Framing, drywall, LVP, and paint
The whole finished room — perimeter walls and partitions framed, insulated, drywalled, floored in LVP (or carpet), and painted. A real room, not a half-finished cellar.
Basement Finishing · Baltimore
Baltimore Basement Finishing, $15K to $65K All-In
Finished rooms, in-law suites, basement baths, and the underpinning to make a low rowhome basement legal. One crew, real numbers, a written quote in 48 hours.
40 Google reviews MHIC #149066 EPA Lead-Safe
What's in the price
A finished basement, done so it stays dry.
Basement bathroom with ejector pump
A below-grade bath has to pump waste up to the main line, so it needs an ejector pump. We build that into the ~$15K basement-bath number — tile, vanity, toilet, GFCI, exhaust, the works.
Egress window where code requires it
Any basement bedroom needs a code-compliant egress. We cut the foundation, set the window, and frame the well — about $5K. Skip the bedroom and you skip the cut.
Moisture handled before anything closes
Rigid foam against the foundation (never fiberglass), a working sump, and a dehumidifier to hold humidity under 50%. We fix water first — finishing over a wet basement just hides it until it ruins the drywall.
How it goes
From headroom measurement to final inspection.
01
Walkthrough + headroom measure
We measure floor-to-joist before any number goes on paper, because that one number decides everything. We check the sump, the foundation walls, and where the stack runs. Written estimate in 48 hours.
02
Underpin + waterproof (if needed)
If your ceiling is under ~6'8", we underpin section by section to get to roughly 7 feet of legal headroom, pouring new footings as we go. Waterproofing and drainage go in during this phase. The slow part — concrete cures section by section, and we don't rush it.
03
Rough-in + framing
Plumbing rough-in for the bath (ejector pump if needed), electrical, and wall framing. Baltimore City rough-in inspection before the drywall closes.
04
Finish + final inspection
Drywall, paint, LVP, the basement bath tiled and fixtured, egress window, trim, recessed lighting, HVAC tie-in or mini-split. Final inspection, then it's yours.
Baltimore basements
Why the rowhome basement is a dig, not a drywall job.
If you own a Baltimore rowhome, your basement is probably six feet of headroom, a dirt or thin-slab floor, a sump in the corner, and a stone-and-mortar foundation that's been there since the 1920s. To turn that into real living space you usually have to dig. Underpinning to roughly seven feet runs $20K to $30K on its own, and it's the single biggest line item. We measure floor-to-joist on the first visit because that one number decides whether you're in the $15K–$25K cosmetic range or the $45K–$65K underpin range.
Water is the other Baltimore reality. High water table, clay soil, and old foundations mean below-grade moisture is the rule, not the exception. We fix bulk water first — drainage and a sump — before we seal or insulate anything, because trapping moisture behind a new vapor barrier is how a beautiful $50K finish turns into a mold problem its first wet spring. That's also why we use rigid foam against the foundation instead of fiberglass, and why a dehumidifier isn't optional down here.
Rowhomes add their own wrinkles: shared party walls you can't undermine, one narrow stair for all the material, and old cast-iron stacks that often want partial replacement while we're down at basement level. We've worked enough of them to flag the likely surprises on the first visit, so if a change order shows up, it isn't a shock.
Want the full line-by-line? See our 2026 basement finishing cost guide. If you're low on headroom, the underpinning page covers the structural side, and the basement service page has the broader scope. Planning a whole-house project? See the full gut rehab page. We finish basements across the city and suburbs, from Hampden and Canton out to Towson and Catonsville.
★★★★★ 4.6 on Google · 40 reviews
What Baltimore basement clients say
★★★★★
Steven and his team completed a 3-level renovation of my newly purchased home. They took the time to ensure my vision was possible and within budget while keeping quality. Even after construction was completed they were just as attentive, answering any questions I had. I would choose Monarch Bay for any of my future renovation needs.
★★★★★
Steve and his team did a great job on my kitchen remodel. Sergio and Frank were respectful and did clean, quality work. From the demo phase to installing cabinets, granite and plumbing, the process went smoothly. The kitchen looks great and I will be going back to these guys for more work in the future!
★★★★★
Monarch Bay did an incredible job with the complete renovation of our master suite bathroom. All the old fixtures, cabinets, tub, shower, toilet, walls and flooring were removed and an extraordinary new bathroom resulted. We told them what we wanted and the team delivered. Our bathroom is stunning. We highly recommend Monarch Bay Renovations.
Common Questions
Basement finishing, answered.
How much does it cost to finish a basement in Baltimore?
If you already have 7 feet of headroom and a dry floor, a finished room runs $15K to $25K. The most common Baltimore scenario — underpinning a low rowhome basement, plus a finished room, plus a full bath, plus an egress window — runs $45K to $65K all-in. A full basement apartment with a kitchenette and separate entrance runs $70K to $110K and up. We measure your headroom before we quote because that's what moves the number most.
Do I need to underpin my basement?
Only if your ceiling is too low for legal living space. Most pre-1950 Baltimore rowhomes start at 5'8" to 6'6", which is under the 7-foot code minimum, so they need underpinning — digging down beside the foundation in sections and pouring new concrete underneath, $20K to $30K. If you already have 7+ feet, you skip the dig and the all-in drops fast.
How long does basement finishing take?
Four to seven weeks for a full underpin-plus-room-plus-bath project, plus about 1–2 weeks of permit time up front. Underpinning alone takes 2–3 weeks because it's done in sections with cure time between each. A straight finish on existing headroom is faster. A full basement apartment with zoning review runs 4 to 6 months.
Can you add a bathroom or a bedroom in the basement?
Yes to both. A below-grade bathroom needs an ejector pump to lift waste to the main line — we price the pump and rough-in into the standard ~$15K basement-bath number. A basement bedroom triggers a code-required egress window, about $5K to cut and install.
What if my basement is wet?
We won't finish a basement that's actively taking water — it'll fail. We fix the water first: interior French drain plus sump runs $4K to $8K, exterior waterproofing is more if the problem is outside the foundation. Once it's dry and stays dry through a wet season, we finish it. The fix is part of the estimate when we walk the space.
Do you finish basements in Baltimore County and the Maryland suburbs?
Yes. We finish and remodel basements across Baltimore City rowhomes and older suburban homes — Hampden, Remington, Charles Village, Canton, and out to Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk, and Pikesville. We're a Maryland-licensed contractor (MHIC #149066) and pull every permit ourselves, city or county.
Ready for a real basement quote?
We measure your headroom and check for moisture before we quote. Fixed-price estimate within 48 hours. No surprises after demo.