Basement Remodeling Services

Of all the rooms in your house, the basement may have the most untapped potential. Far more than merely a place to do laundry or as a storage facility, the basement's versatility provides fertile ground for a creative and rewarding renovation project. Whether you're looking to create a new bedroom, bathroom, workout area, playroom, office, or bar, the answer might be right under your feet. Basement renovations do not stop at finishes either, remember important jobs like basement waterproofing can save thousands of dollars in flood damage. Here are some commonly asked questions and few we ask and answer all the time:

What should I do first?

You will need to determine how you will be using the finished space. Some homeowners choose to remodel or finish only part of their basement by simply creating one extra bedroom with adjoining bathroom, leaving the remainder of the area unfinished for storage or workshop space. Other homeowners choose to finish the entire space in order to maximize the amount of livable space in their home.

Many homeowners with young children or teenagers opt to finish their basements in order to create a game room or media room. Basement bars can make get-togethers and holiday parties’ fun for adults. Some people even choose to

By adding one or two extra bedrooms with a full bathroom, an exercise room, and a theatre room, many homeowners are able to significantly increase the resale value of their home. There are several factors for homeowners to consider when making the decision about what type of basement remodeling project to pursue. The list of questions below will help you to determine which basement remodeling idea will work best for you and your family.

Do you have children or teenagers living at home?

If you have children or teenagers living at home, consider a design idea that would allow your kids or teens to have a gathering place for entertaining their friends. Many homeowners with teens choose to create one large media room with a full bathroom. Don't forget to leave room in the budget for a pool table and big screen! This will keep their messes confined to the basement which is always a plus!

Remember that this type of basement remodel is also fun for adults. Cuddle up with your spouse on your micro suede sectional and watch a DVD or blue ray disk in HD while enjoying your surround sound theatre equipment! Other options for enhancing the level of entertainment in your basement are popcorn makers and bars.

Do you do a lot of entertaining?

If you and your spouse frequently host the annual New Year's Eve party and Super bowl Sunday festivities, consider including a full bar, mini-kitchen, and theatre sound into your basement remodeling design. Now, all you'll need is a little background music, some wine for the wine cooler, beer for the fridge and a few bottles of your favorite liquors to get the party started!

Do you frequently entertain company from out of town who need a more private place to sleep and bathe than your main floor spare bedroom?

If your mother-in-law likes to drop in for two week stay, make it easier on everyone and offer her premium comfort and peace in one of the new bedrooms in your basement. This way she won't be bothered with the hall traffic she'd have to deal with staying in the room between the kids' rooms. And you won't wake her before you leave for a busy day at the office or a day packed full of errands!

Have many of your neighbors completed their basement remodeling projects?

This factor is important because if many of your neighbors are undergoing basement remodeling projects, then you may want to seriously consider jumping on the band wagon. Everyone knows the expression, "Keeping up with The Jones'," right? Well, this is one area where you will want to keep up!

Just like you wouldn't want to have the most expensive house in your subdivision, you certainly done want to own the least expensive one. If you decide to remodel your basement, take a look at your neighbors remodeling ideas before making any definite decisions, unless of course you don't have plans to sell your home for at least 10 years.

Do you or anyone in your family exercise regularly?

If you enjoy working out, but keep your exercise equipment in the garage or in the spare bedroom closet, think about incorporating a place to exercise into your basement remodeling plans. Many people who have done this have actually found that having a designated place in their home to exercise actually increased their adherence to a workout regimen. So, perhaps if you are thinking about starting a work out plan, this is a great way to encourage yourself to participate.

All of the basement remodeling ideas above can be as simple or as involved as your budget allows. You can certainly build a media room without a 60" plasma television and scored and stained concrete. And you can definitely add a bar to your remodeling plans without including a wine cooler and granite countertops.

Now that you have determined what you would like to use the space in your basement for, the next step in planning your basement remodeling project is determining your budget parameters.

How do I know what my basement remodel will cost?

We can provide you with a ballpark price per square foot for a remodel. Then use the hints below to go from there.

Include room for architect fees.

In most areas, architect approved and stamped drawings are required for permitting. If you don't have plans already, be sure to include up to $1500 in your budget for your architect to draw your plans.

Include room for engineering fees.

If you plan to relocate any load bearing walls as part of your basement remodel, you may need us to provide an engineering report. An engineering report will tell us  how to remove the wall without compromising the structural integrity of your home. We will give specific directions as to the size and type of beams that will be required in order to ensure that the house won't collapse when the wall is demoed.

Include costs for permits

Your project will more than likely require a city-issued permit. Most permits cost a flat rate plus a percentage of the total cost of the remodeling job. We can with your town hall to find out what their process entails and how long it will take for you to secure your permits.

What types of finishes do you prefer?

Door hardware, flooring, electrical fixtures, appliances, and plumbing fixtures can very easily dictate the cost of your basement remodeling project. Your faucets, door knobs, cabinets and other finish items can cause you to miss your budget - by A LOT! Depending on your design taste and expectations for quality, you may need to include 15%-20% more money than you thought in your budget for selection items. Our qualified staff can advise on the most cost effective solutions while maintaining a high level of quality.