A whole floor of your house, sitting empty?
Most basements are wasted potential — storage for boxes, a damp smell, a concrete floor. Finished wrong, they trap moisture and grow mold. Finished right, they become the most-used room in the house.
Skip starts with a dry, insulated envelope, then builds out a rec room, home theater, guest suite, or custom bar — all to code, with proper egress, and finished to the same standard as your main floor.
What we build below grade
Six ways homeowners reclaim their lower level — mix and match for the space you need.
Full Finishing
Framing, drywall, flooring, and trim that make the lower level feel like the rest of your home.
Moisture & Insulation
Vapor barriers, sealing, and high-R insulation so the space stays dry and comfortable year-round.
Wet Bars & Kitchenettes
Custom-built bars and kitchenettes with real cabinetry, plumbing, and counter space.
Theaters & Rec Rooms
Media rooms, play spaces, and home gyms with the wiring and soundproofing planned in.
Guest Suites & Egress
Legal bedrooms and full baths with code-compliant egress windows and safe exits.
Custom Built-ins
Storage walls, media units, and shelving that make the most of every foot.
How a basement gets done right
Skip never finishes over a problem. The order matters — and it's why his basements stay dry and pass inspection.
Assess Moisture & Layout
Skip inspects for water intrusion, headroom, and egress, then maps the layout to your goals honestly.
Seal & Waterproof
A dry envelope first — vapor barriers and sealing so nothing you build gets ruined later.
Frame, Insulate & Rough-In
High-R insulation, framing, and licensed electrical and plumbing rough-ins, all inspected.
Finish & Build-Out
Drywall, flooring, trim, bars, and built-ins — finished to your main-floor standard.
Final Inspection & Walkthrough
We pass final inspection together and walk the finished space before you move in.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to finish my basement?
Yes — finishing a basement requires permits in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington counties, and any bedroom needs a proper egress window. Skip handles the paperwork and builds to pass inspection.
My basement gets damp — can it still be finished?
Often yes, once the moisture source is addressed. Skip will assess it honestly first — finishing over an active water problem is the one shortcut he won't take.
How much value does finishing add?
A finished basement is one of the strongest returns in remodeling — and in the meantime you get a whole floor of living space you're currently paying for but not using.
What Northern Virginia Homeowners Say
“I hired Skip and his crew to remodel my basement with a bathroom remodel, and they also remodeled my upstairs bathroom and kitchen. Then I hired them to expand my deck as well. Everything came out wonderful, on time and on budget — a great company that I will continue to work with on my home.”
“He rebuilt my deck after it was damaged by a fire from my grill. He and Tommy rebuilt it in record time, to my specs, and for a reasonable price. This is a good company that won't give you the runaround, and they are respectful to women — which means a lot if you're a single mom who owns your own house. Two thumbs up.”
“We hired Skip and crew to open up a stairwell in our 1939 Cape Cod. Their bid was competitive and the outcome is terrific! They showed up every day on time, the work was superb, and they cleaned up at the end of each day. The job finished on schedule. Highly recommend.”
“I told Skip I wanted to tear down my old deck and build a new one to Fairfax County code. The result: doubled in size, permitted, and it looks so much better. I'm convinced this well-built deck will be here long after the house falls away. Great job by great people. He's a straight shooter who does great work at a reasonable price — I whole-heartedly recommend Skip's Carpentry.”
“We had at least five bids for a complete remodel of our deck, pergola, and fence. Skip's quote was competitive and actually split into costs for materials and labor — very transparent. Skip is authentic and a straight shooter. One contractor said we needed a complete redo of the frame and posts; Skip disagreed, and it turned out he was right! We're very pleased with the end result.”
“I found Skip on Yelp and called based on the great reviews. I had a buckled board in my entryway. Skip answered my call — on a Sunday, when I expected to leave a message — and came by the next morning. He screwed the board down free of charge. I'm definitely planning on calling him again when we redo our deck next year.”
“Highly recommended. Skip and his crew built a new deck using existing structures and about doubled the size of usable space. The new deck is extremely solid and the finish work beautiful. Price was very competitive.”
“Skip was a breeze to work with on our deck replacement. Like other reviewers have said — he's no nonsense, but honest and forthright. I'd recommend him any day!”
Get a free basement estimate
Call Skip directly or send a few details and photos of your space. If we don't answer, expect a call or text back within the hour.