Finishing Basement

CyGuy33 · 06-30-2008, 05:07 PM

I am looking into finishing my basement. Has anyone used the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System?

Any cost info or reviews would be very helpful.

It is for a place I am renting but will be in for 3 years, it is a small basement that needs work. If this was reasonable I am seriously considering it.

CY ST8T · 06-30-2008, 05:17 PM

I don't know for sure, but I was thinking that I had heard somewhere in the $10,000 plus range. I know that it was somewhere between hiring a contractor to do your entire basement and doing the work yourself.

djkent01 · 06-30-2008, 05:21 PM

DON'T spend any improvement money on a property you're renting. Save it for down payment. In a few years, you will be VERY happy that you did.

CyGuy33 · 06-30-2008, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by djkent01

DON'T spend any improvement money on a property you're renting. Save it for down payment. In a few years, you will be VERY happy that you did.

We aren't paying any rent but we need the added living space because of the baby on the way.

djkent01 · 06-30-2008, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by CyGuy33

We aren't paying any rent but we need the added living space because of the baby on the way.

OK - I get it. Sometimes economics and reality conflict. Spend the minimum you can to make the place clean and livable. Beyond that, I'm an accountant and not a carpenter and can't help. But keep as much in your pcoket as you possibly can for the future home. And GOOD LUCK with the new baby.

CyGuy33 · 06-30-2008, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by djkent01

OK - I get it. Sometimes economics and reality conflict. Spend the minimum you can to make the place clean and livable. Beyond that, I'm an accountant and not a carpenter and can't help. But keep as much in your pcoket as you possibly can for the future home. And GOOD LUCK with the new baby.

Thanks, I don't really want to dump a lot of money into a place I don't own but we need a room. If I could get it done for 2,000 - 3,000 that is something I am willing to part with for 3 years of additional space.

djkent01 · 06-30-2008, 05:58 PM

Sorry - didn't mean to mess up the thread, and can't speak to the Owen Corning system. In my basement (concrete block) I put up firring strips to anchor drywall to, then put in a drop ceiling and flourescent lighting. It's a very large area (about 750 sq ft), I spent about $1K (five years ago) and it still looks great today - even with my son living there.

CyGuy33 · 06-30-2008, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by djkent01

Sorry - didn't mean to mess up the thread, and can't speak to the Owen Corning system. In my basement (concrete block) I put up firring strips to anchor drywall to, then put in a drop ceiling and flourescent lighting. It's a very large area (about 750 sq ft), I spent about $1K (five years ago) and it still looks great today - even with my son living there.

That's another option I was exploring. It is a concrete block basement. Does it stay pretty warm in the winter or would a space heater be needed?

dmclone · 06-30-2008, 06:14 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Everything I've read in forums is bad. Apparently they have some crazy sales practices. They will come out and quote you some ridiculous price and then they'll cut it in half when you say no. Then they'll say that the offer is only good today.

Just a few

Flooring for media room that has Owens Corning panel - AVS Forum

Owens Corning Basement System - Basements Forum - GardenWeb

I can't find the forum that is like 30 pages long but it's really interesting. I've also heard prices of $.. 40/sgft. For a 700 sqft basement that's $28,000.

djkent01 · 06-30-2008, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by CyGuy33

That's another option I was exploring. It is a concrete block basement. Does it stay pretty warm in the winter or would a space heater be needed?

We already had heat vents in the ceiling so that wasn't a consideration for us. However, in the absence of those vents, we would definitely have needed a heat source.

CyGuy33 · 06-30-2008, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by dmclone

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Everything I've read in forums is bad. Apparently they have some crazy sales practices. They will come out and quote you some ridiculous price and then they'll cut it in half when you say no. Then they'll say that the offer is only good today.

Just a few

Flooring for media room that has Owens Corning panel - AVS Forum

Owens Corning Basement System - Basements Forum - GardenWeb

I can't find the forum that is like 30 pages long but it's really interesting. I've also heard prices of $.. 40/sgft. For a 700 sqft basement that's $28,000.

I did read about their sales practices as well. One gentlemen did say he got it for $24 a square foot, which I still believe is well beyond my price range.

HandSanitizer · 06-30-2008, 06:24 PM

Just to repeat the above...Don't do it.
They are going to get you most of the basement done, but they will not do certian things. I have heard stories about $20-70,000 quotes.
If you can do it yourself (most of it)
OR. I would try and find a handy man that had a good rep to do it. That would be cheaper.

HandSanitizer · 06-30-2008, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by CyGuy33

I did read about their sales practices as well. One gentlemen did say he got it for $24 a square foot, which I still believe is well beyond my price range.

When I did research on this I think I found that the average 1000SF basement was costing about 25,000. That didn't include certian things.

I could PIMP out a 2000SF basement for that price. But you would have to do the work yourself. (except the carpet)

CarolinaCy · 06-30-2008, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by CyGuy33

I did read about their sales practices as well. One gentlemen did say he got it for $24 a square foot, which I still believe is well beyond my price range.

When we lived in the Des Moines area, we finished the basement of our house. It was about 700 square feet total, including a bedroom, living room wired for surround sound, full bath, and a wet bar. We hired a plumber and a guy to finish the drywall after I hung it, but otherwise I did all the work myself. I thought it looked pretty good, and it was under $20/square foot. With the OC system, it looks like all you get is walls, and at $24/square foot (if you can get it), that seems very overpriced.

dmclone · 06-30-2008, 06:37 PM

I had a guy do my basement on the side. 700 sqft for just under $10,000. This included all the materials, framing, drywall ,mud tape, electrical, paint, cheap countertop, etc. I didn't have any plumbing done (I thought 4 bathrooms for 2 people was a little overkill).

Google Docs - Theater Budget

There are pictures in my gallery here at CF. It's nothing real special but it serves my purpose and I'm sure I'll get my money back out when I decide to sell.