How to Remodel a Basement: A Case Study

One unanticipated consequence of the pandemic? It made most us refocus on the importance of ‘home’ and the need maximize every square foot of space available to create our very own sanctuary to relax and enjoy! From separate home offices to rec rooms to the creation of a guest suite (now you can finally have extended family and friends to stay again!), there’s nowhere in your home that provides more flexibility than your basement. 

Whether you are looking to finish an unfinished basement or redesign your existing space and improve functionality, there’s never been a better time for a basement renovation. If you haven’t undertaken a major home remodel before, it’s hard to know what to expect. So, join us as we take a look behind the scenes of a custom basement remodel in McLean!

The Space

The basement of this home in McLean was already a finished space, but the homeowners were ready to rethink and redesign it to provide better functionality and remodel it to be more in keeping with their modern design aesthetic. There were lots of opportunities to create separate zones, make a statement with a gorgeous new bar and fireplace as well as other updates to the powder room and home gym. New flooring throughout was the final touch to give this basement a whole new look.

The Design Plan

As with all projects we work on, it was important to discuss the remodeling budget upfront so we could partner with the homeowners and create a design that met their investment goals.  If you’re asking yourself the question, “How much does a basement remodel cost?”, we’ve got answers! Read our previous blog to help you work through the many ways you can complete a basement renovation and a realistic guide to pricing here. 

At Synergy, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach! That’s why we provide a number of design options for homeowners to consider during the preliminary design phase. This allows us to work together on creating the perfect customized floor plan and design. As the project progresses, we also create 3D images so our clients get a realistic idea of what the finished space will look like. 

Our Interior Designers partnered with this homeowner to come up with the perfect design for their space and select all the finishes for their basement. As this stage of the process is in progress, a customized project plan (also referred to as a ‘production schedule’) was created for our clients so they knew exactly when we’d start the project and how long it would take to complete.

The Construction Phase

We believe it’s important to know who is in your home during the construction phase of your remodel. We have an in-house team of carpenters at Synergy. One of our Carpenters is assigned to each project we work on. They may also be assisted by an Apprentice Carpenter and other Synergy team members depending on the work being done. The Lead Carpenter is our client’s day-to-day contact and they are responsible for both working on the project and overseeing any specialty trades who will be in our client’s home. 

In our basement remodel case study, Lead Carpenter Henry was assigned to this home remodel. Read more about our talented team here. The construction zone was separated from the rest of the home with zippered walls and we ran a 3-stage HEPA air filter to reduce viruses, dust and germs in the rest of the home. Although we have used HEPA filters in our home remodels for many years, with this remodel taking place at the height of the pandemic, it was never so important to create a safe working area for both our clients and our team.

The Final Reveal!

Keeping our timeline commitments to clients is one of the highest priority items for us. No matter who you work with, your chosen contractor or home remodeling company should be able to give you a start date and explain the process clearly to you. We loved working with this client who shared the following quote with us, “Not sure if projects have names, but we’ve called ours the Presidential Basement since it started exactly on election day and completed on Inauguration. Now that is some great project planning!” Read more about our approach here.

Are you ready for your custom basement renovation? As a full service design-build home remodeling company, we work with you from the start to finish of your project. That means partnering with you on the design of your perfect basement all the way through construction. We have an in-house team of Interior Designers, Carpenters and Project Managers, so you have one point of accountability and no hand-offs between companies and contractors. 

A call costs nothing and there’s no obligation! If you’d like to chat about what’s possible, give us a call!