Basement finishing
Basement work starts with water: where it comes in, where it drains and what the walls are made of. Only after that is clear do we plan walls, insulation, floors and rooms.
Basements are some of the most useful space in a Chicago-area home, and some of the most unforgiving. Many older basements have taken on water at some point, whether through the walls, the floor drain or a backed-up sewer during a heavy storm.
We look for signs of past water and talk through what has happened in the house before anything gets covered. Moisture problems found after drywall goes up are the most expensive kind.
What is included
- Moisture review before any finishing work
- Framing, insulation and drywall
- Basement bathrooms and laundry areas, with plumbing coordinated
- Flooring suited to below-grade spaces
- Lighting and outlets, coordinated with an electrician
- Stairs, doors, trim and paint
In Chicago-area homes
Chicago-area basements range from full-height bungalow basements to low garden units in two-flats. Ceiling height, egress windows and the location of the main drain all shape what the space can become.
If you plan to use a basement as a separate unit or bedroom, the rules are stricter. We confirm the requirements for your city or village before the scope is final.
Some municipalities run flood-control or overhead-sewer programs. Our area pages link to the official sources where we found them.
How it is priced
After a walk-through, you get a written scope with each part of the job priced on its own line. Anything new that turns up is written up as a change order for your approval before it is added, and the invoice follows the scope line by line. How we work
Homes where this comes up
Questions
My basement gets damp. Can it still be finished?
Often, but the water source has to be dealt with first. We note what we see at the walk-through and price moisture work as separate lines so you can see what it costs on its own.
Can you add a bathroom in the basement?
It depends on where the drain lines are and how deep they run. We check that before it goes into the written scope.
Related services
Tell Robert about your project.
Call, email or send an estimate request with photos. You deal directly with the person running your job.