How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement with Bathroom and Wet Bar in Vancouver?
$41,258.90
$1,050.00
A 300 sqft basement finish with a 3-piece bathroom and wet bar in Vancouver typically ranges from $33,000 to $49,600. This includes concrete slab trenching for new plumbing, framing, drywall, LVP flooring, quartz countertop, electrical, HVAC extensions, permits, and all finish trades. Finish fixtures (toilet, vanity, cabinets, bar fridge) are owner-supplied.
Is this like your project?
Location
Vancouver, BC
Property type
Detached house (2000 build)
Existing condition
Unfinished basement, bare concrete walls, exposed joists
New bathroom
3-piece (toilet, sink, acrylic shower stall)
Wet bar
10 lft run, quartz countertop, bar fridge
Finishing fixtures
Owner-supplied
Where the $41,259 project cost goes
Where the $41,259 project cost goes
See the full cost breakdown for this project.
| Scope item | Labour | Materials | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site Protection Setup | $100.00 | $75.00 | $175.00 |
| Building Permit Administration | $225.00 | — | $225.00 |
| Plumbing Permit Administration | $326.25 | — | $326.25 |
| Electrical Permit Administration | $303.75 | — | $303.75 |
| Permit Fee Allowance | — | $1,150.00 | $1,150.00 |
| Project Management & Trade Coordination | $2,400.00 | — | $2,400.00 |
| Framing Layout | $100.00 | — | $100.00 |
| Concrete Slab Trenching | $1,740.00 | $225.00 | $1,965.00 |
| Below-Slab Drainage & Concrete Patching | $1,160.00 | $425.00 | $1,585.00 |
| Perimeter & Partition Framing | $1,200.00 | $950.00 | $2,150.00 |
| Electrical Rough-In Wiring | $3,240.00 | $675.00 | $3,915.00 |
| Plumbing Above-Slab Rough-In | $2,320.00 | $650.00 | $2,970.00 |
| Bathroom Exhaust Fan Installation | $362.50 | $220.00 | $582.50 |
| Heating Duct Extensions | $580.00 | $225.00 | $805.00 |
| Fiberglass Wall Insulation | $2,000.00 | $448.00 | $2,448.00 |
| Vapor Barrier and Air Sealing | $1,000.00 | $162.40 | $1,162.40 |
| Drywall Install & Level 4 Finish | $2,000.00 | $975.00 | $2,975.00 |
| Shower Stall Installation | $870.00 | — | $870.00 |
| Interior Painting | $2,405.00 | $1,475.00 | $3,880.00 |
| Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring | $1,950.00 | $2,100.00 | $4,050.00 |
| MDF Baseboard Installation | $585.00 | $126.00 | $711.00 |
| Quartz Countertop Supply & Install | $297.50 | $2,200.00 | $2,497.50 |
| Wet Bar Cabinet Installation | $297.50 | — | $297.50 |
| Plumbing Fixtures Finish | $870.00 | $225.00 | $1,095.00 |
| Recessed LED Lighting | $675.00 | $550.00 | $1,225.00 |
| Switches & Receptacles Finish | $270.00 | $100.00 | $370.00 |
| Bar Fridge Installation | $50.00 | — | $50.00 |
| Final Post-Construction Cleanup & Disposal | $500.00 | $475.00 | $975.00 |
| Complete base project cost | $27,827.50 | $13,431.40 | $41,258.90 |
Total Cost
$41,258.90
Possible extra
$1,050.00
On-site decisions or hidden conditions that could increase the scope.What's your home project?
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Things to know for your project
Things to know for your project
Conditions, constraints, and on-site decisions that shape the final project cost.
Slab condition surprises
Trigger: During demo, the concrete slab is more deteriorated or thicker than expected, requiring additional cutting or disposal.
Add $300–$600 for extra demo labor and disposal fees.
Moisture issues behind walls
Trigger: When walls are opened, evidence of past moisture or efflorescence is found on the foundation wall interior.
Add $500–$1,200 for dimpled membrane vapor barrier, perimeter drainage channel, or a standalone dehumidifier rough-in.
Main sewer line connection complexity
Trigger: The existing main stack is cast iron and requires a fernco transition, or the slab depth makes tying into the sewer more labor-intensive.
Add $200–$500 for specialty couplings, deeper excavation, or additional below-slab fittings.
Owner-supplied fixture delays
Trigger: Finish fixtures (toilet, vanity, shower kit, cabinets) arrive late, are backordered, or have incorrect dimensions.
Add $75–$150 per rescheduled trade visit and push project completion by 1–3 weeks.
The real conversation behind this estimate
The real conversation behind this estimate
This is the how RenoFiz gathered the facts and turned a simple request into a scoped estimate.
I want to finish my basement building a new large recreation room, a new bathroom and a wet bar.
Hi there! I'm Chris, a General Contractor with 25 years of experience in residential construction. I'd love to help you plan out and budget this basement project.
Looking at your photo, you have a fantastic clean slate to work with. The unfinished space has great height, exposed ceiling joists that will make running electrical and HVAC ducting straightforward, concrete walls ready for framing/insulation, and a wonderful walk-out sliding door that brings in plenty of natural light.
To make sure we capture everything you want and build an accurate scope, we’ll walk through your project step-by-step, starting with the most trade-complex parts:
- The New Bathroom (Highest complexity: plumbing drainage, venting, electrical, framing, waterproofing, tile, and fixtures)
- The Wet Bar (Medium-high complexity: plumbing supply/drain lines, cabinetry, countertops, backsplash tile, and electrical)
- The Recreation Room (Medium complexity: perimeter framing, wall/ceiling insulation, drywall, electrical/lighting layout, flooring, and paint)
To kick things off and start calculating our primary quantities, I have a few initial questions:
Question: Could you please provide your postal code? This helps us check local building permit guidelines, utility hints, and regional pricing.
Question: For the new bathroom, what fixtures are you planning to incorporate? (e.g., toilet, vanity sink, and a shower, bathtub, or both?)
Question: What is the approximate square footage (or length and width) of the basement area you want to finish?
Question: For the wet bar, what features are you imagining? (e.g., sink, cabinets, countertop, bar fridge, or wine cooler?)
Photos that would help
While your overview photo is excellent, as we go along, it would be extremely helpful if you could share:
- The plumbing rough-in area: Do you have existing plumbing pipes (rough-ins) protruding from the concrete floor for a future bathroom or wet bar, or will we need to break concrete to run new drain lines?
- The electrical panel: A photo of your main breaker panel (with the door open so we can see the labels and capacity) to check if we have space for the new bathroom circuits, wet bar appliances, and recreation room lighting.
Could you please provide your postal code? This helps us check local building permit guidelines, utility hints, and regional pricing.: V5K
For the new bathroom, what fixtures are you planning to incorporate? (e.g., toilet, vanity sink, and a shower, bathtub, or both?): a sink, a toilet and a shower
What is the approximate square footage (or length and width) of the basement area you want to finish?: 20ft x 15ft
For the wet bar, what features are you imagining? (e.g., sink, cabinets, countertop, bar fridge, or wine cooler?): sink, cabinets, countertop and bar fridge
Anything Else? (Optional): I don't have any plumbing for a bar or bathroom. my electric panel is 200A.
Thank you! That is incredibly helpful. Knowing you have a 200A electrical panel is great news—it means we have plenty of electrical capacity for all your additions without needing a costly service upgrade.
Because you do not have existing plumbing rough-ins, our plumber will need to sawcut the concrete slab, excavate, lay down the drain pipes, tie them into your main sewer stack, and repour concrete to patch the floor. This is a vital detail that we will build directly into your estimate.
To help me dial in the design, material costs, and trade coordination, please let me know your thoughts on the following details:
Question: What year was the home built, and is it a detached single-family home, duplex, or townhouse?
Question: For the bathroom shower, are you looking for a standard acrylic shower stall kit or a custom-tiled shower with a waterproof membrane?
Question: What is the planned length of your wet bar cabinet run, and what material would you prefer for the countertop (e.g., laminate, quartz, granite, butcher block)?
Question: Will the new bathroom and the wet bar be located adjacent to each other (sharing a wall) and close to where your main sewer stack exits the house?
Question: What type of flooring would you prefer for the recreation room (e.g., Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), laminate, carpet)? Also, would you prefer a drywall ceiling or a drop/suspended ceiling?
Question: For the finish items (toilet, vanity, faucets, sink, shower fixtures, bar cabinets, bar fridge), do you intend to purchase these yourself (owner-supplied) or would you like the contractor to supply them?
What year was the home built, and is it a detached single-family home, duplex, or townhouse?: 2000. detached house.
For the bathroom shower, are you looking for a standard acrylic shower stall kit or a custom-tiled shower with a waterproof membrane?: standard acrylic shower stall kit
What is the planned length of your wet bar cabinet run, and what material would you prefer for the countertop (e.g., laminate, quartz, granite, butcher block)?: 10ft , quartz countertop
Will the new bathroom and the wet bar be located adjacent to each other (sharing a wall) and close to where your main sewer stack exits the house?: yes they are going to share a wall and close to the main sewer stack
What type of flooring would you prefer for the recreation room (e.g., Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), laminate, carpet)? Also, would you prefer a drywall ceiling or a drop/suspended ceiling?: LVP flooring. drywall ceiling with pot lights.
For the finish items (toilet, vanity, faucets, sink, shower fixtures, bar cabinets, bar fridge), do you intend to purchase these yourself (owner-supplied) or would you like the contractor to supply them?: I'll purchase the items.
Your project estimate
Project summary
Finish a 20ft x 15ft unfinished basement area in a 2000-built detached house, adding a new 3-piece bathroom (toilet, sink, acrylic shower) and a 10ft wet bar sharing a plumbing wall near the sewer stack. Concrete slab trenching is required for drainage. All finishing fixtures, cabinets, and appliances are owner-supplied; countertop is quartz, flooring is continuous LVP, and ceiling is drywall with 10 LED pot lights. City of Vancouver building, electrical, and plumbing permits are required.
Estimate range
$32,100 - $48,300 This is a starting ballpark, not a final price.
Estimated work
| Item | Details | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Site Protection Setup | PREP floor and corridor dust protection from main entry to basement work area. | $125 - $225 |
| Building Permit Administration | PREP, submit, and coordinate City of Vancouver Building Permit application and inspections. | $175 - $275 |
| Plumbing Permit Administration | PREP, submit, and coordinate City of Vancouver Plumbing Permit application and inspections. | $250 - $400 |
| Electrical Permit Administration | PREP, submit, and coordinate City of Vancouver Electrical Permit application and inspections. | $225 - $375 |
| Permit Fee Allowance | Carry mandatory permit fee allowances for City of Vancouver municipal building, plumbing, and electrical permits. | $900 - $1,400 |
| Project Management & Trade Coordination | GC project coordination, sequencing, trade handoffs, and schedule management for 7 active trades. | $1,900 - $2,900 |
| Framing Layout | PREP and lay out walls, partitions, and wet bar footprint on the concrete slab. | $75 - $125 |
| Concrete Slab Trenching | DEMO concrete slab, sawcut, jackhammer, and excavate for new below-slab plumbing lines (15 lft). | $1,550 - $2,400 |
| Below-Slab Drainage & Concrete Patching | INSTALL below-slab drainage pipe, tie into sewer stack, backfill, and repour concrete to patch the slab. | $1,250 - $1,950 |
| Perimeter & Partition Framing | INSTALL wood framing for 70 lft of perimeter walls, 13 lft of bathroom partitions, and ceiling ductwork soffits. | $1,700 - $2,600 |
| Electrical Rough-In Wiring | INSTALL rough-in electrical circuits for 10 LED pot lights, bathroom circuits, exhaust fan, wet bar, and receptacles. | $3,100 - $4,700 |
| Plumbing Above-Slab Rough-In | INSTALL rough-in water lines and drains for shower, toilet, bathroom sink, and wet bar sink. | $2,300 - $3,600 |
| Bathroom Exhaust Fan Installation | INSTALL bathroom exhaust fan and vent ducting to the exterior. | $450 - $700 |
| Heating Duct Extensions | INSTALL sheet metal heating duct run-outs with registers extended from the existing trunk line. | $600 - $1,000 |
| Fiberglass Wall Insulation | INSTALL fiberglass wall insulation on 560 sqft of perimeter walls. | $1,900 - $3,000 |
| Continuous Poly Vapor Barrier | INSTALL continuous 6-mil poly vapor barrier and acoustical sealant on insulated walls. | $100 - $200 |
| Drywall Install & Level 4 Finish | INSTALL, tape, mud, and sand drywall to Level 4 finish on 1,068 sqft of wall and ceiling surfaces, including primer. | $2,300 - $3,600 |
| Shower Stall Installation | INSTALL owner-supplied standard acrylic shower stall kit, including base, panels, and doors. | $650 - $1,050 |
| Interior Painting | PAINT basement walls, ceiling, baseboards, and door trim (two coats). Eggshell on walls, flat on ceiling, semi-gloss on trim. | $3,100 - $4,700 |
| Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring | INSTALL Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring and underlayment across 300 sqft basement footprint. | $3,200 - $4,900 |
| MDF Baseboard Installation | INSTALL 90 lft of MDF baseboards in recreation room and bathroom. | $550 - $900 |
| Quartz Countertop Supply & Install | SUPPLY and INSTALL 10 lft of quartz countertop with undermount sink cutout and polished edges. | $1,900 - $3,000 |
| Wet Bar Cabinet Installation | INSTALL owner-supplied wet bar cabinets (10 lft run). | $225 - $375 |
| Plumbing Fixtures Finish | INSTALL owner-supplied bathroom toilet, single-sink vanity, faucet, wet bar undermount sink, and wet bar faucet. | $850 - $1,350 |
| Recessed LED Lighting | INSTALL 10 recessed LED pot lights in recreation room, bar, and bathroom. | $950 - $1,500 |
| Switches & Receptacles Finish | INSTALL finishing electrical switches, standard receptacles, and cover plates. | $275 - $450 |
| Bar Fridge Installation | INSTALL and test owner-supplied under-counter bar fridge. | $40 - $60 |
| Final Post-Construction Cleanup & Disposal | PREP post-construction cleanup and SUPPLY 14-yd debris bin rental for safe waste disposal. | $750 - $1,200 |
Cost summary
| Category | Range |
|---|---|
| Materials | $10,700 - $16,200 |
| Labour | $21,400 - $32,200 |
| Total | $32,100 - $48,300 |
What is included
- Set up floor and corridor protection from main entry to basement work area.
- Obtain building, plumbing, and electrical permits from City of Vancouver.
- Lay out bathroom partition walls, wet bar footprint, and recreation room boundaries on concrete slab.
- Sawcut, jackhammer, and excavate concrete slab for new bathroom (shower, toilet, sink) and adjacent wet bar drainage lines (approx. 15 lft trench).
- Install below-slab drain piping, tie into main sewer stack, backfill trench, and pour new concrete to patch the slab.
- Frame 70 lft of perimeter walls against concrete foundation, 13 lft of bathroom partition walls, and soffits around ceiling ductwork.
- Rough-in electrical circuits for 10 LED pot lights, bathroom lights/GFCI, exhaust fan, wet bar fridge/outlets, and recreation room perimeter receptacles.
- Rough-in water supply lines and drain/vent piping for bathroom (shower, toilet, sink) and wet bar sink.
- Rough-in bathroom exhaust fan ducting and extend forced-air heating duct run-outs with registers from existing trunk line.
- Install 560 sqft of perimeter wall insulation (rigid foam/batt) and vapor barrier as per BC Building Code.
- Inspect electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and framing rough-ins (City of Vancouver inspections).
- Hang, tape, mud, and sand drywall on all walls and ceiling (approx. 1,068 sqft of board surface), including paint priming.
- Install owner-supplied standard acrylic shower stall kit.
- Paint walls, ceiling, and trim in bathroom, wet bar, and recreation room (eggshell on walls, semi-gloss on trim/doors).
- Install continuous Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring with underlayment across the entire 300 sqft basement footprint.
- Install owner-supplied wet bar cabinets (10 lft) and coordinate template/install of 10 lft quartz countertop with undermount sink cutout.
- Install owner-supplied plumbing fixtures (toilet, vanity, vanity faucet, wet bar sink, and wet bar faucet).
- Install electrical finish trim (switches, cover plates, 10 LED pot lights, and light fixtures).
- Set up owner-supplied bar fridge and complete final testing.
- Conduct final building, electrical, and plumbing inspections.
- Perform final post-construction cleanup and haul away project debris.
Permits or inspections
| Item | Why it may be needed |
|---|---|
| Building permit (interior renovation) | Required by City of Vancouver for finishing an unfinished basement and creating new rooms/walls. |
| Electrical permit | Required for roughing in and finishing new electrical circuits, outlets, and fixtures. |
| Plumbing permit | Required for installing new drain waste vent (DWV) piping below slab and tying in bathroom/bar fixtures. |
Possible add-ons
These items are not included in the estimate range above. They may change after an on-site review.
| Item | Trade | Possible range | What would confirm it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace main house or fixture shutoff valves if existing municipal water valves are seized or fail to hold water when plumbing connections are started. | Plumber | $200 - $300 | Plumber identifies that the main house water shut-off or fixture shut-off is seized or leaking upon demolition. |
| Supply and apply self-leveling underlayment compound over concrete slab if uneven pitting, slopes, or high-spots exceed tolerance for click-LVP. | Flooring Specialist | $350 - $550 | After demolition or during surface preparation, significant subfloor un-levelness or concrete pitting is identified. |
| Cut and flash a new exterior wall or roof penetration if no existing passive duct venting path exists for the bathroom exhaust fan. | HVAC Technician | $275 - $425 | If no existing duct or exterior venting pathway exists, cutting a new exterior wall or roof penetration is required for the exhaust fan. |
You can keep chatting to ask questions or adjust the project — and when you're ready, a real professional will confirm the details and discuss final pricing with you, typically after seeing the space in person.
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