Your basement shouldn't be wasted storage or unfinished concrete. Whether you need a family room for the kids, a home office that actually has doors, a guest suite for visiting family, or a rec room with a proper bar, we transform Chicago basements into finished living spaces that add real value to your home and your daily life.
Wood Contracting specializes in basement remodeling Chicago and basement finishing throughout the city, from South Loop townhomes to Lincoln Park single-family homes. We handle the challenges that make Chicago basement renovation unique: low ceiling heights, moisture management, egress requirements, old foundation issues, and building code compliance for living spaces.
Timeline: 4-8 weeks for most projects
Investment Range: $20,000-$80,000+ depending on scope and finishes
Service Area: Chicago neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs
Specialties: Chicago basement finishing, full basement buildouts, rec rooms, home offices, guest suites, home theaters, wet bars, egress windows, moisture control
What's Included: Complete buildout from framing through finishes including framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, lighting, electrical, plumbing if needed, egress solutions, moisture barriers, permits
Warranty: 1-year workmanship guarantee
Completed Projects: 500+ renovations across Chicago
Many Chicago homes have basements that are nothing more than storage for boxes you haven't opened in years. Concrete floors, exposed ceiling joists, bare foundation walls. Meanwhile, your family needs more space: a place for kids to play without destroying the living room, a home office where you can actually close a door, or a guest room so visitors aren't camping on your couch.
The Wood Contracting team specializes in complete basement remodeling transformations. We handle layout planning to maximize your square footage, moisture management and waterproofing, framing and insulation, electrical and lighting design, and creating defined spaces that serve your family's actual needs.
Transform your wasted basement into the most-used space in your home where your family actually wants to spend time.
Chicago townhome basements present unique challenges. Lower ceiling heights than single-family homes, shared walls with neighbors, HOA requirements for soundproofing, limited natural light, and every square foot needs to count. We've completed dozens of townhome basement finishing projects from Lincoln Park to Bucktown, and we know how to make compact basements feel open and function beautifully.
What we do differently: Layouts designed to maximize headroom and avoid that cave feeling. Strategic lighting that compensates for limited windows. Soundproofing solutions that respect shared walls. Moisture barriers appropriate for below-grade townhome construction. Efficient HVAC extensions that don't eat up precious ceiling height.
We handle all HOA submissions and building coordination. You get a finished basement that adds significant living space to your townhome: space for a home office, guest room, playroom, or the rec room you've been wanting.
Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Old Town, Logan Square basement finishing in historic homes requires navigating unique challenges. These neighborhoods feature beautiful vintage homes with basements that present real obstacles: stone foundations instead of poured concrete, ceiling heights barely meeting code, moisture issues from century-old construction, outdated utilities running everywhere, and structural elements that can't be moved.
We balance respect for old building construction with creating modern, comfortable living space. Moisture management appropriate for stone foundations. Creative solutions for low ceiling heights. Updated electrical and plumbing that meet current codes. Layouts that work around structural posts and old mechanicals.
What makes this work: Understanding how historic Chicago homes were built. Knowing which foundation issues need addressing before finishing. Experience with stone and brick foundation waterproofing. Creative problem solving for ceiling height and layout constraints. Skill to create modern spaces in old bones.
Some homeowners want a luxury basement finish with every detail elevated: custom built-in bars with backsplash tile work, home theater with acoustic treatments and specialty lighting, wine cellars with climate control, guest suites with spa-like bathrooms, hardwood or luxury vinyl flooring, coffered ceilings or architectural details, smart home integration, and sophisticated finishes that rival your main living areas.
Wood Contracting's Chicago basement finishing team excels at high-end installations that require precision craftsmanship. We handle custom millwork and built-ins, intricate tile work for wet bars, integrated AV and lighting systems, climate control for wine storage, luxury bathroom additions, and architectural details that transform your basement into a showpiece entertainment space.
Our luxury basement finishes stand out through meticulous execution: perfectly aligned built-ins, seamless transitions between spaces, custom solutions for mechanical systems, precisely installed tile and stone, factory-quality paint and finish work, and attention to detail that makes guests forget they're in a basement.
This Lincoln Park Chicago single-family home had an unfinished basement that served only as storage space and mechanical access. The area felt dark, disconnected from the rest of the home, and offered no usable living square footage for the growing family. The goal was to complete a full basement remodel in Chicago that added functional living space, addressed moisture and insulation concerns, and created a bright, inviting environment that extended the home's character below grade.
We designed a finished basement that balances comfort with practicality. Luxury vinyl plank flooring was installed over proper moisture barriers and subfloor systems to ensure long-term durability in a below-grade environment. Recessed lighting, neutral paint colors, and strategic layout planning transformed the dark space into a bright multi-use area. We added a full bathroom with modern fixtures, a spacious rec room for family gatherings, and dedicated storage solutions that maintained basement functionality. All mechanical systems were relocated and concealed while maintaining code-required access.
The completed basement is a bright, comfortable, and highly functional addition that nearly doubled the usable living space in this Lincoln Park home. The remodel created a true extension of the main floors while solving common basement challenges like moisture control and natural light limitations. This project demonstrates our expertise in Chicago basement finishing and whole home transformations that maximize property value.
Basement remodeling Chicago transforms unused below-grade space into valuable living areas for your family. Our basement finishing process handles everything from moisture management to egress windows, ensuring your Chicago basement meets building codes while becoming the most-used room in your home.
We begin your basement remodeling Chicago project with an in-home consultation to assess your basement's condition, discuss moisture or foundation concerns, measure ceiling heights, review your vision for the finished space, and establish realistic timelines and budgets for your basement finishing project.
Our team creates a detailed basement finishing plan showing room layouts, egress window locations if needed, electrical and lighting placement, HVAC solutions, and material selections. We design Chicago basements that maximize headroom and create functional spaces tailored to how you'll actually use them.
Basement remodeling Chicago requires permits for framing, electrical, plumbing, and egress. We handle all permit applications with the City of Chicago, ensure compliance with basement building codes, coordinate inspections, and navigate the permitting process so your basement finishing project proceeds smoothly.
Before finishing any Chicago basement, we address moisture issues through proper waterproofing, install or verify sump pump functionality, frame walls with appropriate materials, and install insulation. This foundation work ensures your finished basement stays dry and comfortable for decades.
During basement remodeling, we install all electrical wiring and lighting, extend HVAC for climate control, add plumbing if creating a bathroom, install egress windows where required, and ensure all systems meet Chicago building codes for finished basement living spaces.
We complete your basement finishing with drywall installation and finishing, flooring throughout, paint and trim work, final fixtures and hardware, and a detailed walkthrough to ensure your Chicago basement remodeling exceeds expectations and you're ready to enjoy your new living space.
Basements benefit enormously from custom built-ins. We specialize in installations that maximize function and style: custom bars with tile backsplashes and storage, entertainment centers built around your TV and components, floor-to-ceiling shelving for storage and display, window seats with hidden storage, and built-in desks for home offices.
Our millwork and built-ins elevate finished basements from basic rooms to designed spaces that look intentional, not like afterthoughts.
Basements require proper moisture control or everything fails. We address water before finishing: evaluating foundation conditions and drainage, installing or upgrading sump pumps, applying moisture barriers to walls, using moisture-resistant materials, ensuring proper ventilation and dehumidification.
We don't hide moisture problems behind drywall. We solve them properly so your finished basement stays beautiful for decades, not just until the first big rain.
Chicago basements rarely come easy. Low ceilings, foundation issues, old mechanicals everywhere, egress requirements - we've seen it all and know how to navigate it.
Common challenges we solve: Maximizing headroom in low ceiling basements. Working around furnaces, water heaters, and utility equipment. Installing egress windows that meet code requirements. Improving natural light in below-grade spaces. Creating functional layouts around support posts and beams. Extending HVAC efficiently for comfort. Meeting building codes for basement living spaces. Managing moisture in old foundations.
We've completed basement remodeling Chicagoland wide in Lincoln Park single-families, Wicker Park vintage homes, Bucktown townhomes, Logan Square bungalows, South Loop condos with lower levels. Each neighborhood, each building type, each era brings different considerations for basement renovation.
You're not getting a contractor learning on your project. You're getting a team that's done this repeatedly in basements like yours.
Every basement finishing project in Chicago is unique, and your investment reflects the specific scope of work. The size of your basement, the rooms you create, and the finishes you select all factor into the cost. Final pricing depends on layout complexity, systems required, and building conditions.
See the commonly asked questions Chicago homeowners ask when exploring basement finishing.
Wood Contracting provides professional basement remodeling Chicago services throughout the city and surrounding Chicagoland areas. Our team of experienced basement remodelers Chicago specializes in transforming unfinished basements in condos, townhomes, and single-family homes. Whether you need Chicago basement finishing or a complete basement remodel, contact us today to discuss your project.
Chicago Neighborhoods We Serve:
Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, Roscoe Village, North Center, Old Town, Gold Coast, River North, West Loop, South Loop, Streeterville, Ukrainian Village, Andersonville, Ravenswood, West Town, Pilsen, and Bridgeport.
North Shore & Northern Suburbs:
Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, Glenview, Skokie, Highland Park, Deerfield, and Lincolnwood.
Western Suburbs:
Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, La Grange, Hinsdale, Western Springs, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Naperville, and Downers Grove.
Southern Suburbs:
Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Tinley Park, and Palos Heights.
