After · Mountainview, GrimsbyThe same Mountainview basement finished: light vinyl plank, pot lights, closets and new doors and trim.
See the projectCustomers Rate us 5 out of 5
Customers Rate us 5 out of 5
Family rooms, guest suites and basement apartments across Waterdown.
Walls framed and insulated, with the electrical panel, ducts and plumbing kept accessible before drywall goes up.
See the projectAfter · Mountainview, GrimsbyThe same Mountainview basement finished: light vinyl plank, pot lights, closets and new doors and trim.
See the project
Before · Mountainview, GrimsbyAn unfinished basement in a newer home: open stairs, bare concrete and the builder's insulation on the walls. Most new Waterdown basements start like this.
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Family owned since 2003We are a family-owned renovation company with offices in Oakville and Burlington. The people who design your basement are the people who build it.
We look at ceiling height, the mechanical room, the rough-ins and any damp spots, and give you a rough range.
A layout you approve, drawings for the permit and a fixed, itemized price. The permit goes in.
Walls, insulation and vapour barrier, then plumbing, electrical and ducts, followed by inspections.
Drywall, paint, flooring and the bathroom tile.
Doors, trim, lights and fixtures, a final inspection, and a walkthrough with you.
“We are over the moon with our new basement! Daniel and Elijah were fantastic to work with giving great suggestions and ideas on how to use the space and get the most out of it.”
“I hired them to renovate my basement, which I hardly used before. Now, I truly prefer spending my time in the basement all the time.”
“The renovation itself took under three weeks. The crew showed up on time every day, worked efficiently, and wrapped up on time, no surprises, no mess left behind.”
5.0 on Google · rated by the homeowners we've built for
Costs, permits, timing and local details, for when you want the full picture.
What finishing a builder basement actually involves, in the order we do it.
Planning ranges by size and finish, from the same numbers as the estimator above. Below the table, three build-outs near Waterdown and what each one included.
| Basement | Small Under 600 sq ft | Medium About 600 to 1,000 sq ft | Large 1,000 sq ft or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open family room One big space to relax, play or work out | $25K–$40K | $35K–$55K | $45K–$70K |
| Family room and bedroom Add a guest room or office with a closet | $35K–$50K | $45K–$65K | $55K–$85K |
| Basement apartment Kitchen, bedroom and living space for family or a tenant | $60K–$85K | $75K–$105K | $90K–$130K |
Rough ranges before HST, for planning only. Your exact price comes as a fixed quote after a free consultation.
Ranges from projects we have built, before HST
| Where | What we did |
|---|---|
| Burlington | Basement built out from bare walls: a bedroom with an enlarged window, a full bathroom with a glass shower, about 30 pot lights and new doors throughout |
| Palermo, Oakville | Full build-out: rec room, bathroom, laundry, mechanical and storage rooms framed, a membrane and plywood subfloor, and pot lights with stair sensor lights |
| Lampman, Hamilton | A second unit in the basement: kitchen with quartz, a 3-piece bathroom, and a new side entrance with its own footing, foundation and stairs |
From our own records. A bathroom, a bedroom window or a second unit is what moves a basement up the range.
Hamilton allows a second unit in many homes, and Waterdown basements with good ceiling height are often a fit. It is a bigger job than a rec room because it has to meet the Building Code as a separate home.
A separate entrance, often a new side door with stairs down. Our Lampman job in Hamilton needed a new footing, foundation and stairs for it.
Rated drywall and doors between the two units, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms connected so one sets off the other.
Bedroom windows large enough to climb out of, plus ceiling height and room sizes that meet the Code.
Cabinets, counters and a range on their own circuit, with ventilation that works for a second household.
We confirm your lot allows a second unit, including parking, before anyone draws a plan.
A City of Hamilton permit and inspections at each stage, so the unit is legal from day one.
Waterdown is part of Hamilton, so the basement permit comes from the City of Hamilton. Hamilton takes the full permit fee with the application, before it reviews the drawings, and we plan the schedule around that.
Many newer Waterdown homes have a sump pit. We keep it accessible, can put the pumps on their own circuits, and recommend a backup pump before finished floors go in.
Basements under older homes in the village core can be low, with older foundations. We check for moisture and headroom first and tell you honestly what the space can become.
On a septic system, adding a basement bathroom starts with confirming the system can take it. Bigger rural basements also suit a home gym or a games room.
Yes. We finish basements across Waterdown, from the newer streets in Waterdown North, South and East to the village core, Carlisle and rural Flamborough, from our Burlington office.
It depends on size and what goes in. The table above shows our ranges for a family room, a basement with a bedroom and a basement apartment, all before HST. A bathroom, a larger bedroom window or a second unit moves the number most, and we price yours after a visit.
Yes, in most cases. Waterdown permits come from the City of Hamilton, and finishing a basement with new walls, a bathroom or a bedroom needs one. We prepare the drawings and handle the application and inspections.
Usually, yes. We check where it sits and whether the layout works, then build the bathroom on it or move it if a better plan needs that.
Hamilton allows second units in many homes. It needs a separate entrance, fire separation, connected alarms, proper windows and a permit. We check zoning for your lot first.
We fix any leaks first, insulate the outside walls with a vapour barrier, and add a raised subfloor where the slab is cold. Waterproof vinyl plank is our usual floor.
Four to six weeks on site for most basements, after design and the permit. A second unit takes longer because of the entrance and extra inspections.
Yes. Four years on our workmanship, plus the manufacturers' warranties on flooring, fixtures and windows.
We serve Waterdown from our Burlington office.
1. Free consultation at your home
2. A fixed quote, with every finish listed
3. We build, then walk through it with you
Burlington Home Renovation Contractors by Gracia Makeovers
466 Dynes Rd, Burlington, ON L7N 2T7
416-300-8212
Gracia Makeovers designs and builds kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions and whole-home renovations from offices in Oakville and Burlington.
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