Basement Finishing in Baltimore

What does basement finishing include?

A Solomon basement finish takes bare concrete and block all the way to a finished, usable room. We frame the walls, run what the space needs for lighting and outlets, hang and finish drywall, lay flooring, and finish with paint, trim and doors. Wet bars, laundry rooms and new stairs can be part of the same job.

A typical full basement goes in this order:

1. Moisture check and planning. We look for signs of water and lay out rooms, doors and storage.
2. Framing. New stud walls for rooms, hallways and closets, plus framing around ducts and beams.
3. Rough-in. Lighting, outlets and any plumbing for a bar or laundry, done under trade permits.
4. Drywall. Hung, taped, mudded and sanded. Our drywall installation and repair page covers finishing in detail.
5. Flooring and finish. LVP or coated concrete, then baseboards, doors, paint and lights.

Moisture comes first

Moisture has to be under control before anything gets closed in. Drywall, framing and flooring will not survive a basement that takes on water, and mold behind a new wall is a far bigger problem than a damp floor today. We are not a waterproofing company, but we check every basement before we quote the finish work.

What we look for:

• White, chalky deposits or water stains on block walls and the floor
• Damp spots, puddles or a musty smell after rain
• Gutters, downspouts and grading that send water toward the foundation
• Old patches or cracks that have been leaking

If we see a moisture problem, we tell you plainly and recommend getting it handled by a waterproofing specialist first. Sometimes the fix is as simple as extending a downspout. Sometimes it needs more. Either way, we’d rather wait than finish a basement that won’t stay dry.

What flooring works best in a basement?

Luxury vinyl plank is the usual choice for finished basement rooms because it handles moisture better than hardwood or carpet and stays comfortable underfoot. In one basement we installed gray LVP with black baseboards and white walls. In another, we put wood-look LVP throughout, with recessed lights and a navy wet bar. See our flooring installation page for more on LVP and subfloor prep.

For laundry rooms and utility spaces, a coated concrete floor is practical and easy to clean. In one laundry room we rolled a gray coating onto the concrete, so the room looks finished without a full floor system.

Wet bars and laundry rooms

A wet bar and a proper laundry room are two of the most useful things you can add to a basement, and both depend on where the existing drain and supply lines run. Our navy wet bar pairs navy cabinets and a mini fridge with wood-look LVP and recessed lighting.

A laundry room can be a utility space and still look finished. In one basement laundry, the washer, dryer and utility sink sit on a wall of black-and-white patterned tile. We painted the block walls and coated the concrete floor gray. Both rooms are on our finished basements project page.

New basement stairs

Old basement stairs are often the weakest part of the space, with worn treads, loose railings and stringers that have dried out or cracked over the years. We build new staircases with wood treads and a handrail along the wall, laid out with even risers so the stair is safe to use with your hands full.

One client had us replace basement stairs that were losing their integrity and told us the new ones came out great and the job was done on time. If your stair needs reframing or a new opening, our framing work covers that.

Do I need a permit to finish a basement?

Most basement finishes need a permit, and which ones depends on what you’re adding. In Baltimore City, new partitions, electrical, plumbing or mechanical work make a basement finish an interior alteration. That needs a permit with existing and proposed floor plans, plus trade permits. (DHCD permit categories)

In Baltimore County, finishing an unfinished basement needs no building permit unless the job involves structural changes, a moved bearing wall, a new bedroom or excavation. A house in a flood zone, historic district or the Critical Area also needs one. Plumbing, gas and electrical work always needs trade permits pulled by a Master Plumber or Electrician licensed with the County. A basement bedroom needs an egress window or a door to the outside. (Baltimore County PAI) Howard County lists finished basements among the alterations that need a building permit. Confirm for your address.

What affects the cost of finishing a basement?

What you build inside the space sets the cost, and square footage comes second. One open room with drywall and flooring is a simpler job than a basement split into a bedroom, a bar, a laundry and a hallway. The main drivers:

• Moisture work first. Any waterproofing or drainage fix is a separate job that comes before ours.
• Walls and doors. Each new room adds framing, drywall, doors and trim.
• Electrical. The number of circuits, outlets and recessed lights.
• Plumbing. A bar or laundry far from the existing drain needs longer runs.
• Ducts and beams. Low ductwork and beams need soffits and more drywall work.
• Flooring and stairs. LVP throughout versus coated concrete, and whether the stair is replaced.
• Permits. A new bedroom brings egress requirements and drawings.

We give a written price after we’ve checked the space for moisture and measured it.