"Ceaser and his brother were amazing! Another flooring vendor dropped the ball, and they were able to step in and get the job done in just three days - quote, sample and installation. They were very professional, responsive and kept us updated on the progress and status of the job. They jumped through hoops to make this happen for my parents, and we all couldn't be happier. Ceaser even went out of his way to my parents' current home to personally thank them. He even climbed up on the tractor to shake my dad's hand when the job was complete. Even though they are in northern Illinois, I know I will be recommending them to anyone who has a remodeling or flooring job. Thank you!"
"Ryan was great and easy to work with. He helped us through the process. The work was very good and the cost was reasonable. Ryan and his crew were very professional and respectful. They were always on time and never felt like they were working on other projects and and never felt like they were falling behind. We love the remodel and everyone that has come over have been super impressed. We would recommend Ryan and his team for your remodel needs."
"I could not be happier with the work Matrix Basements did on our basement! From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, the team was professional, courteous, and incredibly skilled. They transformed our unfinished space into a beautiful, functional area that our whole family can enjoy. The quality of the craftsmanship is outstanding every detail was thoughtfully executed. They stayed on schedule and within budget, which was a huge plus. The team was also great at communicating with us throughout the project, ensuring we were informed and comfortable every step of the way. Our new basement has completely exceeded our expectations. If you are looking for a remodeler who delivers exceptional results with top-notch service, I highly recommend Matrix Basement Finishing. They truly deserve all five stars!"
"Tim and his crew were amazing to work with. Tim's approach was to have us very involved from the start. He believes in a collaborative approach. Tim had previously built a family room addition for us, so it only seemed natural to contact him for our next project. We had our kitchen remodeled and our basement. The craftsmanship was better than expected. The crews were ALWAYS onsite when they were scheduled. Tim was very communicative and we were very pleased with the outcome. We would DEFINITELY recommend Creative Building Solutions to anyone."
"Fernando and his son did an absolutely top notch, excellent, job remodeling our master bath. Not only was the work done professionally and perfectly but also showed up on time, cleaned up daily and produced a very luxury and excellent remodel and in record time! I have worked with many contractors and never give a top rating unless absolutely warranted and I would give F.Z. Tile the best there is. There is not one thing I can even say to do better. Kudos Fernando and Chris!!!! We would highly recommend them!"
"Quickly responded to request for quote and performed on time as scheduled. I had my basement coated and it looks great and it was very cost effective. I would use them again for any coating job."
"Completed job next day after my request. They hung curtain rods, assembled a bed, removed a built in cabinet and repaired drywall, hung art, installed smart lock and miscellaneous tasks. Fast and friendly, I would hire again."
"We had an excellent experience working with Robert Anthony from start to finish. They were professional, responsive, and incredibly detail-oriented throughout our kitchen remodel. His team completed our renovation on time, kept the workspace clean, and communicated with us every step of the way. The quality of the craftsmanship exceeded our expectations, and you can truly tell they take pride in their work. They transformed our kitcjen beautifully and made the entire process smooth and stress-free for my family. We are beyond happy with our kitchen and we couldn’t recommended him more."
"I am very pleased with the renovation results that Cardona services gave me. My 1972 Manufactured home needed an update and reinsulation. My house was drab and chilly in the winter. Ricardo had good ideas and satisfied any concerns I had and it showed. It was recommended to insulate the ceiling first to prevent heat from escaping as it rises. Ricardo recommended R5 insulation board to be covered by a smooth covering. I was concerned it would bring my 7ft ceiling down and feel claustrophobic. But, gaining heat efficiency was the priority so, I agreed to Ricardo's plan. To my surprise, when Ricardo was done, my ceiling seems even higher! The rooms feel more spacious. I love it. The new hallway doors with black knobs are stunning, along with the new black bathroom faucet. My Manufactured home feels like a regular home . We love our new surroundings. Thanks Ricardo and Raymond from Cardona! I highly recommend them."
"I feel really lucky to have had Carlos contact me after I was looking on Angi. He showed up for the estimate on time, communicated his price quickly, showed up on time to complete the job and worked a 10 hour day to insure things would be done the next day. He was super attentive to all details and did a great job on my floor tile in my laundry room / basement."
Although homeowners often use the terms basement remodeling and basement finishing interchangeably, they are quite different terms.
Finishing a basement is the process of taking a basement space that is not habitable and adding elements to make it usable. This includes adding plumbing, flooring, and insulation.
Remodeling a basement means taking an already existing finished basement and changing it, often by adding or removing walls, adding plumbing, or changing the existing flooring.
A finished basement must have a heat and electrical supply with an entrance that meets building code requirements, such as a stairwell to the home's main living space. It often must include finished walls, ceilings, and floors. If the finished basement includes a bedroom, it should have a heat source, an egress window, and a closet.
Remodeling, as opposed to finishing, means altering an already finished basement by adding a bathroom, bedroom, or living area.
Yes, adding a walkout basement will usually bump up your property value. Most homeowners prefer walk out basements because the exposed wall that’s level with the ground provides more utility via a ground-level exterior entrance, and they can fit full windows, which adds natural light and ventilation to the basement area. The only exception might be in areas prone to tornadoes, as walkout basements aren’t as safe as regular basements during a tornado, particularly if they include large windows or glass sliding doors.
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.
Joists and beams are both part of the flooring system above your basement, with the beams spanning the length of your home and getting support from vertical posts underneath, and joists usually spanning half the width of your home with no support posts underneath. The floor joists provide even support to the subflooring and flooring above, and they distribute that load to the beams. The beams then distribute that load down through the support posts to the foundation.
The Wadsworth, IL 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.
