Converting Basement
We live in a typical 3 story brown/limestone on 8th St / 8th Ave, with an unfinished basement. The basement is currently in use as storage space, but the space is extremely wet. According to our neighbor, the all-season moist comes from an underground stream that flows parallel to the street (?!). The concrete floor…
We live in a typical 3 story brown/limestone on 8th St / 8th Ave, with an unfinished basement. The basement is currently in use as storage space, but the space is extremely wet. According to our neighbor, the all-season moist comes from an underground stream that flows parallel to the street (?!).
The concrete floor must be taken out and redone / waterproofed, the walls need a new waterproof coat / plaster and the ceiling must be taken out and redone too, which would likely include re-routing of pipes and plumbing. We expect that this all, plus new closets, would cost us anywhere upwards from $60,000.
We’d be interested to hear from people who have done a similar project if such an investment is worth while in terms of an increased re-sale value of the house. We think that the project would pay for itself in terms of additional square footage for a playroom / entertainment room (although we understand that this must not be sleeping space), as well as lower our gasbill (the basement is really cold these days, and that transfers to the first floor).
But given that we will likely move out within the next 3-4 years, we would like to hear your experiences, good or bad.
Don’t rely on a contractor for something like this. Consult an engineer first.
Wow, that sounds like a lot of money. I have been considering a similar project on the cheap – as in: “duck, if you want to watch tv down here”. I don’t have the all-year moisture problem. I was thinking about laying concrete on the areas that are still dirt, painting and throwing up some sheet rock and hoping i could get away for less than $5,000. Does anyone have any ideas for a less intensive way to make usable space out of an unfinished basement?
I’m interested in a similar project (including lowering the floor), but I don’t even know where to start. Would I consult with an engineer first, to determine whether there is an underground stream, how deep one can dig without ruining structural integrity etc? Would you rely on a contractor to know all the answers? Any recommendations for contractors/engineers?
Assuming the floor is below the sewer line, and this stream, you will always have a chance of future water damage. So you might be better off not “finishing” it for the first year, just to see how dry it really becomes. waterproof plaster is not a long-term solution. A new cement floor with a plastic vapor barrier, plus possibly a french drain with a sump pumb should do the trick. Also, do you plan on lowering the floor? that has the potential to aggrevate the problem.
Sounds like way too much money.
30000 may be.