Basement

Do you have an untapped opportunity lurking beneath your house? We’re talking about your basement—that often underutilized or totally neglected space. Basements have the unique potential to expand your home’s livable space and improve its value. The best part is that basements offer versatile space. It’s up to you to figure out what could make your home in the Twin Cities more comfortable and functional, whether that be a bedroom, guest suite or multifunctional game room. Once you’ve established your vision, our team at Black Dog Homes can help you bring it to fruition with our basement remodeling services and refined design-build process.

What are Common Types of Basement Remodels?

There’s no right or wrong way to use your basement, although certain transformations may be more complex than others. For your basement build-out, focus on what your home is potentially lacking or what type of space is best suited for your lifestyle and future goals. Here are some of the most popular types of basement remodels in the West Suburbs:

1. Bedrooms and Bathrooms

If your family is growing or you have a teenager in need of space and privacy, an extra bedroom could be just right for you. Simply finishing your basement and adding furniture goes a long way in making the room livable for one of your household members or guests. If you want to add a bathroom to the space, you’re looking at a bigger investment and more complex project because of the large fixtures and plumbing work involved.

2. Personal Gyms

Home gyms are another popular use for a finished basement. You can tailor the space to your personal fitness routine. For example, if you enjoy dance or yoga, you may consider hardwood flooring, floor-length mirrors and ambient lighting. If you’re a weight-lifter, you’ll want to make sure you can bring all your favorite equipment into the space. You can even decide to use a portion of your remodeled basement as a gym and leave the rest for another purpose.

3. Media Rooms

Many families are drawn to the idea of multifunctional media rooms or game rooms where you can watch movies, play video games, listen to music and just lounge around comfortably. You don’t have to worry about low ceilings, since you’ll mostly be seated in the room. A few features to consider for your media room include carpeting, insulated interior walls, platform seating and a few small appliances, like a mini fridge and microwave. If you want a more luxurious home-theater atmosphere, consult an expert to set up a high-quality audio-visual (AV) system.

4. Bars and Wine Cellars

In-home wet bars and wine cellars are also suitable options for your remodeled basement in the Twin Cities. Building a bar is comparable with creating a kitchen, so you should expect your investment to be similar. You can create a truly upscale environment with comfortable lounge seating, statement light fixtures, built-in cabinetry and a pool table. A wine cellar can likewise be scaled to your particular budget and tastes. At the least, you’ll want to set up a bistro table and chairs or some type of seating area where you can enjoy a glass of wine with friends or family.

5. In-law Suites

As multigenerational living becomes more popular, the need for accessory dwelling units (ADU) or in-law suites is also growing. This type of basement remodeling projects involves building a private, apartment-like space that includes everything needed to live independently, such as a bathroom and en suite kitchen space. The space can be used for an aging parent or older child, a live-in caregiver or a tenant.

6. Home Office

With many adults working at least partially from home, it’s become almost essential to have some type of personal office space. Convert your basement into a multifunctional workspace that can be used by both you and other family members for professional activities, schoolwork and other projects. Proper lighting, desk space and the right equipment and supplies are all keys to creating a comfortable home office.

How Much Does a Basement Remodel Cost in the West Suburbs?

The cost to finish or remodel a basement in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area varies based on several factors: the size and current condition of the space, your scope of work and what you’re converting the basement into. If your basement is currently uninhabitable—with exposed pipes, concrete walls, no emergency exits and no ceiling—you’ll need to finish those tasks before retrofitting the space for your particular purpose. Any projects that involve extensive plumbing, electrical and HVAC work or large fixtures tend to require a larger investment. In general, you can expect to spend about $75,000 to $150,000 for your basement remodel. Once we know what type of space you need for your home, we can help you design a basement remodeling plan and develop a budget based on real costs.

Working with Our Design-Build Process

Finishing and remodeling your basement is a complex project, especially as you have to make sure the space is properly waterproofed and your home’s foundation secured. When you’re making any sort of significant investment to improve your home, you want to get the most from it. Maximizing the value of your basement remodel—whatever it may be—starts with careful planning, preparation and design. Only then can you seamlessly move into constructing your new space.

At Black Dog Homes, we want to help you develop a plan that captures your vision and project priorities within the budget you’ve allotted for the project. That’s why we’ve developed our refined design-build process, giving you access to all the critical remodeling services you need under one roof.

We help you navigate the design phase and handle important pre-construction tasks, such as hiring subcontractors, pulling permits and establishing a production schedule. From there, you can rely on our team to bring your vision to life with our construction services. Having one source of accountability and one point of contact from start to finish leads to a more seamless, efficient basement remodeling process.

Remodeling Your Basement in the West Suburbs

It’s likely your family has changed since you first moved into your home in the West Suburbs of the Twin Cities. If so, your home is ripe for a home improvement project to ensure the space fits your lifestyle needs as well as it used to. Whether you need a new bedroom, a home office or a multipurpose media room, our team at Black Dog Homes has the experience and expertise to guide you through both design and construction. With our basement remodeling services, we can help you make the most of existing space at your home.