CLIENT NAME:  David & Lori lamb
PROJECT LOCATION:  Chappaqua, NY
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:   This basement was barely a year old in existence;  The owners had an addition recently built, and instead of having it built over a crawl space, they decided to excavate so they could you have a full basement.  The problem was that there was a terrible moisture issue and real poor air quality;  You could even say that it simply stunk.  Needless to say, the owners could not take it anymore, having three small boys and a brand new but unusable basement.

The water table is somewhat high in that neighborhood, so after getting rid of the entire existing concrete floor slab, it was necessary to install a drainage system along the entire interior perimeter of the foundations footings, along with a battery back-up sump pump.  Gravel was spread and compacted it and then a vapor barrier followed, then an insulation blanket, wire lath and finally PEX tubing for our hydronic radiant heat floor. After the tubing was pressurized with air and tested for leaks, it was finally then that we were able to pour our new concrete slab.

Scope of work also included a passive wine cellar, meaning no refrigeration is needed to keep the proper temperature and humidity level.  Over 1000 bottles can be stored here, without having to worry of a prolonged power failure that could spoil a typical refrigerated wine cellar.  Did we also mention the energy savings?  Unscented white cedar was the client wood of choice;  The diagonal partitions are removable and reversible, allowing great flexibility in design.

Other custom built-ins were designed to accommodate an entertainment center, as well as the boy's games. Other highlights of this rather small basement is a solid hardwood floor, a bathroom equipped with a sewer ejector, closets, wainscoting.

PROJECT DESIGNER:  Sylvain Cote
PROJECT MANAGER:  Jonathan Banza
AGE OF STRUCTURE:  2004
STYLE OF HOUSE:  Craftsman
SQUARE FOOTAGE OF JOB:  800 SF
STARTING DATE:  01.06
COMPLETION DATE:  07.06
CLIENT COMMENTS:  "About 3 years ago we had an extension put on our house by another contractor. Fortunately, we didn't finish the new basement as it proceeded to leak with every heavy rain. Even when the floor was dry, the basement had an awful musty smell. We researched contractors and found Absolute Remodeling. They came in put in a drain with sump pump and a new floor. We finished the basement to be an entertainment and child play area with a half bath and passive wine cellar. Since completing the basement, we have had several very bad rain storms in Chappaqua and although the sump pump has come on during and after these storms, we have not seen a drop in the basement. The room no longer smells musty or feels damp. The kids love to play down there (especially in the heat of the day) and the radiant floor heating we had put in keeps the room very comfortable in the winter. Absolute Remodeling also refinished a main floor bathroom for us which we love. The wood work was so excellent in the basement that we had them come back this winter to finish an office and build shelving in the master bedroom and dining room. Although the project did drag on a while, the staff were extremely courteous and tried very hard to give us our privacy. My husband loves the new wine cellar (and is having a great time trying to fill it). Overall we loved our experience with Absolute Remodeling. They have been very good about coming back and addressing any minor concerns and even helping out, fixing some of the other errors that the last contractor made. Our only regret is not finding Absolute Remodeling in the first place. We look forward to our next project."

- Sincerely, Dave and Lori Lamb.

AVERAGE PRICE RANGE ON SIMILAR PROJECTS*:  $90,000 to $100,000.
*Price based on similar existing conditions, building supplies, square footage and other various factors and therefore subject to change.