Basement finishing in Payson, Utah

Basements in Payson

Payson has grown fast on its west and south sides with new production subdivisions, most sold with unfinished basements. The older grid of streets near Main Street has homes from every decade, which Roots does not take on since the company works on new construction only. Payson shares the 84651 ZIP code with Elk Ridge.

Payson lots on the valley floor are generally flat with full depth basements and standard eight or nine foot walls. Window wells for egress bedrooms are the usual approach since walkouts are rare on flat lots.

What it costs to finish a basement in Payson

Roots prices every basement from a line item proposal at $40 to $55 per square foot. The company puts the typical rate from other Utah basement finishing contractors at $55 to $75 per square foot. On a 1,200 square foot Payson basement that is $48,000 to $66,000 with Roots against $66,000 to $90,000 at the market rate. A bathroom, a kitchenette, egress windows and the finish level move a job within the range. The cost guide shows three worked examples and what pushes a number up or down.

Permits and inspections in Payson

Finishing a basement in Payson requires a building permit, and Roots pulls it. Payson City Development Services, 439 W Utah Avenue, Payson, UT 84651, 801-465-5200. Open Monday to Thursday 7:30 to 6. The company schedules the rough inspections and the final with the city and builds the inspection lead time into the 7 to 8 week schedule.

Bedrooms need an egress window or walkout door, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are required, and the city inspects framing, plumbing, electrical and HVAC before drywall goes up. A contractor who proposes skipping the permit is proposing a problem for the homeowner at resale.

Driving distance from Salem

Payson is directly west of Salem, about ten minutes from the Roots office.

Payson is one of the three cities, with Salem and Spanish Fork, where Roots has the most finished projects to show, including the Payson basement described in a review on the reviews page.

How a Payson basement project runs

1. Site visitThe company walks the basement, notes the rough ins, the furnace and water heater location, the ductwork and beams, and asks what the family wants down there.
2. Written proposalA line item proposal at $40 to $55 per square foot, a layout drawn around the rough ins, and a signed agreement. The deposit is 10 percent of the contract.
3. PermitRoots submits plans to Payson and waits for the permit before any work starts.
4. BuildFraming, rough plumbing, electrical and HVAC, the four way inspection, insulation, drywall, paint, doors and trim, cabinets, tile, flooring and finish work, in that order.
5. FinalCity final inspection and a written punch list walked with the homeowner.

The full sequence is on the process page. Every review the company has received is on the reviews page, and several of them describe projects in Payson or the next town over.