Dedicated to Craftmanship and Customer Service
BASEMENT REMODELING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW MUCH DOES A BASEMENT REMODEL COST?
The cost will depend on the size of your basement, the number of rooms, if you are adding a bathroom or a wet bar and the level of finished that you want,
Buttondown Remodeling’s experience, basement remodeling projects are in the $50-75,000 price range and some have exceeded $100,000.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REMODEL A BASEMENT?
Buttondown Remodeling has developed a comprehensive system to remodeling basements. The typical basement takes between 6-8 weeks. Before we start we prepare a daily work schedule for your project.
DO I NEED A BUILDING PERMIT?
es, Buttondown Remodeling always obtains a permit for basement renovations. Permits are required by the township or county to protect homeowners. All of the electrical, plumbing and building work will be inspected to insure that they meet current code.
WHY DO I WANT A PERMIT WHEN IT COSTS ME MONEY?
Basement permits typically cost from $500 - $800. The purpose of a permit is to protect you as a homeowner and to make sure that the contractor does things properly.
DO YOU WORK EVERYDAY?
YES, Monday through Friday. Before we start the job, we schedule every day of the project, lining up materials, inspections and subcontractors. We won’t start a job until this planning is complete.
HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED?
Good planning and experience prevents most surprises. Remember, we have done over 1,000 projects and dozens of basements, we are rarely surprised. If it is an unfinished basement, there should be very few surprises. If we are remodeling an existing basement, most the changes occur during the demo phases.
HOW ARE CHANGES HANDLED?
There are two types of changes, customer changes and hidden conditions.
First our contract is very detailed as what is included in the project. As projects progress, customers sometimes see new opportunities for their project. We will price changes for the customer before any work begins. For small changes, we may agree to do the change based on time and material. In either case, you should not be surprised by your final bill.
Hidden conditions sometimes appear during the demolition phase. With our experience, we anticipate most things, We do not like surprises either!
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A BASEMENT RENOVATION PROJECT?
Everything except cost of the permits is included. We bill you the cost of the permit as change order without any mark-up. Our contract is very detailed as what is included in the project. Our proposals include details like the number of recessed lights and model and finish of the faucet. All labor and sub-contractor fees are included based on the project details.
WHAT ARE ALLOWANCES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
Our goal is to have the owner make the final selection for cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile, plumbing fixtures, appliances, etc. before we sign the contract so the budget is set. We still include all of these items on an allowance schedule because sometimes they change. At the end of the project, we add up what you spent on allowances compare it to the allowance budget and adjust the last payment accordingly.
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL PAYMENT TERMS?
Our typical payment terms for a basement renovation are:
10% upon signing the contract
20% on ordering the cabinets
20% upon the start of construction
25% upon the start of installing cabinets (midway through project)
20% upon substantial completion *
5% upon 100% completion
* Substantial completion is when the project is complete except for a small punch list of items or if we are waiting on delivery of an item.
WHAT CABINETS DO YOU INSTALL?
Our cabinet supplier carries 6 different lines of cabinets. The range from a builder grade cabinet line, semi-custom lines and a full custom line. Or designer will help you select the right cabinet line for you budget and style.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE DUST, DIRT AND PROTECT MY HOUSE?
We are guests in you home and we realize how disruptive and potentially dirty a remodeling project can be. Our mission is to be dedicated to craftmanship and customer service. Customer service means dust control.
Vacuums: We put a vacuum on every job site. Everyday me and my sub-contractors we will leave you job broom clean. Periodically I will also vacuum.
Dust Barriers: We install temporary dust barriers between the kitchen and the rest of the house. We will use zipper doors as required.
Protective Film: We will cover your carpets and floors with protective films to keep them damage free and as clean as possible.
ARE YOUR SUB-CONTRACTORS INSURED?
Yes, Buttondown Remodeling requires all subcontractors to carry current liability and the required worker’s compensation insurance. We keep a current copy of their insurance certificate on file.
WHAT IS YOUR WARRANTY
Our warranty period is one year for material and labor. This is the standard warranty for the industry. I will call you after 6 and eleven months to make sure there are not warranty issues.