Many homes in Davis County, especially newer builds in cities like Syracuse, Farmington, Layton, and Kaysville, came with unfinished basements. Finishing one is one of the most practical ways to add bedrooms, a family room, or an office without adding on. Here is a checklist to work through before the first sheet of drywall goes up.
1. Rule out moisture first
Drywall, carpet, and wood-based trim do not tolerate moisture. Before anything else, look for water stains, white mineral deposits on concrete walls, damp spots after storms, or musty smells. Homes on hillside lots or in lower-lying areas are more likely to see spring runoff reach the basement. If you find signs of water, solve the source (gutters, downspouts, grading, or a foundation specialist) before finishing.
2. Check permit requirements with your city
Most Utah cities require a building permit to finish a basement, and the permit process typically includes inspections at certain stages. Your city's building department can tell you exactly what applies, including requirements for bedrooms such as egress windows. Sort this out before work begins.
3. Plan the layout
Decide how you want to use the space: bedrooms, a family room, an office, storage, or a mix. Think about where you want doors, closets, and storage, and leave access to your furnace, water heater, and main shutoffs.
4. Line up plumbing and electrical rough-in
If the basement needs a bathroom, wet bar, new outlets, or lighting, those are jobs for a licensed plumber and a licensed electrician. Their rough-in work happens while walls are open, before drywall. We do not do plumbing or electrical, so we schedule our finish work after those trades are done.
5. Choose your finishes
- Flooring: LVP is a popular basement choice because it handles minor humidity changes better than many wood products. Tile works well in bathrooms and laundry areas.
- Walls: Decide on texture so it matches the rest of the house, and pick paint colors that work with limited natural light.
- Trim and doors: Matching the style upstairs makes the basement feel like part of the home instead of an add-on.
6. Finish work
With moisture handled, permits in place, and rough-in complete, the finish work brings it all together: drywall, texture, doors, trim, flooring, tile, and paint. This is where Dunning and Sons comes in. We walk the space with you during a free consultation and give you clear expectations for hours and materials before work starts.
Ready to talk about your basement? See our remodeling services or call Ryan at 385-484-2248.
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