What happens when you hire Roots Finished Basements?

From the first call to the keys to your own downstairs

1. The callCall or text 435.677.6050. The company asks about the house, the city, the square footage and what the family wants down there, and books a site visit. No price is given over the phone because no honest number exists before someone has seen the basement.
2. The site visitThe owner or the field foreman walks the basement, notes the plumbing rough ins, the furnace and water heater, the panel, ductwork and beams, and measures. Homeowners describe this visit as thorough in their reviews, including one who chose a different contractor.
3. The proposalA written, line item proposal at $40 to $55 per square foot, with a layout drawn around the rough ins, inclusions and exclusions spelled out, and the three investment ranges shown for context. The homeowner can take it to other bidders. The company expects that.
4. The agreementThe Basement Finishing Agreement is signed electronically with a fingerprinted copy archived. A 10 percent scheduling deposit holds the slot. The agreement is 31 sections long and the trust page summarizes the parts worth reading twice.
5. SelectionsCabinets, counters, tile, flooring, paint and fixtures are chosen during the permit wait so lead times do not land inside the build.
6. The permitRoots submits plans to the city and pulls the permit in the company name. The 7 to 8 week clock starts when it is issued.
7. Rough workFraming, plumbing, HVAC and electrical rough ins, egress windows, then the city four way inspection. The 40 percent commencement draw is paid when work begins.
8. Drywall and paintInsulation, drywall, tape and texture, prime and paint. The 45 percent draw is paid after paint.
9. Finish workDoors, trim, closets, cabinets, vanities, tile, flooring, then electrical, plumbing and HVAC finish.
10. Final inspection and walkthroughCity final, then a written punch list walked with the homeowner. Items not on the punch list are deemed accepted, so the walkthrough is worth taking slowly.
11. HandoffThe final 5 percent is paid at completion. Signed documents stay in the homeowner's portal.

Living in the house during the build

A basement finish is below daily life rather than in the middle of it. The stairwell is sealed with a dust barrier, the path from the door is protected, and the site is tidied at the end of every day as a crew checklist item. Crews work roughly 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The homeowner provides power, water and restroom access, keeps pets and children out of the work area and clears personal items out of the basement before day one.

How communication works

A scheduled update every Friday, whether or not there is news. Milestone texts for homeowners who opt in. A customer portal in the company's own software, Roots OS, with the schedule, the signed agreement and documents. Questions go to the owner or the field foreman, the same two people from the site visit.

What Roots Finished Basements will not do

• Quote a price before seeing the basement.
• Start work without a permit, or ask the homeowner to pull an owner builder permit.
• Change the price without a change order the homeowner has signed.
• Take credit cards, debit cards or payment apps. Payment is by check, cash, ACH or bank transfer.
• Repair water damage, remodel a basement finished years ago, or work on anything other than new construction.
• Let the homeowner direct or pay subcontractors directly. The agreement keeps that authority with the contractor.
• Take responsibility for owner supplied materials. They can be installed, at the owner's risk.

Changes mid project

Any change to the approved plan, materials or scope is a change order. It is priced within 48 business hours, carries a minimum administrative fee of $75 or 10 percent of the change, and nothing changes until the homeowner signs. Approved changes extend the finish date by the time they reasonably take. That structure is strict on purpose; it is why the final number matches the first one.