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.

What Affects Basement Finishing Cost in Salt Lake City

Older Salt Lake City homes tend to cost more to finish than newer valley builds because of furnace relocations, egress cuts through original concrete, and moisture prep before framing. Square footage, bedroom and bathroom count, and how much headroom work the ceiling needs also shape the budget. ADU conversions with a kitchenette, separate entrance, and fire-rated separation are scoped individually. Call (801) 791-9053 or use the contact form for a free, written, itemized estimate.

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."
— Brock B., ★★★★★ Google review

"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."
— Devin F, ★★★★★ Google review

Finished basement drywall and taping work by Drywall Techs in Salt Lake City

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does basement finishing cost in Salt Lake City?

Older bungalow basements in Sugar House or Liberty Wells cost more to finish because of egress cuts, moisture prep, and mechanical relocations. Square footage, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and finish choices drive the rest. Call (801) 791-9053 or use the contact form for a free, written, itemized estimate.

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.

Basement Finishing Near You

Get a Free Salt Lake City Quote

Request a free written estimate or call (801) 791-9053.