"We recently completed a basement finishing project with Matrix and are happy with the final result. As with many large remodeling projects, we ran into a few issues along the way. A flooring material delivery delay pushed the project timeline back by a few weeks. The shower panel was scratched during plumbing installation and had to be replaced, and there were several electrical items shown on the plans that required follow-up visits to complete correctly. We didn't discover until after the drywall and painting were finished that the framing team had missed the wood backing specified in the plans for our TV mounts, which was never resolved. Despite these challenges, our site manager, Jim, was responsive, professional, and easy to work with throughout the project. He was available when questions came up and helped address issues as they arose. While the project wasn't without hiccups, Matrix worked to resolve concerns, and we are enjoying our new basement."
"What a great job this team did at our house in Watervliet, Michigan. Needed a few new windows and called Dave. Everything went smoothly, no hiccups. Just so pleased with the craftsmanship and customer service. Thanks Dave and Team. Another job well done. Deb Veyette"
"This was a remodeling job. Ed finished 800 sq ft of basement. Framed walls, drywall, insulation, electrical outlets, suspended ceiling, lights, installed doors. (Flooring was done by a company he recommended.) He impressed me by carefully listening to what I wanted and provided valuable advice throughout the design and execution of the work. He started work promptly and skillfully coordinated the work of his employees and subcontractors so that there was very little downtime. Workers were very competent, friendly, and respectful to us, the homeowners. I highly recommend him for any type of remodeling or new construction project and would use him exclusively in the future. I want to recognize him for his quality work, competence, helpfulness, honesty and integrity."
"Bronson was really easy to communicate with and answered all questions and concerns in a timely manner. Work was done efficiently and professionally. Most important no LEAKS!!!"
"Matrix did an excellent job installing a bathroom in my basement. Steve was incredible in coordinating the different work that needed to be completed and there were many variables for him to juggle. My bathroom shower is probably the nicest in Southeastern Michigan (not bragging - I'd post pictures if I could). Steve's teams did an excellent job getting everything done and making it look as luxurious as possible. The only constructive feedback I have for the company is that the pricing was very steep considering that I believe many steps in the process may have been eliminated; the sales rep was not familiar with every scope of work necessary which made things confusing for Steve (the Project Foreman), and there was an additional individual whom I never corresponded with which made me wonder if there are too many folks involved to keep the pricing affordable. I paid to install the bathroom what I wanted to pay to complete the entire basement and I had to complete some of the work myself to include painting and flooring installation. Overall the quality of the work is tremendous, however, I still think there's opportunity to restructure the approach to completing projects that could drop the pricing down for the consumer. I would definitely hire the company again as they do incredible work and I couldn't be happier with my completed bathroom."
"The work was good for the most part. I was pleased with the actual work downstairs and the pricing but I was disappointed in a couple of things like they missed some of the door from the way out to the basement. They also said that there would be no dust or dirt in the kitchen but when we were out there, there was dust on the stove so I wasn’t pleased with that. I understand that workers have to use the bathrooms but water was shut off and no one could figure out how to turn on the water so they did their business, opened the toilets and never flushed them; all three toilets of the house. I was very not pleased with that. One would think that somebody that is in construction business could go in the basement area and figure out how to turn on the valve so that they could flush the toilets. It was gross. They ripped out everything down in the basement and that part of it was fine; I thought that they did a good job there. The price was very good."
"It was a small job. They sealed the vents to the crawlspace, then, since there was already solid insulation panels on the walls, put a vapor/moisture barrier, in the form of a tarp, 4 feet wide and as long needed, completely around the crawlspace. It was then sealed to the walls with "nails" and adhesive. This seals the wood frame of the house from the 'Outside", the ground, which is the floor of the crawlspace. A 20 mil thick, quite heavy, "floor" was installed, also in the form of a tarp, It went up the walls about 3 feet and was taped to the 'tarp" on the walls, using a tape made for this application. The piers were wrapped with the same stuff and taped to seal the inside from the outside. the "floor" is also a vapor/moisture barrier, but, heavy enough to walk on if needed. This basically makes the crawlspace another room, rather than the outside. Our house is one year old and was already getting mold on the floor joists. Since the air in the crawlspace will now be heated in the winter and cooled in the summer, just like the rest of the house, the mold and cold (52 degrees) floors we experienced last winter will hopefully be eliminated. We shall see when dumb winter gets here."
"Alberto was able to complete the entire list of tasks I had left for him and his workmanship and pretty good. He patched, sanded and painted all the holes in the walls. He connected the water and ice maker to the frig and installed two bi-fold doors in the basement. "
Whether it’s more affordable to gut a house than build a new one depends on the markets where you'd be buying and selling. However, it’s usually less expensive to renovate a home than to build new construction.
Most homeowners pay between $100,000 and $200,000 for demolition and remodeling costs, whereas the average cost to build a new home is between $139,000 and $531,300.
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.
Create a checklist, reimagine the space use, set a realistic budget, choose materials and aesthetic details, and get professional support for guidelines and troubleshooting.
While framing a basement is not as difficult as finishing a basement, it's something you should typically leave to the pros. That’s because if something is installed correctly, it will affect your entire basement. However, you can take care of some of the smaller tasks, like filling holes or putting up some insulation.
It is common for a contractor to ask for a down payment before starting a project, especially for jobs that require purchasing materials and equipment or hiring a crew. The deposit amount can range from 10% to 50% of the total job cost. While a request for up to 50% is not unusual, a contractor should not ask for more than that, and you should never pay for a project in full before the work has begun. To protect yourself, always discuss payment terms before starting and have a written contract that outlines the project timeline and expectations. Additionally, be sure to hire reputable contractors and check their licensing and insurance before the project begins.
The Bridgman, MI 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.