and a permit, framing with floating walls, insulation, rough plumbing, electrical and heating, and inspections. After that comes drywall, paint, flooring, doors, trim and fixtures, and a final inspection. Bedrooms also need code approved egress windows.
How much should I budget for a basement remodel?
In the Denver area, finishing a basement often runs about $45 to $100 per square foot. Many projects land around $30,000 to $50,000 for a basic finish, $50,000 to $70,000 for mid range and $70,000 to $90,000 or more for high end. Adding a bathroom, egress windows or a wet bar raises the total.
What's the most expensive part of finishing a basement?
A bathroom is often the biggest single item, about $8,000 to $12,000 with an existing rough-in and $15,000 to $20,000 or more if drain lines must be added. Lowering the floor for more ceiling height can cost even more, often $15,000 to $40,000. Egress windows run about $2,000 to $5,000 each.
Can I legally finish my own basement?
In Golden, homeowners can do work on their own home, but a basement finish still needs a building permit and inspections. Ask the City of Golden Building Division which trades you can do yourself, since electrical and plumbing rules can differ. Skipping the permit can cause problems with insurance and when you sell.
Ready to Finish Your Basement?
Tell us how you want to use the space and we will call you back to set up a free walkthrough. You get a written estimate before any work starts.
(720) 909-3011Serving Golden, Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Edgewater, Morrison, Applewood, West Pleasant View and Fairmount.
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