Core Renovations
Luxury basement developments in Calgary
From the team behind Canada's Best Basement Renovation.
The Canadian Home Builders' Association named a Kay2 basement in Calgary the best in Canada. A basement should feel like the rest of your home: proper ceiling heights, natural light where possible, quiet rooms and finishes that match the floors above.
We design lower levels around how you'll use them, whether that's a lounge and wet bar for entertaining, a guest suite, a gym and steam room, or a dedicated theatre. Then we build them with the insulation, sound control and egress they need.
What's included
- Lounges, wet bars and entertainment spaces
- Guest suites with full bathrooms
- Home theatres, gyms and wine rooms
- Egress windows, insulation and soundproofing
- Lower-level additions and underpinning
- Permits and inspections
4.7on Google · 81 reviews
2× Renovator of the YearBILD Calgary Region, 2018 & 2022
CHBA National AwardBest Basement Renovation in Canada
Fixed-price contractsOne team, one project manager
What we plan for
A Kay2 basement development, considered from every angle.
The decisions that separate a good result from an exceptional one, and how we handle each.
01
Ceiling height and layout
Beams, ducts and plumbing set what's possible. We design around them, or relocate them, so rooms feel generous.
02
Light and egress
Egress windows are required for bedrooms and bring daylight into the lower level. We plan their size and placement early.
03
Warm, dry and quiet
Insulation, moisture control and sound separation from the floors above make a basement feel like the rest of the house.
04
Rooms worth going downstairs for
Wet bars, theatres, gyms, wine rooms and guest suites are designed for how you'll use them, not as leftover space.
05
Bathrooms and plumbing
Rough-ins, drainage and ventilation are planned for full bathrooms, steam showers and bars.
2026 costs
What a basement development costs in Calgary.
Planning ranges for developing a typical 1,000 sq ft Calgary basement in 2026.
Recreation room
$40,000 – $60,000
About 1,000 sq ft developed as open living space, without a bathroom.
Standard development
$65,000 – $95,000
A rec room with a bedroom and full bathroom.
High-finish development
$90,000 – $140,000
Wet bar, home theatre and bathroom, finished to the standard of the main floor.
Legal secondary suite
$90,000 – $140,000
Separate entry, full kitchen and bathroom, fire separation and permits.
Typical line items
| Finished cost per sq ft (1,000 sq ft basement) | $65 – $140 |
|---|---|
| Egress window, incl. well and cover | $1,800 – $3,500 each |
| Bathroom mechanical rough-in | $4,000 – $8,000 |
Planning ranges, not quotes. Your price depends on size, layout, plumbing and finishes, and is confirmed in a fixed-price proposal after design. A basement with a bathroom typically takes 8 to 14 weeks from demolition to final walkthrough. Try the cost calculator or get the free 2026 cost guide.
How it works
From unfinished space to the best room in the house.
One team designs, permits and builds your basement, so it is finished to the same standard as the rest of the home.
- 01
Complimentary consultation
We visit your home, look at the foundation, windows, mechanical and ceiling height, and talk through how you want to use the space.
- 02
Design and drawings
Kay2's in-house designers plan the space, draw it and detail it, and engineering is arranged where the work needs it.
- 03
Selections at the Showroom
Choose flooring, cabinetry, tile, lighting and finishes in person at the Kay2 Showroom and Design Centre in SE Calgary.
- 04
Fixed-price proposal and permits
You receive a detailed, fixed-price proposal, and Kay2 takes care of the City of Calgary permits and inspections.
- 05
Build and handover
One project manager runs the build from framing to final walkthrough, with weekly updates and a site cleaned every day.
Local expertise
Basement developments in Calgary: what to know
Most Calgary homes have full basements, which makes the lower level the most cost-effective place to add finished space. A City of Calgary building permit is required to develop a basement, and bedrooms need properly sized egress windows.
Calgary's cold winters make insulation, air sealing and moisture control essential below grade. Kay2 plans these with the layout so your lower level is warm, quiet and dry, whether it becomes a lounge, a guest suite, a gym or a theatre.
Proof, not promises
See it built by Kay2.
A recent Google reviewer describes a Kay2 basement development with a custom theatre room, a wine cellar and a wet bar, shaped by Kay2's design team around their vision.
Read Kay2's 81 Google reviews
★ 2022 BILD Calgary Region Awards finalistRutland Park, SW Calgary
Rutland Park Revamp
A family home reworked on every level: an open main floor with the kitchen at its heart, a new mudroom, an upstairs ensuite and a finished basement.
- Whole home
- Kitchens
- Ensuites
★ 2018 BILD CR Renovator of the YearMayland Heights, NE Calgary
Mayland Heights: Whole-Home Renovation with Basement Pool
A dated 1987 house transformed into a clean, modern family home, with three additions and an in-ground pool built beneath it.
- Whole home
- Additions
- Pools & spas
- Exteriors
Why Kay2
Why Calgary homeowners choose Kay2 for basement developments.
The concerns we hear most are budget creep, timelines slipping and nobody taking ownership. This is how we prevent them.
Twice Renovator of the Year
BILD Calgary Region's top renovation honour in 2018 and 2022, plus a CHBA national award.
One team, one contract
Design, estimating, project management and construction under one roof. No hand-offs, no finger-pointing.
Fixed-price contracts
Scope is drawn and priced before construction, so the number you sign is the number you plan around.
One project manager
The person who plans your project runs it to handover, with a weekly status email.
Hiring separately
- Designer, contractor and trades each with their own contract
- Drawings priced after they're finished, often over budget
- Several people to call when something changes
Kay2 design-build
- One team and one contract from first sketch to handover
- Design priced as it's drawn, then a fixed-price contract
- One project manager who makes the call on site, same day
Planning basement developments in Calgary?
Start with a complimentary consultation with a Kay2 estimator.
How your project runs
- 01ConsultationA complimentary conversation about your home, how you want to live in it and what must be included.
- 02BudgetAn estimator shapes your wish list into a scope and budget, with options you may not have considered, and discusses financing.
- 03DesignArchitectural drawings, then finishes and fixtures chosen at the Showroom. Permits, lead times and each phase are scheduled before work begins.
- 04BuildStructure, systems and finishes built to the drawings, on a protected and tidy site, with a weekly status email.
- 05CompletionA detailed walkthrough checklist, final inspections and sign-off only when you are fully satisfied.
Investment
Every Kay2 project is priced to its scope. After design you receive a detailed, fixed-price proposal.
Timeline
Your schedule is set before construction begins, including permits and material lead times, and you get a weekly status email throughout.
Free guide · 2026 edition
Plan your budget with our free cost guide.
The Calgary Renovation Cost Guide 2026: real investment ranges for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions and whole-home renovations, plus the hidden costs to plan for.
Your first step
What your complimentary consultation includes.
- A conversation about your homeYour goals, how you live, what isn't working today and what must be included.
- An estimator's honest viewScope, feasibility and options you may not have considered, before anything is drawn.
- Clear next stepsHow budget, design, permits and financing will work for your project, and roughly when work could start.
- No cost, no pressureThe consultation is complimentary. Ask us the hard questions; there's no obligation afterwards.
On video
Basement Developments by Kay2, on video.
Project tours · 0:44
Rutland Park whole-home renovation
An open-concept main floor with load-bearing walls removed, a new kitchen and mudroom, an ensuite and walk-in closet upstairs, and a finished basement.
FAQ
Basement Developments in Calgary: your questions answered
Can't see your question? Call 403.273.2202 or send us your project.
What award did Kay2 win for basement renovation?
Kay2 won Best Basement Renovation at the 2019 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, and Best Basement Renovation/Development at the BILD Calgary Region Awards, for the Mayland Heights home.
Can a basement include a home theatre, gym or wine cellar?
Yes. These are some of the most popular lower-level rooms. Each needs specific planning, such as sound isolation for theatres, impact flooring for gyms and climate control for cellars, which is designed in from the start.
How much does a basement development cost in Calgary?
For a typical 1,000 sq ft Calgary basement in 2026: about $40,000 to $60,000 for a recreation room, $65,000 to $95,000 with a bedroom and full bathroom, and $90,000 to $140,000 for a high-finish basement with a wet bar and theatre. You'll receive a scoped, fixed-price proposal before work begins.
How long does a basement development take?
A basement with a bathroom typically takes 8 to 14 weeks from demolition to final walkthrough, once permits are in place and materials are ordered.
Do I need a permit to develop my basement in Calgary?
Yes. The City of Calgary requires a building permit to develop a basement, plus electrical and plumbing permits for new circuits and fixtures. Kay2 takes care of the permits and inspections.
Can my basement become a legal suite?
Often, yes, with a separate entrance, full kitchen and bathroom, fire separation and permits. A legal secondary suite typically costs $90,000 to $140,000. Our guide to legal basement suites in Calgary explains the rules.
Service area
Serving Calgary and the surrounding area
Kay2's award-winning and award-finalist work includes homes in Bankview, Rutland Park, Stanley Park, Southwood, Mayland Heights and Bridgeland in Calgary, in Lower Springbank, and on Chestermere Lake. We work across Calgary's inner-city and established neighbourhoods and in nearby Chestermere, Springbank, Airdrie, Okotoks, Cochrane, Strathmore, Canmore and Banff. Every project is planned from our Showroom and Design Centre at 3336 47 Ave SE, Calgary.
Guides
Plan with confidence.
Costs · 2 min read
How Much Does a Basement Renovation Cost in Calgary?
Renovating a basement in Calgary is one option for increasing the value of the property. Homeowners who are finishing a basement that’s unfinished will add considerable square footage to their…
September 13, 2024 · Read →
Basements · 7 min read
Building a legal basement suite in Calgary: the 2026 guide
The permits, safety requirements and deadlines that turn a basement into a legal, registered secondary suite, and how the 2026 zoning changes affect your plans.
October 5, 2026 · Read →More core renovations