What Qualifies as a 'Finished Basem*nt'? | Custom Integrated Designs Ltd. (2024)

FAQs

What Qualifies as a 'Finished Basem*nt'? | Custom Integrated Designs Ltd.? ›

What is a Finished Basem*nt? So, what constitutes as a finished basem*nt? A basem*nt is finished when the entire level is complete and similar to the upstairs living areas. It generally includes an electrical system, heat, finished floors, an accessible entrance/stairway, level ceilings, and finished walls.

In basic terms, a finished basem*nt is a basem*nt that doesn't look like a basem*nt. It looks like a living room, a bedroom, or even a full apartment. Instead of cold cement floors, it has carpet, tile or vinyl plank floors. Instead of exposed cinderblock walls, it has painted drywall.

Walls and ceiling

The walls and ceilings need to be drywall and finished in a home. In addition, the basem*nt should flow with the rest of the house and also be accessible from other areas of the home.

BAsem*nT FINISHING DEFINED

In order to complete a basem*nt finish, your current space usually lacks drywall, insulation, plumbing, and flooring. Basem*nts that are partially finished may have drywall and electricity installed, but still require substantial work to be completely finished.

For a basem*nt to count, the area must be finished to the same quality and standards as the rest of the house. This means that the walls, flooring, lighting, and other features can't be noticeably different from the main living areas.

According to Fannie Mae, only the above-grade areas of your home can be included in square footage calculations. So, in this case, even a finished basem*nt with a bedroom downstairs wouldn't be counted. If an appraiser uses GLA to measure square footage, nothing below-grade will count toward the final figure.

If you have a finished basem*nt, it should be considered part of the square footage of your home. The key word is “finished”. An unfinished basem*nt is not ever going to be considered when calculating square footage. This can get tricky and many homeowners can get confused when trying to calculate.

Any space that has walls, flooring, ceiling and heat would count as finished square footage. So, it's likely that stairwells, closets, walk-in pantries and other areas you might be questioning would contribute to the square footage count of a home.

Can a Finished Basem*nt Have an Exposed Ceiling? Exposed ceilings are quite common in unfinished basem*nts, but what many homeowners don't realize is that finished basem*nts can have exposed ceilings as well. It's not a common choice, but for many reasons it's a smart choice.

Gross living area (GLA) is not the same as total living area (TLA.) Total living area typically includes any finished basem*nt space or possibly an accessory dwelling unit. There is a general rule of thumb, that if any portion of the finished space is below grade the entire area is considered below grade.

How to make an unfinished basem*nt into a finished basem*nt? ›

The best way to make your unfinished basem*nt feel complete is by adding accents and decor just as you would to any other room in your house. In addition to the basem*nt ideas above, like hanging string lights and adding area rugs, bring in other details that will add warmth, texture, and ambiance.

The main difference between a partially finished basem*nt and a finished and unfinished basem*nt is that it is entirely unmodified. You may find furniture, gym equipment or recreational appliances in a partially finished basem*nt.

One advantage to an unfinished basem*nt is that it's generally easy to access plumbing and electrical lines when there's a problem. Once you finish the walls and ceiling, reaching pipes or wires often requires cutting through the drywall.

Closets are often included in the square footage of a home, but not always. Any space inside a home that has walls, a floor, a ceiling and heat are usually counted toward the overall square footage.

What's included in a home's square footage? Main living spaces make up the bulk of your home's square footage, including the kitchen, the living room, the dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Stairways and hallways are also included, although these spaces are not as easy to measure as square rooms.

Basem*nt

Your new furnace should have enough heating capacity to meet your current and future heating needs once you update your basem*nt. If your basem*nt is finished, that space needs to be included in your square footage calculation, even if you rarely use the space.

As a general rule of thumb, listing agents and appraisers don't count a finished basem*nt toward the overall square footage, especially if the basem*nt is completely below grade—a term that means below ground level. Whether an appraiser includes basem*nt living space ultimately depends on which state you live in.

When house plan sellers refer to Total Living square feet, they are referring to the “living area” of the home. This can be thought of as the area that will be heated or cooled. It is called the living area because this is where you spend your time. An attic, while a useful storage area, is not living space.

Look Above the Land Line

When measuring square footage for the Gross Living Area, only those rooms that are above the land-line are considered. For example, a finished basem*nt is not measured as part of GLA because it is below the property's grade level.

While an unfinished basem*nt works great as extra storage space, a basem*nt refinishing could make it much more useful for your family. A lower-level remodel can transform that under-utilized space into an additional living area, such as a home theater, craft room, or playroom.

What is a daylight basem*nt? ›

A daylight basem*nt is similar to a cellar with one distinction—it's not completely underground. Only about half the space is below ground level. Many of today's newer homes boast this type of basem*nt as an attractive feature since they almost always provide ample living space that's finished and livable.

Above Ground Square Feet – above grade square feet is the total of the upper square feet plus the main floor square feet. Below Ground Square Feet – below grade square feet is equal to the total of the lower and lowest square feet.

When is a basem*nt considered living space boils down to the layout of your home, if the basem*nt is finished and matches the flow of the above-ground portion of the home, and if enough of the basem*nt was built out of the ground. A house built into a hill will probably be an exception.

Chimneys, windows, and other finished areas that protrude beyond the exterior finished surface of the outside walls and do not have a floor on the same level cannot be included in the calculation of square footage.

Related Definitions

Finished Areas means square-footage with enclosed walls, floors, or ceilings of materials generally accepted for interior residential construction (e.g., windows, drywall/sheet rock, insulated walls, carpet, etc.)

Yes, as long as they comply with the proper building codes. Usually, a basem*nt bedroom will need to have a door and an emergency exit, which may be a door to the outside or a properly-sized window.

If there's any room in a house that is prone to humidity, moisture problems and mold, it's the basem*nt. Proper ventilation is the key to keeping odors and water damage at bay.

If you have a damp or wet basem*nt, you have to fix it before you start any finishing work. The good news is that most water problems can be remedied by two measures: grading the soil to slope away from the foundation and adding or repairing gutters and downspouts.

Many homes have basem*nts that are finished and used as a living space. However, it is important to be aware that there are many hazards in basem*nts. From dangerous gases to fire safety, asbestos risks, and issues with your furnace, you can put your loved ones in danger if you do not check these regularly.

counted as GLA in any statement of square footage. Even if the space is finished the same as the rest of the dwelling, connected to the central heating/cooling system, and/or meets other criteria for gross living area.

Is living in a finished basem*nt unhealthy? ›

Hazards commonly found in basem*nts include toxic chemicals, pests, mold, indoor air quality issues (such as dangerous gases) and fire hazards that can affect all rooms of the home. Visit the kitchen to learn more about chemicals and pests; visit the bathroom to learn more about mold.

So, what constitutes as a finished basem*nt? A basem*nt is finished when the entire level is complete and similar to the upstairs living areas. It generally includes an electrical system, heat, finished floors, an accessible entrance/stairway, level ceilings, and finished walls.

Floors. Believe it or not, floors are often the most expensive thing that goes into your finished basem*nt. Part of that stems from the fact that the poured concrete in most basem*nts isn't installed with a finished basem*nt in mind. That means that the current floor may require leveling before any other work gets done ...

What's the biggest challenge in finishing a basem*nt? “Typically, the biggest challenge is working around obstructions. There are heating ducts, plumbing drains, water pipes, gas lines and electrical wires that are all off and hung below the floor joist.

Full: Not to be confused with ”finished”, a full basem*nt refers to the space being big enough to stand in. This type of basem*nt can be used for living space or storage and typically increases the value of a home.

Well, it depends on who you ask. “There's an appraised value and then there's the consumer value,” says Terrell. “It's been said that an appraiser will give 25% per square foot of the above-grade value to the finished basem*nt.”

The intention is to figure area for installation, not the accurate square footage per ANSI guidelines. A tile setter will not count the space of walls, cabinets, niches, fireplaces or any area not requiring tile.

Garage space is not included in square footage, and many standards do not count basem*nts (even if they're finished) in overall square footage.

Who determines the square footage of a house? ›

The only one that can measure the home and not get you or your seller in trouble for misreporting the square footage is a licensed appraiser.

Most sunrooms and other patio enclosures don't meet those construction requirements and are therefore excluded from square footage calculations.

Stairs: Runs/treads and landings both count in square footage totals. They are measured as a part of the floor “from which they descend,” so are generally counted twice in a typical two-story home with a basem*nt.

Sunrooms usually don't get included in a home's square footage total, which appraisers use to help determine home values. But a full-room addition will add square footage to your home and has a higher return on investment.

If you have a finished basem*nt, it should be considered part of the square footage of your home. The key word is “finished”. An unfinished basem*nt is not ever going to be considered when calculating square footage. This can get tricky and many homeowners can get confused when trying to calculate.

A basic rule of thumb for furnace size calculation is that it takes 30 BTUs for every square foot of house. So, if you have a 1,000 square foot house, you need a furnace that has a 30,000 BTU output.

FINISHED PART OR ALL BELOW GRADE SQUARE FOOTAGE

Walkouts and exposed basem*nts are considered FINISHED BELOW GRADE SQUARE FOOTAGE.

Since 2009, the average finished floor space of basem*nts has remained small relative to the overall size of a home, but has nevertheless fluctuated noticeably—from 65 square feet up to 99 in 2014, before declining slightly in 2015 (numbers calculated by NAHB from the Census Bureau's annual public use data set).

Any space that has walls, flooring, ceiling and heat would count as finished square footage. So, it's likely that stairwells, closets, walk-in pantries and other areas you might be questioning would contribute to the square footage count of a home.

A daylight basem*nt is similar to a cellar with one distinction—it's not completely underground. Only about half the space is below ground level. Many of today's newer homes boast this type of basem*nt as an attractive feature since they almost always provide ample living space that's finished and livable.

What is walk in vs closed basem*nt? ›

A closed basem*nt has no doors leading outside while a walk up basem*nt has a staircase going up and directly outside the home. If a closed basem*nt or walk-up basem*nt has part of the walls above ground and features small windows that let in natural light, this can also be referred to as a daylight basem*nt.

The definition of a full basem*nt is an area that measures the same dimensions as the home above. So, this would be the exact length and width of the home. Consequently, a partial basem*nt is something much smaller. It tends to only measure half of the length and width of the home above.

How Much Value Does a Finished Basem*nt Add? In the US, finishing a basem*nt will give you a return of 70 to 75% of your investment. That means if you spend $10,000 on improvements, the value of your property will increase by about $7,000.

Even with proper ground water control, you will still need a vapor barrier to keep your basem*nt dry and comfortable. In addition to keeping your basem*nt more comfortable, vapor barriers and waterproofing systems can: Prevent mold and mildew growth.

A partial basem*nt project will take less time and mean less disruption in your life than finishing a full basem*nt. Basem*nt rooms don't have to be finished to the same standard as the main living area of your house, so you can get creative and finish a room for less money.

Closets are often included in the square footage of a home, but not always. Any space inside a home that has walls, a floor, a ceiling and heat are usually counted toward the overall square footage.

When an appraiser calculates the square footage of a home, it will only measure interior spaces that are heated and cooled. This includes bedrooms (and closets), bathrooms, hallways, a kitchen, living areas, enclosed patios, and finished attics.