Louisville basement finishing questions, answered.

Basic finish (open layout + drywall + flooring + paint): $30-$50 per sq ft. Mid-range with bathroom + bedroom + living area: $50-$90 per sq ft. Full custom (theater + gym + wet bar + bedroom + bath): $90-$150+ per sq ft.

Basic finish (1,000 sq ft, no bathroom): 4-6 weeks. Mid-range with full bath: 6-10 weeks. Full custom buildout with theater: 10-14 weeks.

Yes, if you are adding a legal bedroom. Louisville Metro code requires an egress window in any room used as a bedroom. We will cut in the egress window well as part of the project.

We start with a moisture assessment. If your basement has any water intrusion history, we recommend interior waterproofing (French drain + sump pump + vapor barrier) before finishing. This adds $3K-$8K but prevents mold.

Louisville code requires 7 feet of finished ceiling height in habitable rooms. If your basement has less than 7 feet of clear height, you may need to lower the floor (dig down) or use soffits strategically.

Yes. If there is plumbing access above (first-floor bathroom or kitchen directly above the planned basement location), adding a basement bathroom is relatively straightforward. Otherwise we need to break concrete to run new drain lines ($4K-$8K added).

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is our default recommendation — waterproof, durable, comfortable underfoot, holds up to seasonal moisture changes. Carpet is fine for bedrooms if you add a high-quality moisture barrier pad. Hardwood is NOT recommended.

Most Louisville homes have ductwork that extends to part of the basement. We extend it to the finished area + add a dedicated zone. If your HVAC cannot handle the additional load, we add a ductless mini-split as supplemental.