Recent basement finishing projects in Belmont
Project one
Cushing Square Basement Family Room
The house: a 1920s Colonial near Cushing Square, one of the many Belmont homes built before 1939 with a basement ceiling under 7 feet. The problem: the space was unfinished storage with an old drop ceiling from a previous attempt that ate another six inches of headroom. What we did: removed the old ceiling, reframed tight to the joists, ran new lighting, and installed painted drywall and LVP flooring for an open family room. No bathroom in this scope.
Timeframe: about 5 weeks, from demolition to final walkthrough. Spend band: $38,000 to $44,000.
Project two
Waverley Waterproofed Basement and Half Bath
The house: a 1930s Cape near Waverley, on a lot with a rubble stone foundation typical of that part of Belmont. The problem: a damp basement with a visible water line along one wall after heavy rain. What we did: installed interior perimeter drainage and a sump system before any framing went in, then finished the space with a half bath, vinyl plank flooring, and a small wet bar rough-in.
Timeframe: about 8 weeks, including the drainage work. Spend band: $54,000 to $60,000.
Project three
Belmont Hill In-Law Suite
The house: a Colonial near Belmont Hill, part of the town’s older housing stock, with a homeowner who needed a legal bedroom and bath for an aging parent moving in. The problem: the ceiling sat below code minimum for a habitable room once ductwork was accounted for. What we did: lowered a section of the basement floor for clearance, cut the foundation wall for an egress window, and built out a full bedroom, full bathroom, and small sitting area.
Timeframe: about 11 weeks. Spend band: $92,000 to $105,000.
Project four
Winn Brook Rec Room and Panel Upgrade
The house: a Cape near Winn Brook with an electrical panel that hadn’t been touched since the 1960s. The problem: knob-and-tube wiring still fed part of the basement, and the panel didn’t have capacity for new circuits. What we did: upgraded the panel first, then framed and finished an open rec room with recessed lighting and a small home office nook.
Timeframe: about 7 weeks. Spend band: $49,000 to $55,000.
See more, or start yours
These four cover most of what shows up in a Belmont basement: low ceilings, older foundations, panels that need updating, and the jump from storage space to a real room. Basement remodels are also one of the more consistent projects for resale value, recovering roughly 71 percent of cost nationally according to Zonda’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. If you want to see what’s typically included at each price point, the service page breaks that down, or contact us and we’ll look at your specific basement.