Remodeling & renovations
Basement & Lower-Level Finishing in the Lake Livingston Area
Turn an unfinished basement or walk-out lower level into a media room, a guest suite or a playroom.
Finishing the space below
Full basements are uncommon in this part of Texas, but some homes around the lake do have one, and houses built into sloped lots sometimes have a walk-out lower level that opens toward the water. If yours is still raw concrete and bare framing, it is space waiting to be used.
Onalaska Builders finishes basements and lower levels with our own crews.
Finished lower levels often become:
- Media and family rooms
- Guest suites
- Playrooms
Start here
Deal with moisture before finishing
Below-grade space is closer to groundwater and rain runoff than any other part of the house. Finishing over a damp space traps moisture behind new walls and floors. Before any finishing work, look at:
- Signs of water: stains, damp spots, musty smells or standing water after rain.
- Grading and drainage outside so water runs away from the house. See drainage solutions and grading.
- Gutters and downspouts that discharge well away from the walls. See gutter services.
- Cracks in walls or floor that may point to movement. See foundation repair.
Lake lots
Walk-out lower levels on sloped lots
When a house steps down a slope toward the lake, the lower level can open at ground level on the downhill side. That gives it natural light and a door to the outside, which makes it feel less like a basement and more like part of the house. It is a natural spot for a guest suite or a family room that opens onto a patio.
The uphill walls are still below grade, so moisture and drainage matter just as much.
The work
What finishing a lower level involves
Lake and timber country
Lower-level finishing around Lake Livingston
If your home does not have a basement but you need more room, a home addition, attic conversion or garage conversion may be the better path. We work within about 35 miles of Onalaska, including Livingston, Point Blank, Coldspring, Shepherd, Groveton, Trinity, Huntsville, Cleveland and Willis. See our full service area.
More remodeling & renovations services
Related services
Questions
Basement Finishing questions
Are basements common around Lake Livingston?
Full basements are uncommon in this part of Texas. Some homes do have them, and houses built into sloped lots sometimes have a walk-out lower level.
What should I check before finishing a basement?
Moisture first: stains, damp spots, musty smells or standing water, plus outside grading, gutters and any cracks in the walls or floor. Finishing over a damp space traps moisture behind new walls and floors.
What can a basement be turned into?
Common uses include media and family rooms, guest suites and playrooms.
How do I get an estimate for finishing a lower level?
Call (806) 480-0328 or send the estimate form with the town or ZIP code, the size of the space and whether you have noticed any moisture.
Get started
Ready to use that space?
Tell us about your lower level and what you want it to become. Send the form or give us a call.