"Jeff told me the foundation settling was very minor for a house built in the 1970's. No water problems in basement. He did recommend I have the gutters replaced, with 6" gutters, and to make sure water is draining away from house. Also, he asked me to contact him if the foundation settled more in the future. He did not do any work other than give me a free evaluation. Jeff was very professional and honest. I will definitely use his company if I have anymore foundation or drainage issues. "
"My job was scheduled the day after my call. He was very thorough and worked to solve our extremely low water pressure issue. The issue isn't totally corrected. But they offer a good warranty on their work, so I'm pretty confident they will eventually solve the problem. "
"I sent pictures of my space, and talked with a designer on the phone. But it was near the holidays and due to time constraints by the designer and by myself, we never got back together for suggestions. After so much time had passed, and the deal had expired, I just never contacted them again."
Residential & commercial. All types of home repair with 50 years of experience. 4-15 employees depending on the job. Will hire sub contractors. Charges by the job. Travel/trip charges apply.
"This company performed an excellent job! One area was really a mess, and afterward, we couldn't tell there ever was a mess. The painters came out to preview the job, made suggestions for colors and gave a reasonable estimate. This was great. On the day before the job, the painters came out to prep the walls. On the day of the job, they came on time, as promised. They even performed some extra tasks that were not discussed, but appreciated!They moved appliances, shelves, railings and cleaned up! Our family is well-pleased and will definitely call on Ebony Painting and Remodeling again."
"Mr. Chapman provided and installed some beautiful custom cabinetry for a bar area and a kitchenette area in our basement remodel. The cabinets are top grade and beautiful craftsmanship. Mr. Chapman listened to our needs and provided us with several options, from styles to colors, and created beautiful cabinets that have become the focal points of our basement."
"I thought the estimate was a bit off as he wanted 70% up front. I thought that was a little too much for materials for that and I was always told not to put that much up front when you get work done. That seemed like an awful lot to me, that's why I rejected it.
He delayed me a few times when he said he would show up to do the estimate. The final estimate was not what I would consider, the amount was in the area of the other contractors, but the up front percent was off. Never meeting him in person, his diagram, and all that I would say a B on professionalism."
"Very efficient service and the contractor was very knowledgeable and helpful with remodeling my bathroom into my dream bathroom! I feel like I am in an oasis spa! Thank you H&W for turning my vision into a reality!!"
Unless you have extensive experience in construction work, remodeling a basement is best left to a professional. There are several tasks associated with this project that require exact precision, including:
Replacing insulation
Replacing carpet or other flooring
Adding heating and cooling
Adjusting or adding walls and doors
Altering or adding plumbing elements
If any of these elements is done incorrectly, it could severely impact the quality of your basement remodel and be dangerous. Changing a basement often comes with code safety requirements, like egress windows and proper ventilation. Therefore, leaving it up to a professional is often the best decision.
Some older homes have toilets in the basement to combat sewage backups. This type of toilet, also known as a Pittsburgh potty, acted as a safety valve over the incoming sewer line. If a line backed up, it would back up into the toilet because it was the lowest fixture in the home, keeping it out of sight and away from the finished areas of the house.
Basement toilets were also used by workers with messy jobs, like those who worked in coal mines or steel mills. This way, they could clean up and avoid tracking dirt through their home.
For most basement remodels, you’ll want to hire a general contractor. This is for a number of reasons, but the main two are that general contractors have dedicated teams they are comfortable with, and hiring one means you only have to deal with one pro. You may also get a better project quote since they can lump all their work and subcontracting into a single quote.
Yes, in most cases, finishing a basement is worth the cost. The project adds valuable, usable square footage to your home and typically provides a return on investment (ROI) of 70% to 75%. For example, an average basement refinishing project costing $32,000 could add between $22,400 and $24,000 to your property's value. The final value added depends on factors like your location, the quality of materials and workmanship, and the features you include, such as a living space, bedroom, or bathroom. To be officially counted in your home's total square footage, the finished space must comply with all local building codes, including requirements for points of egress. However, in areas prone to flooding, a finished basement might be seen as a liability by potential buyers and could potentially decrease your home's value.
The time it takes to finish or remodel a basement can vary significantly, ranging from a few weeks to several months or even up to a year. On average, the construction phase can take four to eight weeks, but the total project time can extend to three or four months when including planning and permits. The timeline depends on several factors, including the basement's size, design complexity, the scope of the work, and your contractor's availability. A more detailed breakdown for an average-sized basement might include: framing (3-5 days), electrical and rough-in plumbing (3-5 days), drywall installation (5 days), flooring (2-3 days), and final touches like painting and trim (about a week). If preliminary work like installing a waterproofing system or addressing structural issues is needed, the timeline could extend to six to twelve months. Factors like difficult access, material transport, and ventilation needs can also add to the project's duration.
The Wadley, GA homeowners’ guide to basement remodels
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Hiring a bad basement remodeler can wreak havoc on the look and longevity of your unfinished space. Here are red flags to look for as you vet basement contractors.
