Boulder, CO · Basement Finishing
Turn the lower level into a real part of the house: a legal bedroom with an egress window, a suite, a gym, or a rentable space. We build it dry, to code, with City of Boulder permits handled.
"Josh remodeled my entire house, top to bottom. His team made sure I was informed and satisfied every step of the way. His quotes were fair and honest, and his work was beyond satisfactory."
Tyler B. · whole-home remodelWhat we see in Boulder basements
A lower level is the cheapest square footage you can add in Boulder, where lots are tight and home values are high. At an elevation of about 5,430 feet the ground stays cold, so how a basement is sealed and insulated matters. The older core and the postwar ranches also finish very differently, and the city has real rules for bedrooms and rentals. Here is what usually turns up.
A basement bedroom is only legal with an egress window and well big enough to climb out of. In older Mapleton Hill and Whittier homes that means cutting the foundation for the opening. Newer Table Mesa ranches are usually easier. We size it to code and pull the permit.
Homes near downtown, including Mapleton Hill, a designated historic district, often have short, damp lower levels with older foundations. We handle moisture first, add height where we can, and build so the finished room stays dry. A finished basement over a wet floor is a mistake we do not make.
Radon is common across the Front Range, so testing and a mitigation system are worth planning before you close up the space. It is far cheaper to rough in a radon system while the basement is open than to add one later.
If you plan to rent the lower level, Boulder requires a rental license before it can be used or advertised, and licensed rentals must meet the city's SmartRegs energy standard. We build the space to make that path realistic. This comes up a lot near University Hill.
Boulder holds work to a strict energy code. We insulate the walls to the required R-values and detail the space so it holds heat, which makes the lower level comfortable instead of the cold room nobody uses in winter.
Finishing a basement adds framing, electrical, and often plumbing, so it pulls a permit with the City of Boulder Planning and Development Services. We submit through the city's Customer Self-Service Portal and schedule the inspections so the work is signed off and counts toward your home value.
Verified Google reviews
The same things come up again and again: honest quotes, a crew that keeps you informed, and a clean site at the end of every day.
"Josh remodeled my entire house, top to bottom. His team made sure I was informed and satisfied every step of the way. His quotes were fair and honest, and his work was beyond satisfactory."
"They remodeled my bathroom and built a metal railing around my staircase. They did a great job on both projects, timely and responsive to all my requests. I would recommend JAC to anyone in the area."
"Joshua and his crew were amazing to work with, professional, communicative, and budget-friendly. Joshua stayed on top of every detail. They get an A+ from me!"
Where we finish basements in Boulder
From the older homes near downtown to the ranches south of Baseline, we work all over the city. A few of the neighborhoods we are in often:
Boulder basement questions
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