Completed my basement remodel "almost" completely DIY

[Old Ball Coach]

Finished up a basement remodel this past fall. Created a post about all the steps. Not the cheapest project I've ever undertaken, but definitely the MOST satisfying. Disclaimer; I did ALL the work myself EXCEPT for the cutting of 2 48"x48" blocks of concrete for my egress windows. No chance I was gonna try and do that myself.

I'm sure glad I did this project last year. There is NO WAY I would try and do this right now with the price of building materials.

https://teachersstacking10s.com/2021/04/14/saving-money-by-doing-my-own-basement-remodel/

[AMandM]

Wow, that is amazing. I dream of doing something similar someday. Thanks for the youtube links in the post.

Do you have a rough estimate of how many man-hours it took altogether (not including the pros cutting the holes)?

[Old Ball Coach]

Oooh. I would estimate it took me 110-120 hours of work to make it happen. That was spread out over about 3 1/2 months of time. I really enjoy doing that kind of stuff so it didn't seem like work. Except maybe installing the egress well, it was like 95 degrees that day and it took me a good 6 hours to get that installed and backfilled. I wish I would have taken more pictures during the whole process. I will definitely do that in my next project.

My most recent project was replacing the float switch in my sewage pit. I don't think ANYONE wants to see pictures of that though! HA!

[AMandM]

I'm even more impressed. My son and son-in-law are collaborating on finishing an attic and they have spent more than 150 hours on it so far, and that's with no egress well.

[clarkfan1979]

I helped out with remodel of a 1 bed/1 bath mother-in-law suite in the basement with a separate entrance (650 sq. ft). I did most of the demo myself. I ripped it down to the studs. I hired a carpenter/handyman and I was his assistant. Total cost was $27,000. I think the cost of labor and material was close to 50/50. I probably spent 150 hours of my personal time on the project. I did about 10 hours/week for 15 weeks. From start to finish, it took 6 months.

[American GenX]

Did you get permits?

I was thinking about doing this to my house, but then I figured after getting permits, they would end up jacking up my assessed value and property taxes.  And since I don't really need the basement to be finished, I've just put the idea off.

[Old Ball Coach]

The county I live in (very rural) does not even offer permits for remodel. I went to our county site and the only permits they offer are for septic installations and new builds. They are REAL sticklers on the septic ones because we are such a big farming area and they are concerned with the groundwater. I asked a construction buddy of mine and he said he has never seen a remodel permit in our county.

[AMandM]

The county I live in (very rural) does not even offer permits for remodel. I went to our county site and the only permits they offer are for septic installations and new builds. They are REAL sticklers on the septic ones because we are such a big farming area and they are concerned with the groundwater. I asked a construction buddy of mine and he said he has never seen a remodel permit in our county.

Wow again! In my county, you need a permit to install a new light switch or outlet. Not that most people pull one for a job that small.

[Old Ball Coach]

Yes, we are pretty lucky, but also have to keep an eye when you go to buy that you inspect anything added though since you know it was not inspected.

I will be replacing the cast iron drain pipes under my concrete slab at some point in the future, and I know that it won't have to be inspected. My plumber was at my place two weeks ago and told me that many jobs he goes to in county have things that are out of code, especially when it comes to venting and septic.

[zolotiyeruki]

Way to go!  I finished our basement a year and a half ago.  Went from bare concrete walls to completely finished in a bit under a year.  It's an amazing feeling to have completed it myself, and we use it every single day for all sorts of stuff.

[E.T.]

That looks awesome! Thanks for the YouTube links. I'm going to take a look at the drywall ones, I want to finish my garage walls.

[Old Ball Coach]

Yeah, it's a great feeling to "create" something almost entirely yourself! Such a different feeling than I get after teaching every day.

[Woodshark]

From concrete and studs to wet bar, media room and more, we spent a solid year (365 days) to finish out our basement. The only thing we sub'ed out was the drywall.