Get matched with top basement remodelers in Durham, NY

Q: What is the difference between a joist and a beam in a basement?

• <div><p><a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/joist-vs-beam.htm">Joists and beams</a> 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.</p></div>

Q: How do I save money on basement remodeling costs?

• <div><p>Since DIYing a basement remodel isn't typically advised, there are some ways that you can still save money on this project without putting yourself in danger. Some <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/budget-basement-remodel.htm">ways to save money on a basement remodel</a> include:</p><ul><li><p>Painting walls yourself versus including in the cost of the remodel </p></li><li><p>Installing light fixtures yourself</p></li><li><p>Choosing prefabricated fixtures, like cabinets, over custom ones</p></li><li><p>Choosing a budget-friendly flooring option, like laminate or vinyl flooring, and add rugs where necessary</p></li></ul><p></p></div>

Q: Does a finished basement need ventilation?

• <div><p>Although it&rsquo;s not required, air ventilation in a finished basement can help improve the air quality, prevent moisture and mold issues, keep musty odors away, and also maintain the air quality throughout the rest of your home. Proper ventilation will help maintain the value of your investment in finishing your basement. Try <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-improve-ventilation-basement-remodeling-project.htm">basement ventilation methods</a> like installing vents or a dehumidifier for best results.</p></div>

Q: Can I remodel a basement myself?

• <div><p>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:</p><ul><li><p>Replacing insulation </p></li><li><p>Replacing carpet or other flooring </p></li><li><p>Adding heating and cooling</p></li><li><p>Adjusting or adding walls and doors</p></li><li><p>Altering or adding plumbing elements</p></li></ul><p>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 <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/finished-basement-code-requirements.htm">code safety requirements</a>, like egress windows and proper ventilation. Therefore, leaving it up to a professional is often the best decision.</p></div>

Q: Should I hire a professional for my basement remodel?

• <div><p>Professional remodelers streamline the process, manage permits, and handle renovations efficiently&mdash;significantly mitigating risk while maintaining standards.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Basement Remodel pros in Durham, NY

*The Angi rating for Basement Remodel companies in Durham, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Basement Remodel needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Basement Remodel companies in Durham, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Basement Remodel needs.

Last update on May 31, 2023

Reviewed in May 2023
Dan did an amazing job with our project! He built a solid, level foundation and constructed a large shed with loft area. He was skilled, efficient, dependable, and knowledgeable. And also just an all around cool, friendly person to work with. We would not hesitate to call him for additional...
Shapiro Construction
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Reviewed in August 2022
Was waiting to see if the ground beetles (in the 1,000's) would finally disappear. Dread going down the basement as they come every year. I am praying this is the last time I will see them. Did not reply to you until I thought I could give you the most honest answer. They are very efficient...
Meerkat Pest Control, LLC
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Reviewed in October 2021
Our 200 year old house was in need of a new roof and a few other repairs. Masana Roofing came out the next day and gave me the best price out of quite a few competitors. I would hire them all over again.. Great work ethic
Masana Roofing And Construction
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Reviewed in April 2021
I wanted to have an organized kitchen and I wanted to be able to reach everything. Danielle helped me rearrange everything and created spaces that will help me stay organized. I love my pantry! Everything is within reach and looks neat!
D'Clutter
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Reviewed in August 2019
Randy and his team did a great job on our project. My wife and I love the kitchen remodel. Randy, Victor and his team were professional and trustworthy, which was important to us since we live on the east coast and could not be here to supervise the work. Some minor punch list items were quickly...
Legacy Constructors, Inc.
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Reviewed in November 2017
Hudson Valley Home Improvements have done a roof for me as well as a bathroom remodel. Sebastian is the Lead man I trusted to do this work at my home without my presence. Everything was done to perfection. I'm very happy with all aspects of their performance, will continue to use their...
Hudson Valley Home Improvments
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Reviewed in February 2017
if you want something done right look no further. Gary can literally do the work of a normal contractor at 2x the quality in half the time. Gary was faced with a difficult task in redoing the our basement bathroom given all the plumbing was under 12 inches of concrete however he showed up with...
G Greenwald Carpentry and General Contractor
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Reviewed in March 2015
I contacted 5 different companies to provide estimates for mold removal for a small house we were buying as an investment in our neighborhood. We could not close on the house until the mold was removed from the exposed basement floor joists. Of the five contractors, Kevin was chosen because 1.)...
Kleen Breeze, Inc.
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Reviewed in April 2014
They do excellent work and get things done fast with quality work. They definitely do professional work that looks fantastic. I would highly recommend them for your bathroom remodel. We were not sure what we wanted as far as design goes, but Sergey offered excellent design ideas and pictures of...
V & S Tile LLC & Bathroom Remodeling Co
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Reviewed in January 2009
The team came in, with all of the equipment, including a dumpster, took EVERYTHING out of the basement, down to the studs, cleaned the area, and removed every bit of the material that had any evidence of possible mold. Sheet rock, carpeting and ceiling tiles were removed. We were very happy...
Expediant Environmental Solutions, LLC
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Find Basement remodelers in Durham

C & J Custom Builders Inc

4.8(

)

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Jerry and his team did a fabulous job on our basement egress window. Fantastic communication, before during and after the job. Excellent workmanship. Cleaned up very well after the big job. Flexibly worked with our schedule. Jerry even gave me advice on laying out our basement remodel (we are doing it ourselves) and gave me advice on materials and design. Totally happy. Would recommend C&J without reservation!"

+36

Response time2 days

6 neighbors recently requested a quote

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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EBR Construction, LLC

5.0(

)

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2025

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

We are a locally owned and operated company that values honesty and integrity and treats your home as if it were our own. We offer a variety of General Contractor services that are customizable to each individual project. You will find us to be competitively priced, paying close attention to the details of each and every project that we are involved with. We look forward to building lasting relationships and guarantee your satisfaction!

23 neighbors recently requested a quote

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Greene County Contracting LLC

5.0(

)

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Jack was professional, his workmanship is outstanding. He is hardworking and kept us informed of what we could expect so there were no surprises. His estimate was fair and less than another contractor we had look at the job. We will be giving him more work as our complex has 23 units. The HOA is very pleased with Greene County Contractors."

Response time2 days

Response rate88%

2 neighbors recently requested a quote

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2008

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

We invite you to experience a tradition of customer satisfaction that will exceed your greatest expectations. Our professionalism and quality workmanship will accurately reflect your taste and lifestyle. From conception to completion we work with you until the job is done. We thrive to take care of all of our clients unique needs. We are ethical, honest and easy to communicate with. Call us today you'll be pleased you did. Thank you

Response time10 mins

Response rate100%

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 1990

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Sharif and his crew did an incredible job and are all very skilled contractors! They all went above and beyond and were a pleasure to have around. They paid attention to detail and finished the project in a timely manner. I enjoyed seeing them pull in and get to work! The overall result and experience was fantastic and I will be using them for multiple more projects after this one and would truly recommend them to anyone! 5 stars!!!"

+59

Recommended by94%of homeowners

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 2002

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I'm writing another review for T&T because after he did the work on my roof, he gave me a call to make sure everything was going ok and I was happy with the work he did. I thought that was pretty decent of him.
"

Recommended by91%of homeowners

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L & H Construction Company

4.5(

)

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 2004

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Guys performed job well and looks great. Tim and his crew cleaned up site and were respectful and professional. I'd consider Tim for future work"

Recommended by88%of homeowners

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Dan Shapiro displayed Great knowledge and expertise in helping remodel a two family home in Troy. Dan goes the extra mile to make sure every last detail is perfect. Quality work, great prices, would recommend to anybody!"

+52

Response time1 day

Recommended by95%of homeowners

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Westside Home Improvement

3.6(

)

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 1971

Credit card accepted

Westside Home Improvement, Inc. has been owned and operated by Alan Amerman since 1971. Alan has extensive experience in masonry, siding, roofing, carpentry, gutters etc. He personally will come out to your home, business, etc. to provide you with a free estimate of the potential job himself. ---- Alan makes sure that he is at every job site to oversee his employees and make sure that our client is getting the best quality and most professional work possible. ---- Here's a few facts about Westside Home Improvement Inc. : We are fully insured - We do FREE work for the SPCA and other animal shelters. We look forward to help you on your next project!!

Serving Durham, NY and surrounding areas

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They laid my floor in my living room and hall way, they did a fantastic job , beautiful work , would recommend in a heart beat. They did it no time , professional, on time and responsive."

+19

Recommended by83%of homeowners

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Showing 1-10 of 86

Basement Remodel questions, answered by experts

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.

Since DIYing a basement remodel isn't typically advised, there are some ways that you can still save money on this project without putting yourself in danger. Some ways to save money on a basement remodel include:

Painting walls yourself versus including in the cost of the remodel
Installing light fixtures yourself
Choosing prefabricated fixtures, like cabinets, over custom ones
Choosing a budget-friendly flooring option, like laminate or vinyl flooring, and add rugs where necessary

Although it’s not required, air ventilation in a finished basement can help improve the air quality, prevent moisture and mold issues, keep musty odors away, and also maintain the air quality throughout the rest of your home. Proper ventilation will help maintain the value of your investment in finishing your basement. Try basement ventilation methods like installing vents or a dehumidifier for best results.

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.

Professional remodelers streamline the process, manage permits, and handle renovations efficiently—significantly mitigating risk while maintaining standards.

The Durham, NY homeowners’ guide to basement remodels

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

See all articles

Rachel Hoffman
•
May 2, 2026May 2, 2026
How Much Does a Basement Remodel Cost? [2026 Data]
A basement remodel can often cost as much as adding another room. However, homeowners should consider the usefulness and ROI of a remodel.
Haley Nothstein
•
May 30, 2026May 30, 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Frame a Basement? [2026 Data]
The first step toward a cozy finished basement is adding its framing. How much does it cost to frame a basement? Let's break down the numbers.
Rachel Hoffman
•
May 2, 2026May 2, 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement? [2026 Data]
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.
Amy Freeman
•
Apr 10, 2026Apr 10, 2026
Basement Remodel on a Budget: Yes, You Can Do It
Do you have a finished basement? If you want to give it a new lease on life, find out how you can do a basement remodel on a budget.
Melissa Graham
•
May 18, 2026May 18, 2026
5 Questions to Ask About Basement Remodels
These questions for professional contractors can help address your basement remodeling needs, design, and the best time to start the project.
Lawrence Bonk
•
May 21, 2026May 21, 2026
These 8 Red Flags Will Help You Spot a Bad Basement Remodeler
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.