Basement Finishing in Salt Lake City, Utah
4.9 ★ · 78 Google Reviews
Salt Lake City basements are unlike anywhere else on the Wasatch Front. In Sugar House, Liberty Wells, and Yalecrest, we're finishing basements under 1920s–1950s bungalows — lower ceilings, brick foundations, old plaster upstairs, and mechanical systems crowding the middle of the floor plan. On the east bench and in newer infill, it's conventional full-height basements ready for standard framing. We've finished both for years, and we design around the quirks instead of pretending they aren't there: furnace relocations, soffit runs that hide century-old plumbing, and egress cuts through original concrete.
Bungalow basements, ADUs, and rentals
A big share of our SLC basement work is income-driven: homeowners in Liberty Wells and Rose Park converting basements into legal ADUs or rental suites. That means a separate entrance, fire-rated separation between units, sound insulation in the ceiling, egress in every bedroom, and a kitchenette roughed to code. We know what Salt Lake City's ADU ordinance and building department expect, and we build the assembly so it passes — fire-rated drywall, resilient channel where sound matters, and inspected exits. If your goal is rent, we'll tell you up front what the code path looks like before you spend a dollar.
Solving old-house problems the right way
Low ceilings get furred strategically, not just dropped; we route soffits along walls to preserve headroom where you actually walk. Brick and stone foundations get moisture evaluation before a single stud goes up — vapor management matters more in the Avenues than in a 2015 Daybreak build. And because we're drywall finishers first, the transition from your original plaster walls upstairs to new drywall downstairs is seamless, with textures matched by hand.
Salt Lake City basement finishing cost
Turn-key SLC basement finishes run $35–$55 per square foot, same as the rest of the valley — but older homes trend toward the top of the range because of furnace relocations, egress cuts through original concrete, and moisture prep. A 700 sqft bungalow basement with one bedroom and a three-quarter bath typically lands between $30,000 and $42,000. ADU conversions with a kitchenette and separate entrance run higher and we quote them individually. Every estimate is free, written, and itemized.
What Salt Lake City-Area Clients Say
Rated 4.9 stars across 78 Google reviews.
"Alex and his team were professional and did a great job with the installation of drywall as well as mud and taping the basement."
"There is a cliché that you can choose two of the following when working with a contractor: have it done well, have it done fast, have it done cheap. Drywall Techs somehow managed all three — quality work at a reasonable price, on schedule."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does basement finishing cost in Salt Lake City?
Turn-key finishes run $35–$55 per square foot. Older bungalow basements in Sugar House or Liberty Wells trend toward the top of the range due to egress cuts, moisture prep, and mechanical relocations. A typical 700 sqft finish runs $30,000–$42,000.
Can you convert my SLC basement into a legal ADU?
Yes. We build basement ADUs to Salt Lake City's ordinance — separate entrance, fire-rated separation, egress windows, sound insulation, and code-compliant kitchenette rough-ins — and we'll walk you through the permit path before work starts.
My basement ceiling is low — can it still be finished?
Almost always. We preserve headroom by routing soffits along walls, furring strategically, and working with your mechanical layout. Many 1920s–1950s SLC bungalows we finish end up with more usable headroom than owners expected.
Do you handle moisture problems before finishing?
Yes — and in older SLC homes we insist on it. We evaluate the foundation, address intrusion, and install proper vapor management before framing, so the finished space stays dry through Utah's freeze-thaw cycles.
Do basement bedrooms in Salt Lake City need egress windows?
Yes, every basement bedroom needs a code-compliant egress window. We saw-cut the foundation, install the window and well, and handle the inspection as part of the project.
Related Pages
- Basement Finishing (All Areas)
- Salt Lake City Drywall Services
- Home Remodeling in Salt Lake City
- Commercial Drywall in Salt Lake City
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