On average, finishing a basement costs one-third to one-half of the cost of adding a comparable amount of square footage through a large-scale structural room addition. So, for many homeowners, the motivation to finish and build out the basement is high.
Monetary Rewards of a Finished Basement
A finished basement is one of the few major home improvement projects that returns a large amount of equity to the value of your home. Not only do you gain valuable living space for your family, but you may recoup as much as 75-percent of the remodeling cost in added equity when you sell your home in the future. According to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, a basement remodel, upon sale, returns a high percentage of the money invested. So, a basement remodels that costs $61,011 might bring back $44,467, or around 72-percent when you sell the house. This puts a finished basement near the top of the list, just behind an expanded kitchen or added bathroom, as a home improvement that adds value to your home.
Basement Issues to Overcome
Basements have some liabilities, as well, which is why they are often ignored in the hunt for added living space. Among the issues to be overcome in a basement if you want to create good living space:
Ceilings are sometimes quite low. Adding flooring only decreases ceiling height Masonry walls can be difficult to finish in traditional fashion. Basements are often dim, with small windows and insufficient natural lighting. Below-grade environments are susceptible to moisture and humidity problems.
Basement finishing systems like the Owens Corning system standardize basement build-outs with wall and ceiling panels that take care of most of those problems.
Basement Finishing Systems
Basements can be finished with custom-built work that solves many of the issues commonly found in basements. For example, egress windows can be added to improve lighting and offer emergency escape options. Walls can be furred out to provide stud cavities for adding insulation and wiring. But another way to address some of the difficulties with finishing a basement is to turn to one of the commercial basement finishing systems now available. There are variations between these systems, but they all seek to simplify and address some of the most common problems with basements. Typically, these systems use prefabricated panels that are attached directly to masonry walls. The panels offer good insulating value and can be channeled to hold electrical wiring and outlets. Some systems also offer suspended panel ceilings to quickly finish off the ceilings in a basement. Some also have flooring options. With most of these systems, you are purchasing both the materials and installation as part of the package, so there is little you need to do.
Owens Corning Basement Finishing System
The Owens Corning company, well-known makers of home insulation products, offers the best-known and most popular basement finishing system: the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System. This is a ready-made, installer-driven package that will completely finish off your basement with walls and ceilings, usually within about two weeks.
Wall Panels
The core of the system consists of insulated wall panels. Because it is known as an insulation manufacturer, Owens Corning leans heavily on insulated wall panels for its basement system. The wall panels are available in both paintable versions and fabric-covered. The wall panels offer an insulating value of R-11, and because they include no organic materials, mold and mildew are not a problem, as they are with drywall. The panels are 1-inch and 2 1/2-inch-thick glass fiberboard, a sturdy type of insulating material (not fluffy fiberglass insulation). This panel is covered with an even harder facing made of acrylic and Teflon that is both paintable and washable.
Ceiling and Flooring
This system also comes with finished ceilings, which consist of suspended acoustic panels. Both wall and ceiling panels are removable, allowing you access to wiring and mechanical systems, should it become necessary. There is no flooring option with the Owens Corning System; you’ll have to plan and install the flooring yourself at an additional cost. Ceiling lighting is also included with this system, as part of the ceiling installation.
Franchised Installers
The Owens Corning system cannot be purchased a la carte and installed by yourself. Only franchised installers can handle and install the system components, and your project will be an all-or-nothing affair. After one or more meetings with a sales representative—which can often be a high-pressure pitch—contracts are signed and an installation crew will show up at a later date to completely finish the walls and ceilings. This is a process that usually requires about two weeks. The advantage of this installation model is that you will emerge with a fully finished basement (minus a finished floor) in a relatively short amount of time. The main disadvantage is that you must work with an approved franchised sales-and-installation company, and prices can vary among contractors. Another disadvantage is that the franchised installers only work with the Owens Corning system. They will not do other work related to the basement. For that, you’ll need to contact other service providers.
Costs
Typically, costs for an Owens Corning Basement Finishing System runs between $50 and $70 per square foot. This cost is fluid due to many factors. For one thing, you are dealing with commissioned salespeople who have the power to adjust figures. For another, all spaces are different. The complexity of the layout and overall dimensions may affect the per-square-foot price. Dave Azer, Marketing Leader, Interior Systems, at Owens Corning Engineered Insulation Systems, clarifies how a raw per-square-foot estimate isn’t always the most accurate, stating Azer further suggests that the best way to find a true “per square foot” cost would be to contact a local franchise.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The wall panels are mold and mildew-resistant, a good thing in these moisture-prone environments.The wall panels have a good R-value (insulating value) of R-11.The wall panels and ceiling can be removed if you need to access the plumbing, electrical, or other services behind them. Since basements tend to have a high concentration of pipes, wires, and other utilities, this is an important thing.The walls are breathable, allowing for air and moisture to flow in and out.Your basement will be completed in a short amount of time—usually about 2 weeks.
Cons
The vertical battens separating panels are PVC moldings. These are the plastic strips that cover the seams between the wall panels. So, you will not have perfectly smooth and seamless walls with this system. Some people find the appearance of these types of panels to be somewhat of a downgrade from custom-finished walls. The ceiling is a suspended or drop ceiling using acoustic panels, considered by many to be inferior to drywall. The system includes no flooring; arranging for separate flooring adds to the overall cost of the basement. Pricing can be difficult to understand and variable between different franchise firms. Initial costs often climb as add-ons and adaptations become necessary. The system is fairly expensive. Costs of $70,000 or more have been reported for large basements fully finished with this system. The high cost does, however, give you a very quick finished basement.
Should You Buy an Owens Corning Basement System?
Like other basement finishing systems, the Owens Corning Basement Refinishing System will give you a nicely finished basement in a very short amount of time. The system also solves some of the most common problems with finished basements, including insulation, mildew, and mold. But the system is somewhat expensive and does not provide the same elegance that is possible with a custom-finished basement completed by a skilled contractor. Because the Owens Corning Basement System is standardized, it’s a one-size-fits-all approach that works for most basements but not all basements. If your basement is uniquely sized or has a large number of obstructions, standardized finishing systems aren’t the most adaptable approach.
