7 Best Basement Remodeling Companies in Minneapolis
12min Read
Posted 7.16.2026
A finished basement is one of the few home projects that can pay for itself and give you a whole extra floor of living space — but only if the water and egress details are handled correctly first.
Minneapolis basements come with two challenges most other rooms don’t: Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycle makes moisture management non-negotiable, and any basement bedroom needs a code-compliant egress window before it counts as legal living space. We researched seven companies actually doing basement work in the Twin Cities metro, checked their real reviews on Google, Houzz, BBB, and Angi, and noted exactly where each one’s specialty — and service area — actually lines up with basement remodeling specifically.
We’re a Minnesota roofing and exterior company, not a basement remodeler, so this list is built the way we’d want a homeowner to research it themselves: real reviews, real names, and honest notes on where a company’s specialty is broader than “just basements.”
How We Chose These 7 Companies
We looked for companies with a verifiable public track record in the Twin Cities, specifically checking:
- Third-party review volume and rating on Google, Houzz, Angi, and BBB
- Actual basement-specific experience — some full-service remodelers on this list do excellent basement work but aren’t basement-only specialists, and we say so
- Price positioning, covering budget, mid-range, and high-end options
- Awards and certifications from NARI, Housing First Minnesota, and similar industry bodies
- Egress window and code compliance experience, since that’s the detail that turns a finished basement into a legal bedroom
Where we couldn’t verify a named review on an independent platform, or couldn’t confirm a review was basement-specific, we say so rather than inventing one.
7 Best Basement Remodeling Companies in Minneapolis
1. Treasured Spaces
Website: treasuredspaces.com | Based in: Lonsdale, MN, serving the south/southwest Minneapolis metro
Treasured Spaces is a design-build general contractor in business since 2002, and basement remodeling is one of several services alongside kitchens, additions, and custom home building. Worth noting up front: their footprint is centered on the south-metro exurbs (New Prague, Elko New Market, Lonsdale) rather than the city of Minneapolis itself, so confirm service area before reaching out if you’re in the urban core.
Best for: South-metro homeowners who want one design-build team handling a basement remodel alongside other whole-home work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Customer Reviews (Angi)
“Their work is a phenomenal. I highly recommend them, and if I could give them more stars, I would.” — Terry B., Angi Review
“They do the highest quality job available on the market and don’t disappear after the job is over.” — Fayette A., Angi Review
5.0 rating on Houzz (16 reviews) and Angi · Design-build general contractor · South/southwest metro service area
2. Construction2Style
Website: construction2style.com | Based in: Elk River, MN, serving the west metro (Plymouth, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Edina, Wayzata)
Construction2Style is notably one of the few companies on this list that BBB categorizes specifically under “Basement Finishing,” alongside its broader kitchen, bath, and whole-home remodeling work. Founded by Jamie and Morgan Molitor in 2012, the firm has picked up 13 Houzz “Best of Houzz” awards for design and service and has been featured in Midwest Home Magazine and on WCCO.
Best for: West-metro homeowners who want a design-forward team turning a basement into a real family gathering or entertaining space.
5.0 rating on Houzz (39 reviews) · BBB category: Basement Finishing · 13 Houzz “Best of Houzz” awards · Typical project range $50,000–$3,000,000
3. FBC Remodel (formerly Finished Basement Company)
Website: fbcremodel.com/minnesota | Based in: St. Louis Park, MN, serving the Twin Cities metro
FBC Remodel has operated in the Minneapolis market as a dedicated basement specialist since 1997 — 28 years — under the “Finished Basement Company” name before its rebrand, and it still leans on that legacy positioning because homeowners know it. Basements are the core of the business: home theaters, wet bars, wine cellars, saunas, and game rooms, not an add-on to kitchen and bath work. It won a 2024 NARI Regional Contractor of the Year award and a 2023 Best of Houzz Design Award.
Best for: Homeowners who want a basement-only specialist with the deepest specific experience on this list and a warranty-backed, multi-market brand behind it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Customer Reviews (published on FBC’s site)
“FBC did an amazing job with our 1600 sq ft basement… They accommodated our quirky requests for a brewery room… Best choice ever!!!” — Heather R., FBC testimonial
“The design/construction approach by FBC produced an excellent finished product for us… All work was completed on schedule and within budget.” — Darrel H., FBC testimonial
5/5 rating on Best Pick Reports (20 reviews) · Basement-only specialist since 1997 · 2024 NARI Regional Contractor of the Year · 2023 Best of Houzz Design Award
4. Titus Contracting
Website: tituscontracting.com | Based in: Burnsville, MN, serving the south metro
Titus Contracting has been building out luxury kitchen, bath, and basement projects from its Burnsville studio for 18 years, including specialty spaces like home golf simulators and basement sport courts. Houzz lists a typical job cost range of $35,000–$500,000, putting it firmly at the higher end of this list, and it holds a Houzz score of 4.8 across 45 reviews.
Best for: Homeowners planning a high-end basement build-out with specialty features, not just a standard rec room.
4.8 rating on Houzz (45 reviews) · BuildZoom score 124 (top 1% of MN contractors) · 11x Best of Houzz winner (2017–2026) · High-end specialty basement builds
5. Great Northern Builders
Website: gnbmn.com | Based in: Eagan, MN, serving the greater Twin Cities metro
Great Northern Builders, founded in 2009 by Chris Biljan, is the clearest budget-tier pick on this list, and it has the award to back up basement-specific work: a 2021 NARI Contractor of the Year (CotY) Silver award specifically in the “Residential Basement Under $100K” category. That’s a real, verifiable, basement-specific credential — not a general remodeling award applied loosely to basements.
Best for: Homeowners who want an award-recognized basement finish without the highest-end price tag.
4.9 rating on Houzz (14 reviews) · A+ BBB, accredited since 2010 · 2021 NARI CotY Silver, Residential Basement Under $100K · Housing First Minnesota member
6. Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build
Website: otogawa-anschel.com | Based in: North Minneapolis (one of the few companies on this list with an actual city-of-Minneapolis address)
Otogawa-Anschel is a small, green-building-focused design-build studio that’s been in Minneapolis since 1998 — 28 years — with a specialty in older, vintage city homes. Confirmed basement work includes adding egress windows and window wells to create legal basement bedrooms, and full basement reconfigurations for home gyms and additional living space. Houzz-listed typical job costs run $100,000–$7,000,000, reflecting a small studio that takes on ambitious, high-end projects rather than standard finishes.
Best for: Older Minneapolis homes needing a basement reconfigured with proper egress for a legal bedroom, handled by a team based in the city itself.
5.0 rating on Houzz (4 reviews) · Multiple Chrysalis Awards for remodeling excellence · Confirmed egress window / legal bedroom conversion experience · Minneapolis city address
7. Refined LLC
Website: refinedllc.com | Based in: Edina, MN, serving Edina, St. Louis Park, and established Twin Cities neighborhoods
Refined is primarily a custom home builder, and basement work — including at least one documented modern basement project in Minneapolis — is part of its broader remodeling offering rather than its core specialty. It’s included here as the luxury custom-build option for homeowners who want their basement designed by the same in-house team handling the rest of their home.
Testimonials (published on Refined’s site — describing full custom-build projects, not basement-specific)
“Building with Refined was a phenomenal experience… the entire team at Refined exceeded our expectations.” — Rob, Edina, Pamela Park neighborhood
“We could not have been more pleased with our homebuilding experience… on time… on budget.” — Andriana, Edina, South Harriet Park neighborhood
5.0 rating on Houzz (23 reviews) · In-house interior design team · Custom home builder with basement remodeling offered · High-end positioning
Basement Remodeling Companies in Minneapolis: Quick Comparison
| Company | Best For | Price Tier | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treasured Spaces | Whole-project design-build, south metro | Mid-range | 5.0 (Houzz/Angi) |
| Construction2Style | Family/entertaining spaces, west metro | Mid–high | 5.0/39 (Houzz) |
| FBC Remodel | Basement-only specialist, home theaters/wet bars | Mid–high | 5/5 (Best Pick) |
| Titus Contracting | High-end specialty build-outs | High-end | 4.8/45 (Houzz) |
| Great Northern Builders | Budget-conscious, award-winning | Budget | 4.9/14 (Houzz) |
| Otogawa-Anschel | Egress windows, legal bedroom conversions | High-end | 5.0/4 (Houzz) |
| Refined LLC | Luxury custom-home basements | High-end | 5.0/23 (Houzz) |
What Does It Cost to Finish a Basement in Minneapolis?
Basement finishing typically runs $32–$100 per square foot, with a standard-scope project averaging around $33,500 total (a common range is $15,700–$78,600). Larger-scope or high-end basement remodels — think home theaters, wet bars, or added bedrooms and bathrooms — can run $120,000–$160,000+. Adding a bathroom or a code-compliant egress bedroom raises both the cost and the resale value more than a standard rec-room finish does.
Is Finishing Your Basement a Good Investment?
The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report found basement remodels return the highest average ROI of any newly tracked project category nationally — 71% — and that figure holds fairly consistent across regions. Local Minneapolis estimates put ROI closer to 55–75%, adding roughly 10–15% to a home’s value. Adding a bathroom or converting part of the space into a legal bedroom (with proper egress) tends to push the ROI toward the higher end of that range.
Do You Need a Permit to Finish a Basement in Minneapolis?
Yes. The City of Minneapolis requires building, electrical, and plumbing permits for basement finishing that includes new rooms, added plumbing, electrical work beyond simple fixture swaps, egress windows, or HVAC changes. Typical approval takes about 3 weeks, and permit fees run $100–$1,000 depending on scope. Any contractor proposing a legal bedroom or bathroom without mentioning permits should raise a flag.
Minnesota Egress Window Requirements for a Basement Bedroom
Under the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Section R310), any basement sleeping room requires an emergency escape and rescue opening with a net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, a sill height no more than 44 inches above the floor, and hardware that opens without keys or special tools. The attached window well needs a horizontal area of at least 9 square feet with a minimum 36-inch width and projection; wells deeper than 44 inches require a permanently affixed ladder or steps. Skip any of these details and the room legally isn’t a bedroom, no matter how it’s marketed on a listing.
Ceiling Height and Safety Requirements
Bedrooms and their exit path to the stairs or an exterior door need a ceiling height of at least 6 feet 4 inches, and hardwired smoke detectors plus carbon monoxide alarms are required in hallways and bedrooms. These aren’t optional upgrades — they’re the difference between a finished basement and a legally habitable one.
Waterproofing: Do It Before You Finish, Not After
Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycle makes moisture management the single most important step before any drywall goes up. Basement specialists in this market recommend an interior drain tile system at the footer level, channeling water to a sump pump with battery backup — a good idea in every Minnesota basement, even one with no prior water history — plus a vapor barrier on foundation walls before framing. Finishing over an unaddressed moisture problem is the most common and most expensive mistake homeowners make in this climate.
Basement Finishing vs. Basement Remodeling: What’s the Difference?
Finishing generally means converting a raw, unfinished basement into livable space for the first time. Remodeling refers to updating or reconfiguring a basement that’s already finished — a distinction reflected in company names like “Finished Basement Company” that specialize specifically in the former.
How Long Does a Basement Remodel Take?
Standard basement finishing projects generally run 6–12 weeks, depending on complexity. Larger scopes involving permits, a bathroom, or structural/egress work can extend to several months — egress window installation and permitting in particular tend to be the long pole in the schedule.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Basement Contractor
- Have you installed egress windows to current Minnesota code, and can you show examples?
- Who’s pulling the building, electrical, and plumbing permits — you or me?
- What’s your approach to moisture and waterproofing before framing begins?
- Is a sump pump with battery backup included, or does that need to be addressed separately?
- What’s included in your bid versus what’s an added-cost allowance (bathroom fixtures, custom cabinetry, AV equipment)?
- Can I see photos and speak to references for a similarly-scoped basement project?
Red Flags to Watch For
Be cautious of any contractor who skips discussing waterproofing entirely, proposes a “bedroom” without an egress window and window well, can’t produce a Minnesota contractor’s license, or wants the full contract amount paid before work begins. Every company on this list operates with a documented license, a public review history, and a written contract process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to finish a basement in Minneapolis?
Typical costs run $32–$100 per square foot, with a standard project averaging around $33,500. Larger or high-end scopes — home theaters, wet bars, added bedrooms or bathrooms — can run $120,000–$160,000 or more.
Does a finished basement add value to my home?
Yes. National data from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report shows basement remodels return about 71% of cost on average — the highest ROI of any newly tracked project category — with Minneapolis-area estimates typically in the 55–75% range.
Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Minneapolis?
Yes, for any project involving new rooms, plumbing, electrical work beyond fixture swaps, egress windows, or HVAC changes. Approval typically takes about 3 weeks and permit fees run $100–$1,000.
What are Minnesota’s egress window requirements for a basement bedroom?
The opening needs a net clear area of at least 5.7 square feet, a sill height no more than 44 inches above the floor, and an attached window well at least 9 square feet with a minimum 36-inch width. Wells deeper than 44 inches require a permanently affixed ladder or steps.
Should I waterproof my basement before finishing it?
Yes. Waterproofing — typically an interior drain tile system paired with a sump pump with battery backup — should happen before framing and drywall go in, since finishing over an unaddressed moisture problem risks mold and repeat damage in Minnesota’s freeze-thaw climate.
How long does a basement remodel take in Minneapolis?
Standard finishing projects run about 6–12 weeks. Larger scopes with permits, a bathroom, or egress window installation can extend to several months.
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