Basement finishing in Richmond

The Virginia Department of Health classifies Richmond City and Henrico County as moderate radon risk areas, with average indoor radon levels of 2.8 pCi/L in Richmond and 3.1 pCi/L in Henrico, below the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, though some homes have much higher levels.¹³ The Virginia Department of Health says high radon test results have been found in every Virginia county, including those the EPA map labels low risk, and that low-risk localities along the I-95 corridor such as Henrico, Hanover and Richmond City should be designated moderate risk.¹⁴ A city average says little about any single house, which is why the number that matters is the one from your own basement.

Virginia residents can order a radon home test kit through the Virginia Department of Health's radon program for $3, with shipping and laboratory fees included.¹⁵ The EPA recommends testing for radon on the lowest lived-in level, so a basement that hasn't been tested should be tested before it is remodeled; fixing a radon problem is usually easier and cheaper before the basement is finished.¹⁶ Run the test in the bare space, before framing and drywall hide the slab and walls.

Before turning basement space into living space, the EPA advises checking it for leaks and other signs of moisture and fixing any moisture problem first, because damp basements promote mold and other biological growth.¹⁶ After a heavy summer storm, look for damp masonry, white mineral streaks and water at the base of the walls; those are the spots to fix before any framing goes in.

For the inside of basement walls, Building America calls for rigid foam fully adhered to the foundation with sealed seams, or spray foam, and rates closed-cell spray foam as the best moisture control of the interior options.⁵ The EPA warns that carpet on a basement slab can stay damp from water or vapor coming up through the concrete, or from room moisture condensing on a slab that is colder than the air, and either can lead to mold.¹⁶

Basements are uncommon in new Southern houses: of those finished in 2025, 4%¹⁷ had a full or partial basement. Older Richmond houses vary widely, so start with what is actually under yours.

Beyond flooring, the EPA lists vermiculite attic and wall insulation, roofing and siding shingles, textured paint and patching compounds on walls and ceilings, and hot water and steam pipes wrapped in asbestos blanket or tape among the places asbestos may be found in a home.¹⁸ Old boiler and steam pipes in a cellar deserve a look from an accredited inspector before demolition.

Where new loads will bear on an existing foundation, Richmond asks for a sealed engineer's letter or report confirming the foundation can carry them.¹¹ Lowering a floor to gain headroom or cutting a bigger window into old brick both touch the foundation, so expect an engineer's involvement.

The 2021 International Residential Code requires at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening in a basement, plus one in each sleeping room, including every bedroom in a basement.¹⁹ Under that code, an escape opening needs a net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with its bottom no more than 44 inches above the floor.¹⁹ Below-grade space lit only by small, high windows can't meet that rule without a larger cut in the foundation and an area well outside, and both belong in the permit drawings.

More than one in four adults 65 and older fall each year.²⁰ The CDC's home fall-prevention checklist recommends grab bars in and beside the tub and next to the toilet, and a non-slip surface on tub and shower floors.²¹ If the basement will hold a bedroom for an older relative, put the bath on the same level, add a rail on both sides of the stair and light it at the top and bottom.

You call the number on this page. The call is recorded, and we connect you to one independent company that participates in our network and handles basement finishing in the Richmond area. You talk with them directly about your project, timing and price.

That company pays us for the call. You don't pay us anything, and we never call or text you. How we make money

Before you sign anything, look the company up yourself. Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation advises hiring only licensed contractors, and its License Lookup shows a license's status and any past disciplinary actions.²² Check a Virginia license