If you are tired of your basement resembling a haunted house or a cluttered storage unit, it might be time to finish it. Finishing your basement is an easy way to add usable square footage to your house while creating a great area for entertaining or for Sundays full of football. A basement remodel might seem intimidating and time-consuming process, however, with the right people it’s no big deal. With that being said, how long will your basement remodel take?
A basement remodel should take about 3 to 4 months. Of course, the level of finish and amount of custom work you want to be done will affect the timeline of your project. Furthermore, having a competent and prepared contractor makes all the difference. The key to any home renovation is being prepared. That means having your fixtures and material selections made and ready for your contractor.
In this article, we will discuss how to make your basement remodel as efficient as possible. There are multiple ways to ensure your project takes 12 weeks instead of 12 months. Continue reading for guidance and tips on how to make your basement remodel as seamless as possible.
How to Be Prepared for Your Basement Remodel?
The number one thing that slows down a basement remodel is not being prepared. There are a ton of decisions and questions that you have to answer throughout your remodel. When you have your design and materials selected, it makes everyone’s job easier and leads to fewer questions for you. When your contractor is able to seamlessly schedule sub-contractors, this dramatically speeds up your project.
You need to understand that most contractors don’t have a full-time staff and are working on multiple projects at the same time. Therefore, scheduling is key, and when your materials aren’t prepared, you force your contractor to alter and juggle the entire schedule. As a result, you might have to wait for sub- contractors’ next available days, which can seriously prolong your project.
Should You Hire a Designer for a Basement Remodel?
Hiring a designer is one of the best things you can do for any remodel, especially a basement. The biggest time killer on a basement remodel is layout changes and unpreparedness. A designer helps ensure that won’t happen.
When you hire a designer, they are going to help you find the best possible use for your space. Being confident in your layout is going to ensure a smooth process for your contractor and your overall satisfaction.
Once you’ve finalized a layout, your designer will help you pick out all your materials. Therefore, the designer will work with you on selecting tile, LVT, paint colors, cabinet design, countertops, light fixtures, hardware, and more.
Designers are very useful for remodels because they eliminate a lot of uncertainty. This will lead to much fewer questions for you as a homeowner and much less stress throughout the entire process. Once your layout and materials are locked down your project is able to move along seamlessly.
Timeline of a Basement Remodel?
The first step of any basement remodel is finding the right contractor and designer. You want to find someone who shows up on time, responds to calls and texts, and who has a good reputation. There is nothing worse for your project timeline than starting work and finding out the contractor is flakey and inattentive.
After that, you will be waiting for your project to start. This is the time when you should be finalizing your design, cabinets, fixtures, and material selections. Having all of these items selected will make life easier for your contractor and prevent material delays related to lead times.
Once your project starts, any good contractor is going to have a specific process. This timeline is going to make your basement finish move as quickly as possible. Some of the finish steps can be mixed around. However, the beginning of your project is always going to follow the same steps.
Steps of a Basement Remodel:
Step 1: Framing
Step 2: Rough in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and shower pans
Step 3: Insulation and fire blocking
Step 4: Sheetrock and final cabinet measure
Step 5: Shower and floor tile (if you’re not using tile for the floors, flooring will be pushed to after painting.)
Step 6: Trim and doors
Step 7: Cabinet and vanity install
Step 8: Paint
Step 9: Countertops and backsplash
Step 10: Finish plumbing, HVAC, and electric
Step 11: Finishing touches (hardware, punch list, fixtures, etc)
Step 12: Final Clean
What Can Prolong a Basement Remodel?
The typical timeline for a basement remodel is 12 to 16 weeks. However, that timeline can vary depending on how custom you want to get with your basement remodel. For example, custom trim work, cabinetry, and flooring can all add time to your project.
It is important to understand expectations when you are remodeling your basement. Contractors want to get your job done just as fast as you want them to finish. However, there are things that are out of a contractor’s control, and that includes material lead times and scheduling of custom types of work.
Final Thoughts
A basement remodel may feel like an intimidating and time-consuming process. However, it doesn’t have to be. There are multiple ways to make your remodel a speedy process. Being prepared and hiring the right people is really the key to a successful remodel. Make sure you hire a qualified contractor and designer. Hiring good people will ensure your project is finished with the best quality and the most attention to detail.