STORIES

Bathrooms

Finished basement sitting area with sectional couch, mounted TV, bar seating, and large windows for natural light.

Love Where You Live: Planning for Home Renovations in 2025

Are you ready to fall in love with your home in 2025? From setting a budget to making sustainable choices, our guide to smarter home renovations will help you create a beautiful, functional space that truly feels like you. Let's plan your dream home today!

Read More

Breaking Down Costs For Basement Bathrooms

Considering a basement bathroom remodel? Our guide breaks down essential cost factors—from plumbing and permit requirements to tile choices and environmental safety—so you can plan effectively and avoid surprises. Prioritize quality fixtures and professional help to...

Read More

It’s great to save money by doing projects yourself, but you may have to pay for the materials, like paints and brushes.

Revealing Hidden Costs of Remodeling

We accounted for the big-ticket items, like countertops and subcontractors, but it also felt like we were always adding things to our rehab budget. Little changes can add up quickly!

Read More

IN PROGRESS We covered this countertop with contact paper to match the new combination bathroom/laundry room in the basement.

Reuse As Much As Possible When Remodeling

To protect the environment & our budget, we reused many of the original materials in our first house even though we completely remodeled it.

Read More

We made LOTS of drawings, lists, and plans to completely remodel our first home.

The Best-Laid Plans…

If you expect your plans to change, you may be able to roll with the design changes without freaking out.

Read More

The orange circle points out another spot where roots grew into our sewer line.

The Scoop on Sewer Scopes

A sewer scope can reveal blockages, damage to the pipes, and other problems with the line from your home to the main sewer connection for your city or development.

Read More

Josh used a gas-powered concrete saw to cut through the 3 ½ inch-thick, concrete floor while Mim sprayed water to reduce dust and sparks.

We Made Another Mess in the Basement!

We removed the existing basement bathroom and cut into the concrete floor so the plumber could install new pipes to combine the bathroom and laundry room.

Read More

Our trusted licensed plumber, Jake Jacoby owner of Progressive Mechanical, shows how dirty and difficult it is to cut the concrete basement floor and dig up the soil beneath it to install new pipes for the bathroom/laundry room.

Behind-the-Scenes: Basement Bathroom Project

With piles of dirt, a cut up basement floor, and beautiful, new pipes laid, licensed plumber Jake Jacoby of Progressive Mechanical and Beams to Basements owner, Mim, share a video about what you can expect with a basement bathroom project.

Read More

When hiring contractors, compare more than just their prices. Match their expertise with your project's needs and make sure they can deliver your ideas on time and within your budget.

Tips for Hiring a Great Contractor

We have a unique perspective on this important relationship between contractor and owner. Here are some tips to help you hire the right contractors for your project.

Read More

If we can see scary things like this unsafe, DIY electrical work (Spliced wired must be inside a covered junction box.), what kind of hazards are hiding in the paneled basement walls?

The Diagnosis: What Our Home Inspection Revealed

Luckily, our home inspection confirmed Josh’s initial assessment that the house was in really good shape for its age. Here's what we discovered and how we're addressing some issues.

Read More

Stories Sections

All Posts
Our First Home
Homeowner Tips

Post Categories