Five Key Questions to Ask When Choosing the Best Basement Remodeling Contractors in Birmingham
As a Birmingham homeowner, you understand the potential to transform every room in your home, including the basement, which may be overdue for renovation. A remodeled basement offers increased living space, added property value, improved energy efficiency, and the excitement of creating a home office, gym, or entertainment center. However, finding a trustworthy and qualified local basement remodeling contractor can feel overwhelming. How do you choose the right one?
As a trusted design-build firm with decades of experience serving Birmingham homeowners, we understand how critical it is to find the right partner for your basement remodeling project. Transforming an underused basement into a beautiful, functional space can elevate your entire home—but it requires a skilled team with expertise in basement finishing and a deep understanding of Birmingham homes. In this post, we’ll share key questions to ask local contractors to ensure you choose the best design-build team for your needs.
Question #1: Does the Basement Remodeling Contractor Have Specific Experience in Basement Finishing?
Each living space in your Birmingham home has distinct remodeling opportunities and challenges, and your basement is in a class by itself. For starters, basements are prone to dampness, mold, and flooding; they often have low ceilings, with limited to no natural lighting; furnaces, water heaters, and plumbing can get in the way and might need to be concealed; egress windows and doors, along with ventilation and soundproofing might have to be added; and load-bearing walls, beams, or columns are often additional structural considerations.
Given these basement-specific needs, partnering with a local contractor experienced in basement remodeling is essential. Ask whether they have specialized expertise, including a thorough understanding of Birmingham’s local basement codes. Since basement remodels can be particularly complex, it’s crucial to hire a firm with a proven, comprehensive design-build approach led by a skilled and dedicated project manager. Additionally, request reliable client testimonials and review an extensive portfolio of their local basement projects.
Question #2: Does the Contractor Showcase a Strong Portfolio of Basement Renovations?
A powerful remodeling portfolio contains more than just photos—it’s also a testament to a firm’s unique style, quality craftsmanship, and focused expertise. At MainStreet Design Build, we take pride in showcasing our basement projects, ranging from well-designed, versatile entertainment areas to elegant living spaces. We invite clients to explore our portfolio to discover the diversity of our work and how we transform each homeowner’s vision into reality through thoughtful design and meticulous execution. Here are two standout basement projects that exemplify our approach:
Rustic Urban Lounge Birmingham Basement Remodel
“We were excited to get pretty much a blank slate for creating a combined gourmet kitchen, adult lounge, kids’ play area, and decked-out home gym and bathroom in the fully renovated basement of this nearly new Birmingham home,” smiles Kim McDevitt, General Manager of Mainstreet Design Build. With 875 square feet across the lower level to remodel, the dedicated team started with the expectations of the Birmingham homeowners and exceeded them in droves. “Our friends love our new kitchen,” beams the client, Pat. “They are very jealous.”
“The entertainment area became a stunning focal point around which the rest of the revitalized basement experience revolves,” explains Amy Fischer, Interior Designer on the project. “We added a full wall of custom-made built-ins, which house a large screen TV and a vast array of books and games. An open bar detail with customized wood columns, and a live edge ash bar top with corrugated metal wainscotting, act as a seamless partition, with barn doors that stylishly hide expansive new storage. We even added a unique LEGO table that matches the style.”
“We loved going above and beyond on this basement,” agrees Steve Ramaekers, Co-founder and Creative Director. “The home gym includes an easy clean, soft rubber floor, surrounded by mirrored walls and an all-purpose workout barre. Icing on the cake, we renovated a full bath for fitness enthusiasts and guests alike that follows the same urban design with black wall-hung cabinetry, and a reclaimed walnut countertop. The black-paned shower door fronts an oversized shower with stunning oversized porcelain tiles, black fixtures, and a handy wall-to-wall niche.”
Lower-Level Birmingham Remodel
“What a mess our team started with!” says Christine Ramaekers, Co-founder and Creative Director of Interior Design. “The Quarton Lake home in the heart of Birmingham was gorgeous on the outside but made little sense on the inside. Designed with multiple floors, the kitchen and family room were down seven steps, with a primary suite above the family room requiring another two steps to get to the bathroom addition. With steps all over, an uninhabitable main floor, and a cramped family room, the dangerous, dysfunctional layout had to be entirely redone.”
“Christine’s not kidding,” agrees Amy, shaking her head. “So we had to redesign the entire interior layout. Our design-build team gutted almost the whole house and redesigned it from scratch. The kitchen was moved to the main floor with a large walk-in pantry taking the place of the original dining room and powder room. The rarely used living room was entirely re-created into a gorgeous dining space. The overwhelming granite fireplace was covered in a new custom paneled surround, leaving only a hearth and a small surround of pretty green stone. Voila!”
“The basement was where it all came together,” nods Kim. “A mudroom was added off of the new side entry, creating a lovely landing space to welcome residents at day’s end. It looks across a newly relocated powder room and coat closet, creating a bright opening into the renovated family room, with a built-in bar and redesigned fireplace. A new bar created a convenient entertaining space without steps to the first-floor kitchen. An old, outdated, unmanageable floor plan became a beautiful, beckoning home for our clients and their guests.”
Question #3: Does the Birmingham Contractor Pay Attention to Every Detail in Basement Remodeling?
Birmingham home remodels, especially basements, are complex projects demanding focused attention on thousands of details. Don’t hesitate to ask your contractor specific questions regarding their approach to and experience with the minutiae since, before you know it, small problems can become large ones that create avoidable additional costs and frustrating delays. Since a firm’s technical, business, and client service skills are interwoven, an integrated design-build team is your best bet for ensuring you receive the best basement with the least hassle.
First on your list, ask to meet their dedicated project manager. As the sole go-to person throughout the project from start to finish, your PM is the “throat to choke” should any problems arise. A great PM will not only react and solve the inevitable surprises on any remodel but proactively engage the entire team, from architects and designers to craftspeople and builders, to prevent problems before they even happen. Ensuring seamless communication between all team members and you will also heighten overall efficiencies and help guarantee high quality.
Next up, don’t be shy about asking your contractor about having proper licensing that meets industry standards and sufficient insurance coverage for any potential accidents or damage. A thorough knowledge of all Birmingham building codes, including proper egress, ventilation, and structural rules, is also mandatory. Permits and inspections also need to take place. They’re the last thing you want to worry about, so make sure your remodel is up to code and your contractor is completely buttoned up regarding all the details, including budget and timing.
Speaking of which, an integrated and dedicated design-build team is most adept at helping you and your family create the vision of your best basement and bringing it to life with minimal delays, hassle, and change orders. That entails mapping and sharing a detailed timeline, smoothly coordinating all the subcontractors, and, thanks to an efficient, streamlined process, bringing you peace of mind and calm, sleep-filled nights throughout the project. Be warned, though, that many firms claim to be design-build, so spend time looking under the hood.
Question #4: Is the Remodeling Contractor an Active Part of Our Birmingham Community?
Checking if the remodeling contractor is local is only part of a broader ask, which also includes ensuring the Birmingham firm has built a solid local reputation and is networked with local suppliers and employees. So don’t hesitate to ask for direct client testimonials featuring your neighbors and assurances that the contractor can save you money and time by procuring materials and expertise from Birmingham businesses and vendors who cut them deals and give them special treatment thanks to years if not decades of proven and trusted relationships.
The same rules apply for Birmingham-based contractors to provide local references, allowing you to hear from clients who have experienced their work. “We encourage clients to speak directly with previous homeowners to learn about our reliability, quality of work, and commitment to meeting everyone’s expectations,” says Steve from MainStreet. “Our familiarity with Birmingham’s architecture and housing trends helps us design basements that fit harmoniously within the structure and style of local homes,” adds Christine. “We live in and know the neighborhood!”
A local design-build firm also has the benefits of on-site meetings and consultations. Only a Birmingham contractor has the intimate knowledge of the community to create the best basement. “In fact, that’s where our name comes from,” elaborates Christine. “When Steve and I founded our family-owned and operated company more than 30 years ago, we thought ‘MainStreet’ was the perfect name because that’s exactly who we were, and whom we served: the heart of Birmingham. And we live those values with local volunteer and charity work, too.”
“We like to think of ourselves as blending world-class remodeling expertise with the specific needs and expectations of our local clients,” adds Kim. “So we’re eager to answer any of your questions, and can’t wait to include you in our growing family of satisfied Birmingham homeowners.” In addition to asking about basement-specific experience, a look at their portfolio of work, discover their ability to sweat the details and demonstrate local commitment, here are a few questions a reputable and proven design-build contractor should be pleased to answer:
- How will you translate the vision of our best basement to a project plan?
- What kind of communication can I expect from your team?
- How do you handle unexpected challenges or issues during a remodel?
- Can you provide references from recent basement projects in Birmingham?
- What is your timeline for completing a basement remodel like mine?
Question #5: Why is MainStreet Design Build the Best Remodeling Contractor for Basements in Birmingham?
At our design-build firm, we understand the unique requirements of basement remodeling and the importance of local knowledge, experience, and a streamlined process. Choosing a contractor who offers all these qualities makes a significant difference in the outcome of your project. From initial design to final walk-through, we ensure your basement remodel is a rewarding experience and a valid extension of your home’s style and functionality. If you’re ready to start, let’s discuss how we can help bring your basement vision to life with our expertise!
MainStreet Design Build is a full-service, design-build remodeling firm headquartered in Birmingham, MI. The local leader, MainStreet, is committed to delivering a luxurious end-to-end experience with personal care, accountability, timeless design, and exacting attention to detail. Since 1991, our team has made every aspect of the renovation process comfortable, enjoyable, and safe. We ensure your home and basement transformation is completed on time and on budget and exceeds your expectations for the pinnacle of luxury at every turn.
With a deep bench of architects, interior designers, and craftspeople, MainStreet Design Build is favored by discerning homeowners throughout Southeast Oakland County who value high comfort and trust in knowing that their remodeling project will be done RIGHT. Browse our gallery of award-winning basement renovations, ask us for our local references and client testimonials, and schedule a convenient virtual design consultation. Let’s partner today to make your dream basement the best basement reality, and do it with no hassle, on time, and on budget.
