Home Services Guidelines and Best Practices
Basement Design
Basement Design guidelines, FAQs and unit pricing information
January 2017
Are you looking for independent, trustworthy advice about Basement Design? Do you need to understand common installation options? If your project calls for Basement Design work, the following guidelines and best practices will help you understand: Is a subcontractor really necessary for Basement Design work? Will a permit be required? What are common problem areas? How much will Basement Design labor cost? What are the important Basement Design quality checks that should be included in the work requirements?
Basement Design - Frequently Asked Questions
| What is a fair price for Basement Design? | Costs vary with project size, job quality and time of year. For typical Basement Design expect to pay between $900.00 to $5,700.00 for each design plan. Additional fees are typically charged for small projects or rush jobs. |
| Is a permit needed for Basement Design work? | Design approval and/or permits from your local building authority are usually required for Basement Design. Verify requirements with your local building department before any Basement Design work begins. |
| Is it worth using a professional to perform Basement Design work? | The appearance, functionality and useful life of the design plan may be compromised by poor installation. Hire the service provider carefully and tie payment milestones to appropriate quality checks (use the list below). |
| Is Basement Design something that I can do myself? | The typical Basement Design project involves tasks that are best performed by experienced professionals. Good quality Basement Design requires considerable experience, skill and attention to detail. Do it yourself mistakes are noticeable, may be difficulty to remedy and may actually reduce the market value of the project and your home. |
| How many days are typically required to complete the Basement Design work? | This work can be completed in 5 to 15 days. |
Basement Design - Options, Quality Checks and Important Details
Use the list below to document your expectations for level of detail and finish quality for Basement Design. Make sure that relevant information is included in any written contracts or work orders on your project. Before any Basement Design work begins, review the checklist with the service provider. Tie payments to satisfactory completion of this checklist.
- The design will include concept sketches, construction detail documents and dimensioned working drawings
- The design will contain a complete list of finishes, materials, and fixtures with quantities
- The design will include a detailed estimate of total project cost, including breakouts for rentals, materials, labor and all fees
- The design will include a detailed schedule plan, broken out by major activities and include key milestones by week
- All work must meet or exceed local code requirements
Basement Design - Work Milestones and Project Reminders
The following list summarizes work tasks commonly performed during Basement Design. These tasks help ensure proper completion of the design plan work and compliance with common manufacturer and vendor warranty requirements. Make sure that either you or your service provider takes responsibility for each of these tasks. All service provider task responsiblities should be clearly called out in the written contract or work orders.
- Determine if permit is required for Basement Design by local building authority, before any work begins
- Complete written project plan including scope of work, quality checks, warranty, timing and payment terms; project plan should be included in contract agreement and reviewed before any work begins
- Discuss all quality, performance, design, timing and cost requirements
- Review concept and preliminary design sketches
- Deliver final working drawings, project schedule and detailed bill of materials
- Deliver final plan(s), elevations, detail drawings and construction notes
- Submit final payment; pay with a check to ensure expense can be verified for tax purposes
