Should You Finish the Basement or Remodel the Kitchen First?
It is one of the most common questions we hear from homeowners in Centennial and Gleneagle who want to do both but can only take on one this year. The basement is the space the family needs. The kitchen is the room they live in every day. Both are big projects, and the right order depends less on which one adds more value and more on which problem you are trying to solve first. Here is how we help families think it through.
Start with the problem, not the project
The clearest answer usually comes from asking what is not working right now. If the house is short on space, with kids sharing a room, guests on the couch or nowhere to put an office, the basement solves that and the kitchen does not. If the kitchen is the source of daily frustration, with too little counter, a layout that puts everyone in each other's way or cabinets that are failing, a finished basement will not fix it.
When both are equally frustrating, we look at how long you plan to stay. Families staying for many years tend to do well starting with whichever project they will enjoy longest. Families planning to sell within a few years should talk through which project fits the market before committing to either.
How each project affects daily life
The two projects live very differently. A basement finish happens below the main floor, and most families go about their routine while the work goes on downstairs. The disruption is real, with crews coming and going and dust controlled to a minimum, but the kitchen, bedrooms and living spaces stay in use.
A kitchen remodel takes the center of the house offline. Our clients will set up temporary kitchens with a refrigerator, microwave, air fryer and coffee pot in another room away from the construction. A mid-range kitchen remodel is typically completed in six to ten weeks of construction, and the complete journey from first design meeting to final walkthrough runs three to five months. For some families that is easy to live with. For others it is the deciding factor in doing the basement first.
Why the two projects should be planned together
This is the part most homeowners do not expect. The kitchen sits directly above the basement in most homes, and the drain lines, water supply, gas and ductwork that serve the kitchen run through the basement ceiling. If you finish the basement first and later move the sink, add an island with a prep sink or reroute a range hood, some of that new drywall may have to come back down.
The fix is simple: plan the kitchen layout before the basement ceiling closes, even if the kitchen will not be remodeled for two years. We can rough in or route what the future kitchen will need while the basement is open, so the second project does not undo the first.
Typical 2026 cost ranges
Every remodel is different, and the actual cost for your project depends on the scope, finish level, material selections, structural conditions and the specific home. The ranges below reflect what we typically see for Colorado Springs basement finishing and kitchen remodeling projects in 2026. They are meant to help you set expectations for budgeting, not as a quote. We share a fixed-bid number for your specific scope after the consultation. Projects in the Denver suburbs generally price about 15 to 20 percent above these figures.
A basic basement finish, with one bedroom, a rec room, a tub and shower combination bath, carpet, knockdown texture and standard lighting in about 1,000 square feet, typically falls in the $60,000 to $75,000 range for projects of this scope. A mid-range basement, with two bedrooms with existing egress, a full bath and a wet bar, typically falls in the $90,000 to $120,000 range. Specifics for your home will vary.
A cosmetic kitchen refresh that keeps the existing cabinets and replaces counters, backsplash, lighting and paint typically falls in the $15,000 to $30,000 range. A mid-range kitchen remodel with new semi-custom cabinets, quartz or granite, new tile, flooring, lighting and appliances typically falls in the $40,000 to $85,000 range. A custom kitchen with a layout change and premium finishes typically falls in the $75,000 to $175,000+ range.
We don't price by formula or per-square-foot. Every Alpine project is fixed-bid against your specific scope, written down before work starts. The ranges above are for orientation. The number for your project comes from the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Which adds more value, a finished basement or a new kitchen?
Both can add value, and it depends on the home and the neighborhood. We would rather help you choose the project that fixes your biggest problem than guess at resale.
Can you finish the basement and remodel the kitchen at the same time?
Yes. Doing both together lets the mechanical work be planned and coordinated once.
How long does it take to finish a basement?
A basic finish without a bathroom is typically completed in 12 to 14 weeks of construction and 14 to 16 weeks with a bathroom, with one to two weeks for design and permitting up front.
Schedule a free consultation
If you are weighing which project to start with, we are glad to walk both spaces with you and lay out the order that makes sense. See more of our basement finishing work or what we do for homeowners in Centennial. Call our Colorado Springs office at (719) 574-9676 or our Lone Tree office at (720) 835-2105 for a free in-home consultation. Alpine Contracting provides interior remodeling services for homeowners in Colorado Springs, Monument, Woodland Park and the Southern Denver suburbs including Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Parker and Castle Rock.
***The ranges reflect what we typically see in the area(s) mentioned in 2026 — they're meant to help you set a rough guide for budgeting, this is not to be used as a quote. We share a fixed-bid number for your specific scope after the consultation.
