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Basement Finishing Vs Basement Remodeling in denver, Colorado

You should let your designer know if you have a finished basement or an unfinished basement when remodeling your Denver basement. You and your designer can work together to create the basement of your dreams based on the current condition of your basement.

In order to decide what options you have for remodeling your basement, you first need to know whether it’s finished or unfinished.

BASEMENT FINISHING DEFINED

An unfinished basement is an unlivable and uninhabitable space. You typically need a basement finish when your current space lacks drywall, insulation, plumbing, and finished flooring. 

There may be some aspects of partially finished basements that have been surveyed, such as electricity or basic drywall, but they still need significant work in order to be fully finished. Remodeling your basement should be part of your scope of work when planning the project. You can rest assured that your design-build partner will be with you every step of the way.

FBC also offers nearly finished basements if you need a basement finish and would like to DIY some of the work. 

Nearly finished basements include:

  • Custom design and construction documents
  • All new walls, ceilings, and architectural features
  • Heating, air conditioning, and fireplace installation
  • Fully finished electrical, and rough-in plumbing
  • Ceiling insulation per current construction codes
  • Wall insulation as wanted or needed with fully finished drywall
  • Painted ceiling and prime coats on walls with ceiling color
  • Inspections for all rough-in, electrical and HVAC

From there, you can opt to finish your remodel with FBC, or DIY the rest of your basement!

basement finish versus basement remodel

Basement Remodeling Defined

You can move in to a finished basement whenever you like, and it will look as complete as the rest of your home. Homeowners decide from there if they would like to renovate or reconfigure the space. That’s what we call a basement remodel. Remodeling a basement entails gutting and refinishing an existing basement. Renovating a basement is great for older homes, basements that aren’t up to code, or those without permits.

The gutting and renovation of a space allows your design-build partner to bring your basement up to code, giving you the best layout and design for your space and adding value to the property. You can move walls, add or move plumbing, create new rooms, and customize a space that suits your family’s needs.

The following are some popular remodels:

  • Building a bar in a basement that is already finished
  • Finishing an unfinished area of a previously finished and permitted basement
  • Adding bedrooms, bathrooms, or specialty areas like a home gym or theater 


Contact Our Team to Start today

OUR BASEMENT FINISHING AND BASEMENT REMODELING PROCESS

It’s important to ask your remodeling partner how they design and build a basement. Here at FBC, we have a proven process that we know you will love:

OUR DESIGN-BUILD PROCESS

Step 1

Contact Us

Ready to get started? You can contact us here on our site or via phone. You’ll get to speak with our design coordinator, Jenny, who will schedule you for your free design consultation at a time and date that is convenient for you.


Contact Us

Step 2

FREE DESIGN CONSULTATION

We’re excited to listen and understand how your home is and isn’t working for you. Our number one priority for this visit is to learn what your needs are. How do you currently use the space? What do you wish it was like? How should it evolve with family in the future? Your dedicated designer will share our philosophy and explain our design-build process further. If we seem like a good match, we’ll move on to the design process.

Step 3

MEASURING

Your designer will come to your home and measure out the space to create an “as-built” drawing.  Over the next week or two, your designer will create two 3D renderings of your completed design to present in your next meeting!

Step 4

IDEAS MEETING

Your design team will have worked out several plans that turn your needs into beautiful, smart designs. Our clients are amazed by the way our experienced designers bring their plans to life. We’ll walk through 3D renderings to help you visualize your new space. You’re an important part of this meeting and an integral member of the design team, so be ready to collaborate. Your engagement is essential for creating a space that changes not just your home, but the way you live in it.

Step 5

SELECTIONS MEETING

It’s time to select the materials for your space! In this meeting, you and your designer will meet at a design center, where you’ll choose the perfect materials, colors, and style to complete the look and feel of your home remodel.

Step 6

PRODUCTION WALK

Now, it’s time to meet your Project Manager (PM)! Your PM will be your point of contact throughout construction, and will manage your production schedule as well as all of the trades working in your home. In this meeting, your PM will walk the areas you’re remodeling to jot down anything of note for the construction team. They’ll also look to get ahead of any potential challenges that may affect the timeline of your project so that we can give you the most accurate schedule for your remodel.

Step 7

PLAN REVIEW

In this meeting, we will review final construction drawings and the menu of pricing options. Within the construction drawings you will see all detailed elements of your project. Full elevations and construction notes are completed. Within the pricing menu you will see how and which design elements impact the cost of the project. In this meeting, we bring the design and budget together, select a construction start date for your project and sign construction contracts. 

Step 8

CONSTRUCTION

It’s finally time to bring your new home to life! Construction of your space will take between 7 and 16 weeks, depending upon the scope, size, and complexity of your design. You will receive a detailed construction calendar and weekly updates throughout the project via the Buildertrend mobile app, and your PM will handle everything else (scheduling, material needs, trades) on your behalf. If you have any questions or concerns throughout this stage, your PM will either be on-site or a quick phone call away.

Step 9

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW SPACE!

Your new space is ready for you to move back in and share it with the people you love! At this stage we have successfully build joy in your home. Your vision has been brought to life and we have gone above and beyond all your expectations for your remodel. Now it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your new space! 

BASEMENT FINISH AND REMODELING SERVICES IN denver, colorado

Basement remodeling and finishing share the same advantages. A basement in Colorado is usually a blank slate, with a lot of space to work with. If you remodel your basement, you have the opportunity to design an entire floor of your house!

When you work with a design-build contractor, you can design the layout of your basement to create a space that meets the specific needs of your household. Your basement will be unique.


book your complimentary design consultation

Customer Reviews

FBC Remodel is proud to Build Joy® for homeowners. See what our customers have to say about working with us.

“We can't say enough about the design team at FBC. We had multiple companies bid on our project and everyone else came back with the same basic design (a good but not spectacular layout). But FBC looked at the space from a completely different angle and in the process was able to create everything on our wishlist including an extra room. The design was elegant and functional and our family now benefits from it every day.”

Michael S.

“FBC did an amazing job with our 1600 sq ft basement. The sales team listened to our vision, offered several options and helped us stay within budget. Our PM was fantastic! We received daily communication with minimal life interruption, realistic expectations and partnered with us to ensure every aspect was covered. They even finished early!!! We had met with 2 other contractors and are so happy about our choice! They accommodated our quirky requests for a brewery room, rerouting our laundry dryer vent, closeting our water piping for access and exterior window well changes. Best choice ever!!!”

Heather R.

“The design/construction approach by FBC produced an excellent finished product for us. We added a large recreation room for pool, TV and games along with a bedroom and bathroom. Ceiling soffits, arched entries and angled walls created a unique and inviting space. The project team and trade partners did fine work and we are very happy with our new basement. All work was completed on schedule and within budget. The best part was having all construction access through the basement window. Our only advice is to carefully review all design details to assure that everything you want is clearly specified in the drawings. Then be part of the team by doing quality control as the project moves along.”

Darrel H.
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