ArcaMax

A dry basement, not prone to moisture or flooding, can become a bonus room in a house for a relatively small investment. Consider that the area is already heated, or can be, because the furnace is already in place. A basement is added to living space when it’s finished with insulation and walls. The job involves furring out the walls with two-by-four stud framing, filling the cavities with wrapped fiberglass insulation and installing wallboard.

A carpenter will charge $1,421, including labor and material, to frame out the walls, fill the wall cavities with insulation and install wallboard in a 600-square-foot space. A handy homeowner with carpentry experience and tools can do the job for $490, the cost of the materials, and save 66%. Tool wise, you need a measuring tape, carpenter’s square, level, screw gun and wood screws for the framing. To install the insulation, you’ll need a stapler with staples, a protective mask, work gloves and a pair of heavy-duty scissors to cut the insulation batts to size. To install wallboard panels to the framing, you’ll need wallboard joint tape and compound, a sanding block, sanding stick and sandpaper to finish the joints and paint to protect the surface.

Depending on their location and weather conditions, different parts of the country require specific R-value or heating power. Check with your local building department to find out what type of insulation is needed where you live.

Pro Cost: $1,421 — DIY Cost: $490 — Pro time: 16.5
DIY Time: 35.0 — DIY Savings: $931 — Percent Saved: 66%

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To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

©2025 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.