Cost per square foot in expensive area?

8 years ago

I live near Boston, an expensive area for real estate and construction, and am looking to finish my basement. Before we get contractors in to give proposals, I want to have some idea of what a reasonable budget would be. Online research shows estimates ranging from $20-90 per square foot. If I'm assuming we'll be in the $60-75/sq ft range, does that sound right?

We are looking for mid-range materials and would be including a full bath and some built-in cabinets and storage. The basement is unfinished now and we will finish about 2/3 and leave the remaining 1/3 for utilities and storage. Ceiling height is adequate and the basement already has two sump pumps and a french drain. We may need to move some pipes or HVAC ducts, and will probably install an air handler.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

Anthony C

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

i think it is helpful to know the cost of the trades. For example in my area it is:

about $150 per outlet/light in electrical.

I want to say plumbing is about $20/linear ft, plus about $150 per fixture (not including the cost of fixtures). Fixtures can be $50 or $1500.

Concrete is about 90/yard so you can figure out the cost of your basement walls (maybe $6/sq ft fully installed).

Flooring will be about 25/sq ft assuming about $5-$7/sq ft in tile cost. Wood (not good in basement) would be about $5 sq ft to install and $5/sq ft in materials cost.

Walls are about $20/sq ft of drywall and framed wall ($6-8 /sq ft for framing, $4-8/sq ft for the drywall, drywall is on both sides).

baseboards are about 1/ft to install, about 1/linear ft of materials.

Paint is highly variable, but I have paid $400 labor for a single coat of paint in a typical 12x12 sized room. If they have to texture, prime and paint it can be more. We typically buy paint in the $80/gallon range.

Doors seem to run about $300 for a nice solid core door and about $200 to install. You can get doors for a lot less. Door hardware is like a minimum of $25 per set, but the sky is the limit.

a bathroom consists of walls, a door, tile flooring, electrical, plumbing, fixtures, countertops and cabinets (which are about $300-$500 per cabinet installed). Counters are about $80/sq ft, sinks are about $150 for a nice one.

GC fee is about 25% but could be 35%.

There are also stairs and HVAC which Im not sure about.

These prices are for the run of the mill contractors that I have used. Which are mostly spanish speaking labor. I would imagine if you got true craftsman, the price would be 4X or higher.

There are also additional costs like permits, cleanup, etc.

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Comments (6)

PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
8 years ago
They got guys who do basements for $10 per SF also...

It all depends on what you put in there, the size of the project, amount of materials and quality will dictate the price, therefore you cannot price the job going by SF.

Some contractors charge based on the neighborhood, some charge based on the car in the driveway, some base the job on the actual material-overhead-and profit costs.

Good luck
Lalala (zone 6b)
Original Author
8 years ago
Haha OK, thanks. Good news is we don't have fancy cars, and one of them is from 2003. I'll hide the fur coats and diamonds when the contractors come by.

The area we'd be finishing is around 600 sq ft.
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Anthony C
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
An 8x6 (lets round to 50 sq ft) 1/2 bathroom with 10 ft ceilings might price out as follows:

280 surface sq ft

walls: 5600

tile: 1250

vanity (assume 3x2): $1000

counter:$500

Sink: $250

Faucet: $200

Electrical (2 lights, 3 outlets) = 750 +150 (light fixtures) = $900

toilet: $450

Door: $500

Paint: $300

plumbing runs: could be as much as 2K

Baseboards + door casing: $150

10500 for the bathroom

contractor 25%: 2625

Cleanup, permits etc: 2000

so roughly 15,000-17000 for your 50 sq ft bathroom. The interesting thing is using high end materials does not bump up the cost that much. :)

I would get the $7-$10 tile, $150 faucet, $300 toilet, $400 light fixture.
amanda99999
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi OP - I'm in an expensive Boston suburb. Just finishing 1/2 basement including full bath: $40k. Full basement quotes were $80k and higher.

Actually we'll go above $40k because the inspector is making us repipe to increase diameter of water pipes (all 1920 originals) - because adding another bath means they have to be wider. (Even though there was a 1/2 bath original to the house in the basement). And part of the remodel was to put the furnace and water heater in a 'closet' - a big one with louvered doors. But building inspector might want an air intake (mason drills hole through foundation of house, plumber/GC runs pipe from the utility closet to get air to go in/out).

I haven't gotten the GC/plumbers' quotes yet for these 2 things. I'd be happy if its under $5k.

So, I'd expect at least $35k in the expensive Boston suburbs (unless you are related to a GC), for 1/2 a basement including new bath. Oh - my prices include the jackhammering up your cement floor to run a new waste pipe for the new bath. Didn't include flooring (except in bath- we did tile floor and tile shower walls) or painting. Does include new doors.
Lalala (zone 6b) thanked amanda99999
Lalala (zone 6b)
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, Amanda, that's really helpful! Sounds similar to our situation (our house is 1915). And it's around what I was expecting.

Just curious, why did it not include flooring? Because you haven't priced it out yet or are using existing flooring?