Three Basement Finishing Systems: An Introduction

For many years, finishing a basement to create functional living space was a traditional construction project built from scratch, using lumber and drywall. Whether or not they were DIY affairs or built by a contractor, these finished basements were largely custom-built and required special techniques to limit the moisture in the basement, since the building materials did not hold up well against water. Custom-built basements are still a viable option, now there are also prefabricated designer systems available to make basement conversions easier. These ease of installation, of course, comes at a price.

Basement Finishing System Features

Basement finishing systems place emphasis on the "system" part. They employ building materials specially designed for basements to resist moisture. Little or nothing about these finishing systems is from scratch; almost everything is pre-designed and in some cases is even pre-cut. Different systems are available, but they all share certain features and issues you need to keep in mind:

• They don't use drywall. Wall panels are made of non-organic materials that will dry out quickly in the event of flooding and resist even normal basement moisture. This avoids a major issue with drywall, which used organic paper as a facing material, which can easily develop mold. 
• They provide wall insulation. Built-from-scratch drywall finished basement walls have no insulation unless they are framed with sleeper studs and insulation is installed beneath them. Since basements are either completely or partially underground, temperature control is of major concern, and the wall panels used by basement systems have built-in insulating properties. 
• No DIY installation is possible. All these companies make their money through the installation, not the materials, so it is virtually impossible for a DIYer to buy the materials themselves to install. 
• Suspended ceilings are the norm.  A suspended ceiling is the most expedient way of adding a ceiling to your basement while preserving access to services located near the joists (wiring, etc.).
• Flooring is not included.  Do not assume that flooring comes with the basement finishing system. Their main product is the wall paneling, not the floor or ceiling. 
• The cost is high. Basement finishing systems are far more expensive than a DIY- or even contractor-built standard basement finishing job. So, depending on the size of your basement, these can run $30,000 and upward.
• The businesses are franchised. Not all franchises are equal in customer service or quality, so it is wise to do your research. While the materials themselves may come from highly reputable and respectable manufacturers, you may be unlucky enough to come upon a franchise that is incompetent or dishonest. 
• Salespeople can be aggressive. Basement finishing systems fall into that competitive world of replacement windows, sunrooms, and bathtub refinishing, where high commissions can be made with a sale. Be certain of one thing. The salesperson will push hard, but do not be afraid to hold your ground.

The high cost and aggressive sales practices seen in much of this industry raise the question in some minds about whether basement finishing systems are legitimate at all or fall into the category of a scam. This is something only you can judge. Budget-conscious consumers should be especially careful here; but for others, the turn-key approach--simply having a company arrive and finish the installation without dealing with carpenters and contractors--may be worth the cost. 

Owens Corning Basement Finishing System

Owens Corning is the major player in the basement finishing system industry. Not only is Owens Corning the most prominent, but it's the only finishing system that comes with such a recognizable brand name attached to it.

• Name: Owens Corning™ Basement Finishing System™.
• Franchised?: Yes.
• Cost: $50-$70 per square foot, though that is a very raw estimate. See our focus piece on the Owens Corning™ Basement Finishing System™ to get a better idea of how it's possible for even two similarly sized spaces to produce different estimates.
• Completion time: About two weeks.
• Ceiling included?: Yes. Choice of two types of suspended ceiling.
• Flooring available?: No.
• Insulating value of wall panels: R-11.
• Typical praise: Fast, clean (no drywall dust), and looks good.
• Typical complaints: Aggressive salespeople; high cost.

Total Basement Finishing

Connecticut-based Total Basement Finishing (TBF) has been in the basement business for a long time, primarily through its parent company, Basement Systems Inc. Even though Total Basement Finishing does not waterproof basements (no basement finishing companies do), with its association with Basement Systems, Inc., waterproofing services are available.

• Name: Total Basement Finishing, Inc.
• Franchised?: Yes.
• Cost: Not known.
• Completion time: About two weeks.
• Ceiling included?: Yes, available.
• Flooring available?: Yes.
• Insulating value of wall panels: R-13.
• Typical praise: Not known.
• Typical complaints: Not known.