Our process

Solid Rock Construction’s Responsibilities:

 

1. Consultation and Contract

Before construction can begin on your basement, we will sit down with you and get your hopes and dreams for your basement down on paper.  We also take this time to find out from you how hands-on you want to be with the project.  Aside from a few homeowner tasks (don’t worry, they’re fun – keep reading!), we will take care of your project from start to finish.  But, since this is your home, we will respect your desire to be communicated with as much or as little as you’d like. Once we have all agreed to the plans, a contract will be drawn up to make sure we both have the same set of expectations.  We don’t like legalese any more than you do, so we make sure it’s simple enough for both parties to understand, but detailed enough to make sure that the basement you picture in your head is the one you walk into 30-45 days from now.  Once the contract is signed and we have received the first of four installment payments, we can pull your building permit from the Regional Building Department and get to work!

 

2. Framing (1 -2 days)

The very first day of your basement finishing project starts with an onsite meeting with our team and you.  We review the plans onsite to see if there are any discrepancies that need to be noted or changes to be made.  We prefer this first meeting to have all adult members of the house hold so that all changes can be reviewed by everyone and agreed upon before construction.  After this meeting the walls will be raised and the framing complete.

 

3. Plumbing (1-2 days)

Plumbing selections are made before the project starts, and are typically to match what you have in the home, or can be selected by you for a new look. Our design team can present you with fixtures that fit within your budget and help you make a decision for the bathrooms, any wet bars, and other plumbing needs in your basement.

 

4. Electrical (1-2 days)

An electrical walk through is done with you and our team to discuss each room and address areas where you may need special lighting or outlets.  If you would like, we will discuss where every electrical, phone, and cable box will be when your basement is complete.  This is also a great time to think about where your furniture will be placed and any special electrical requirements you may have so that the finished project meets your day-to-day needs.

 

5. Heating and Mechanical (1-2 days)

A standard basement finish will include a heating vent in each habitable room.  Any special heating or cooling needs will be addressed at this time.

 

6. Inspections (1-2 days)

At this point, we will be ready for the first round of inspections.  The Regional Building Department has inspectors that will come into your home (during normal work hours) to conduct required inspections of your basement.  They will make sure that all of the work passes code requirements and make any recommendations at this time.  On occasion, the inspectors will find something that they want to be fixed or altered. It’s not that the contractor did not do an adequate job; rather that each home is unique, and different inspectors have different opinions on how things should be done.  If they need to come back and re-inspect an issue, they will return upon the next scheduled inspection to give permission for insulation and drywall to begin.

 

7. Insulation and Drywall (6-8 days)

In some aspects, this is the fun part!  It’s the first point at which homeowners can really begin to envision the finished product. Unfortunately, it’s also the dustiest part.  We will do everything we can to minimize any discomfort to you, but you will notice an accumulation of dust on upper floors during this time.  As a bonus, you now have an excuse not to dust when company comes over.

 

8. Painting (2-3 days)

Once drywall is finished, we can begin priming, painting, and staining.  This is undoubtedly the smelliest part of the project.  While we will do what we can to limit your discomfort, we highly recommend enjoying some outdoor time during this phase. We can match the existing paint colors of the house, or other colors can be selected before the start of the project.

 

9. Finish Work and Flooring (9-10 days)

Finally, all those beautiful fixtures you picked out get installed, like light fixtures, toilets, cabinets, etc.  If you have special flooring going into a bathroom or other area, such as vinyl or tile, that will be installed before the toilet, cabinets, doors and trim, to provide a more finished look. Granite and solid surface countertops are also installed, but can add 60 days to the scheduled finish time.

 

Once everything in the basement has been installed, it is time for the carpet.  We want to make sure that nothing gets damaged or stained into your newly finished flooring so that you can enjoy its beauty for many years to come.

 

10. Final Touch Ups and Cleaning (1-2 days)

We do final touch ups on any drywall, paint, or other items and then do a final clean of the whole basement.

 

11. Final Inspections (1-2 days)

Last but not least, the Regional Building Department inspectors will come out one last time (four inspectors for the same four inspections) to make sure that your basement complies with code.  Once satisfied, they will sign off on your permit and you will be free to move your personal items into the basement. A final walk is done with our team as well to review the basement and go over any special areas of interest in your basement. Your one-year warranty will go into effect at this time.