Young Adult Finishing First Basement

Discussion in 'Home Bar' started by bobbyr5, May 21, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. bobbyr5

    bobbyr5 Initiate (0) May 17, 2013 Michigan

    I just purchased my first house with a couple of friends, and we all decided to put money into a nice finished basement with a nice bar. We have no clue about costs, but I figured to ask you guys on the forums.

    We aren't looking to put in any taps, and we were thinking just to get the counter in for now. How much would it cost to create something decent looking like this?

    http://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...igi=12552633a&.crumb=t.EsNmx8FrH&fr=yfp-t-785
     
  2. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader

    Will you build it yourself or contract it?
     
  3. bobbyr5

    bobbyr5 Initiate (0) May 17, 2013 Michigan

    Contract for sure.
     
  4. davey101

    davey101 Pooh-Bah (2,360) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    A couple of friends? Dude, just crack some beers on the weekend and DIY. How hard can it be?
     
    alysmith4 likes this.
  5. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader

    I'd imagine you're looking anywhere between 2-5K.. Depending on what wood you use, the finish you'd like, and how attentive to detail you want it. But between 4 people, dropping $500-800 each might get it done.
     
  6. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    if this is full build up with studs, plumbing, electrical, you are going to get to $10k in the blink of an eye. there are alot of variables. ask for some quotes, know what you want and be specific, and you'll find out.

    materials will cost in the thousands. you just aren't going to get any cabinets and countertops for less. and of course you could also drop $50k on high end oak woodwork if you wanted to. a middle of the road counter top material is $40 and up sq/ft installed.
    a really big expense is labor. 2 or 3 contractors for 8 hours a day would need a few days at least. labor rates will vary by market, but you're not paying skilled carpenters $15 an hour. not with workers comp, tools, trucks, insurance and profit. more like $25 if you are lucky and good contractors can get more. they aren't getting rich out there anyway.

    housing is slowly beginning to pick up and alot of the best workers didn't really slow down at all. remember you get what you pay for. you could have the neighbors kid do it for $200 if you wanted to, but why bother?
    Cheers.
     
    alysmith4 likes this.
  7. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader

    wow, i need to move to New york apparently for work. Here in CA, that bar would probably coast you about $5k to build. Plumbing, electrical, everything. Oak wood too. My parents just had their kitchen remodeled last year, all custom cabinets from bottom to top with custom crown molding that was shaped in our house by him, granite counter tops that go all the way up the back wall, and an in-laid sink as well. for only $10k. so i imagine that bar would only be $5k.
     
  8. Bigtwin

    Bigtwin Initiate (0) Sep 13, 2010 Michigan

    Is the basement already finished, or is it just a concrete floor and poured walls? The cost of construction materials have gone up drastically in the last year. A sheet of OSB was $5.00 last year, it's $15.00 this year. Also, you dont make mention of if the basement is pre plumbed for a bath or not. I Finished my Basement roughly 1,000 Sq. ft., and added a full bathroom, Bar, and living room type seating area. It cost me $18,000. But i did it with my friends and that includes the cost of my 60" LED Samsung, the 6 Polk Audio 8" Speakers I added, the Onkyo Receiver, all fixtures, electric, etc. etc. If the basement is completely unfinished and you contract it out, you're talking in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 K, if it is already finished and you want to just install a bar, probably around 5K.
     
  9. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader

    Exactly, I guess I just assumed his basement was already built and he just wanted to add a bar with maybe a sink and some lighting.
     
  10. Jparkanzky

    Jparkanzky Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2011 Ohio

    You're buying a house with friends, so just be aware that when you're ready to inevitably sell it, a finished basement will add equity, and the bar will be money you're not really going to get back.
     
  11. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    If you're just looking for a counter, you can get by for not too badly. there was an article in Brew Your Own magazine a year or 2 ago about someone building a bar.
    Basically frame it out with 2 x 4, cover with plywood and cover that with beadboard or some such.
    Find a place for remnant countertops for not too much money.
    If you and your friends (or someone you know) is reasonably handy with a hammer and saw, it's a DIY project.
    If you do want big angles like the picture, it does get more complicated. Electric, fridge etc even more so.
    To completely finish a basement is a lot of money, though there are ways to make it reasonably confortable for hanging out with going for a full conversion.
     
  12. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,421) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    My basement was a DIY project. Stretched out over ten+ years, I have no idea what it cost. :wink:

    Knowing virtually nothing about the state of the basement today (where is square one?), I would suggest planting the number 10K in your head, then work from there.

    It's easier, and cheaper, to add plumbing, electrical, etc. now rather than retrofitting it later. Beer faucets, kegerator, etc can be a DIY project later. A couple hundred to a couple thousand, depending on how handy you are. If you're considering that down the road, make sure to leave space for it in this project.
     
  13. epk

    epk Pundit (849) Jun 10, 2008 New Jersey

    Perfect. The joys of being a homeowner.
     
    jbar920 likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.