"We hired matrix because we had a huge basement that was not finished. I researched many companies and got several quotes, and we ultimately went with Matrix. I can say from start to finish, the experience was awesome."
"Donavan and Mike were great. They totally stripped my bathroom and then installed new drywall and ceiling., painted it. New tub and shower, vanity, fan, lighting. Fixed a major plumbing issue discovered by a 3rd party. All for about the same money we were quoted for just the tub area."
Mills Design and Management, LLC is a family owned company, providing quality service to home owners in southwest Michigan. We pride ourselves on our expert ability to handle each situation. With over 25 years of experience, our staff is highly skilled, and trained. We specialize in basement remodeling, additions, custom barns and garages, and disaster restoration services, from smoke, fire, water, and storms. Our work is never finished until you are completely satisfied and happy. Please call us today, we are looking forward to serving you.
"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."
"It went outstandingly! Kyle and his team were fast, professional, proficient, and extremely nice. We loved working with them, and would continue to use them as projects come up. Could not recommend more!!!"
"I gave Andrew some blueprints for a mud kitchen I had found on Etsy and he put it together and stained it within a day! It was the perfect birthday present for my daughter. Would hire again!"
"Wonderful! Rob met with us and listened to what we wanted to do. He presented us with a detailed proposal at a fair price. He followed the proposal document carefully throughout the project and helped us focus on what we had agreed to do. Both Rob and Tom were very professional and courteous. They were respectful of our home and were a pleasure to be around. By the end of the project they felt like part of the family! Our bathroom was very ugly and outdated. They removed the old cabinets, repaired the plaster, painted, installed new cabinets, tub surround and toilet. It looks beautiful now! In our kitchen they removed wallpaper, repaired plaster, painted walls and ceiling and removed our existing flooring. We found unexpected hardwood underneath so we hired The Sandman to refinish our floors because the damage was more extensive than Rob could repair. Our stairwell was covered with stucco. They removed it, repaired the walls, including a large hole in the plaster and then painted. It looks great. We will definitely hire them again! "
"The new floor installation went great! I love the finished product, it was what I had imagined I wanted before I found Devin to do the work. This was a new floor installation however I know Devin is well versed in several areas of labor such as roofing and bathroom remodels. I would trust him for most if not all of my general remodeling/maintenance needs and would absolutely hire again for my next project, as well as recommend him to all close friends and family. Extremely satisfied, thank you Devin!"
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.
Yes, you can add a bathroom to an unfinished basement, but you’ll want to take proper precautions if doing so. As with any bathroom addition, you’ll need to make sure that it’s approved by local building authorities first. With unfinished basements, you especially need to keep an eye on proper ventilation practices.
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.
Basements with persistent moisture problems or flooding shouldn’t be finished until the moisture issues have been fixed. In addition, if your foundation is cracked, you have unmitigated radon levels, or you have asbestos or lead pipes, remediate the underlying problem before finishing your basement. Turning a basement into living space before fixing these issues can lead to serious health risks or structural damage.
A walkout basement is considered to be partially below grade because at least one wall is entirely exposed. In some cases and in specific municipalities, inspectors and appraisers will still count walkout basements as below grade, which means the space can’t serve as living space or be rented out. If you intend on using the area as living space or a separate apartment, you should check with your local building department to make sure it’s legal to do so.
The Mattawan, MI homeowners’ guide to basement remodels
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
An unfinished basement has a lot of potential for a family room or guest suite. So how much does it cost to finish a basement? Read on for all cost factors.
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.