Drawings, then permits
We draw the layout and apply for the building permit, plus the trade permits for electrical, plumbing and heating. Nothing is framed until the permit is issued.
Edmonton basement finishing
Basements. Nothing else.
A small crew led by Erik Halvorsen. We turn bare concrete into family rooms, gyms, bedrooms, bathrooms and legal secondary suites, and we check for moisture before a single stud goes up.
- Moisture firstWe test the slab and walls before we quote. Wet concrete gets dealt with, not covered.
- A written quote and scheduleLine by line, with the weeks laid out, signed before any work starts.
- Permits where requiredWe pull them, book the inspections and keep the paperwork for you.
What we build
Five kinds of room, all below grade.
Every one starts the same way: a dry, insulated, properly framed shell. What goes on top is up to you.
Family and media rooms
Most commonOpen space for the couch and the screen, with dimmable pot lights, a dedicated circuit for the TV wall and sound insulation in the ceiling so upstairs stays quiet.
Home gyms
Rubber floorsRubber flooring over a level slab, extra outlets where the treadmill goes, a fresh air supply and mirror walls fixed to blocking, not drywall anchors.
Bedrooms
Egress windowsA real bedroom needs a window you can climb out of. We size it, cut the opening with a concrete crew, and build a window well that drains.
Bathrooms
Rough-in or newFrom a powder room on an existing rough-in to a full shower bathroom where we cut the slab for new drains. Fans vented outside, never into the joists.
Legal secondary suites
Permits + inspectionsKitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and a separate entrance, built to pass the City's inspections. Explained in plain words below.
Legal secondary suites
What "legal" actually means for a basement suite.
A legal suite is one the City has permitted and inspected. It is safer for whoever lives there, and it is the version your insurer and a future buyer will ask about.
Not every basement can become one. Ceiling height, a separate way in and room for the windows decide it, so we check those on the first visit.
Windows you can escape through
Every bedroom needs a window big enough to climb out of, with a well outside that gives room to stand. Most basements need at least one opening cut wider.
A barrier between two homes
Fire-rated drywall between the suite and the house above, sealed openings, solid doors, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms wired to each other.
Checked before it is covered
Inspectors look at the framing and rough-ins before insulation and drywall hide them, then at the finished suite. We book each visit and meet them on site.
How a basement goes
About eight weeks, in this order.
A typical family room with a bathroom. A legal suite runs longer because of the extra inspections. Your written schedule shows your own weeks.
Moisture check
Meter readings on the slab and walls, a look at the grading and downspouts outside. Before we quote.
Framing
Walls held off the concrete on a sill gasket, bulkheads boxed around ducts.
Insulation
Rigid foam against the concrete, batts between the studs, a sealed vapour barrier.
Electrical and plumbing rough-in
Wiring, drains, supply lines and duct runs, then the rough-in inspections.
Drywall
Hang, tape, three coats of mud, sand and prime. The dustiest stretch, with plastic and fans running.
Finishes
Flooring, doors, trim, tile, fixtures, paint, then a walk-through with you and a written list of anything left.
Water coming in from outside? That is not our job.
We do not repair foundation cracks or waterproof from the outside. If the moisture check finds water getting through the wall, we refer you to a foundation specialist, and we come back to frame once it is fixed and dry.
Prices
Honest ranges, before you call.
Every basement is quoted on its own after a site visit. These are the ranges most of our Edmonton projects land in, before GST.
| Project | Most land between | What is in it |
|---|---|---|
| Family or media room | $38,000 to $62,000 | Around 600 to 900 sq ft open space, pot lights, flooring, paint. No bathroom. |
| Home gym | $22,000 to $40,000 | Rubber floor, extra circuits, fresh air, mirror wall on blocking. |
| Bedroom | $16,000 to $30,000 | Per bedroom, with closet. The top of the range includes cutting an egress window. |
| Bathroom | $22,000 to $38,000 | Shower bathroom. Less on an existing rough-in, more if we cut the slab for drains. |
| Full basement | $70,000 to $110,000 | About 1,000 sq ft: family room, one bedroom, one bathroom, laundry tidied. |
| Legal secondary suite | $115,000 to $175,000 | Kitchen, bathroom, one or two bedrooms, fire separation, separate entrance, permits. |
- Egress windowsCutting the foundation and building a well adds roughly $6,500 to $11,000 per window.
- PlumbingAn existing rough-in saves a lot. Breaking the slab for new drains does not.
- Ducts and beamsLow ducts mean bulkheads; moving them raises the ceiling and the cost.
- A separate entranceA side door with exterior stairs is often the biggest single line on a suite.
- FinishesVinyl plank versus engineered wood, stock doors versus solid core. You choose.
Example basements
The kind of room we hand back.
These photos are examples of the kind of work we do, not a particular client's home.
About Erik
"I stopped doing kitchens and decks so I could get one thing right. Basements are where shortcuts hide behind drywall."
Erik Halvorsen runs a small crew out of south Edmonton. He is on every site, starts every job with a moisture meter instead of a sketch, and still does the walk-through with you himself.
The trades we bring in, electricians, plumbers and the concrete cutters for egress windows, are people we have worked with for a long time. You get one schedule and one person to call.
Request an estimate
Tell us about the basement.
A rough idea is plenty. This form sends your request to us; nothing is booked or charged.
- Erik reads it and calls you back to talk it through.
- If it makes sense, we set up a site visit with a moisture check.
- You get a written quote and schedule. No obligation.
FAQ
Questions we hear on most site visits.
Do I need a permit to finish my basement?
In Edmonton, developing a basement generally needs a building permit, plus trade permits for new electrical, plumbing and heating work. We confirm what your project needs and apply for it as part of the job.
Can you fix the crack in my foundation?
No. Crack repair and waterproofing from outside go to a foundation specialist. We will tell you what we found and who to call, then come back once it is dry.
Can we live upstairs while you work?
Yes, almost everyone does. We seal the stairs with a zip door, run air scrubbers during drywall and keep to working hours you agree to.
My ceiling is low. Can it still be a suite?
Maybe. Minimum ceiling heights and clearance under ducts and beams decide it. We measure on the first visit and tell you plainly if a family room is the better plan.
How do payments work?
A deposit when you sign, then payments tied to stages you can see: framing done, drywall up, final walk-through. It is all written into the contract before we start.
Do you do kitchens or decks?
No, only basements. If a suite needs a kitchen, we build that one, below grade.