Fully licensed and insured basement finishing contractors with 20 years of expertise in Kalorama, DC.
Kalorama isn't just another DC neighborhood — it's where former presidents, ambassadors, and cabinet secretaries choose to live. The stately mansions along Embassy Row, the grand Beaux-Arts townhouses near Rock Creek Park, the tree-lined streets with security details parked outside — this is some of the most valuable residential real estate on the East Coast. And beneath many of these properties sits basement space that's nowhere near living up to its potential.
We've worked in Kalorama for over 20 years, and the homes here demand a different approach. These aren't cookie-cutter renovations — we're talking about properties worth $3 million, $5 million, $10 million or more, with architecture that deserves respect and owners who expect exceptional results. The basements in these homes often have generous footprints, but they were built as service areas and storage, not the luxury living spaces they could become.
What makes sense for a Kalorama basement? Private fitness facilities and spa areas. Temperature-controlled wine storage built to serious collector standards. Home theaters with proper acoustics and soundproofing. Staff or au pair quarters with separate access. Guest suites for visiting dignitaries or extended family. Some owners create legal rental units or pursue condo conversions — in this market, a finished basement unit can be worth $600K or more as a separate deed.
Many Kalorama homes fall within historic districts, which means navigating DC's preservation requirements. We've handled the Historic Preservation Review Board process repeatedly and understand what's required for exterior modifications like egress windows or new entries. Ceiling height is another common issue — older mansions often have lower basement ceilings than modern code requires. Basement lowering and underpinning solve this, giving you the 7+ feet needed for permitted living space.
Expect 12–18 weeks for standard basement finishing once permits clear. Structural work involving lowering or underpinning extends that to 18–28+ weeks — foundation engineering on century-old estates requires precision, not speed. We carry appropriate insurance for high-value properties, maintain discretion throughout the project, and deliver the caliber of work these homes warrant.
We were honored to be featured live on Fox Business and Bloomberg TV on February 22, 2025, in a segment of Trending Today—an award-winning series showcasing innovative businesses and industry leaders. In this episode our team shared our passion for basements, insights into our creative process, and what makes us the go-to experts in basement transformations.
BasementRemodeling.com is an award-winning basement remodeling and finishing company and one of the top remodeling companies in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia (NOVA).
We service areas all across Washington DC, including Kalorama. Our reliable team will guide you through the process from start to finish, through design, construction, and final touches. We take pride in our reliability and love to bring new life to homes across Washington DC.
If you reside in the above areas, our nearest store to you is at 5300 Kilmer pl, Hyattsville, MD, 2078. That ensures quick turnaround and efficient execution of all your orders.
Ready to get started? Schedule your free in-home consultation today to get your basement remodel underway!
Want to know what our past clients have to say about their basement remodeling experiences with BasementRemodeling.com?
Willy , Shanae. and team were amazing! Great crew and extremely professional and thorough.Willy , Shanae. and team were amazing! Great crew and extremely professional and thorough.Willy , Shanae. and team were amazing! Great crew and extremely professiona
We have had many renovations done over the years in different houses as we move a lot and I can say that I had the best experience with this company..
I really enjoyed my experience with Basement Remodeling. I love my newly constructed basement apartment.
From beginning to end, working with this company was a pleasure. The quality of the work is excellent, matched by their very thorough communications..
It was just a completely amazing experience when working with BasementRemodeling.com. When my husband and I visited the showroom we knew exactly which materials..
After getting quotes from multiple companies, we decided to go with BasementRemodeling.com — our neighbor had used them, couldn’t stop singing their praises,
The overwhelmingly positive reception from our clients makes BasementRemodeling.com stand out from other basement remodeling companies in Maryland, Northern Virginia (NOVA) and DC. It definitely means something to us, and we think it should mean something to you, too!
Basement Apartment ADUs - Even in Kalorama's luxury market, accessory dwelling units make financial sense. We build legal apartments with private entrances, full kitchens, and separate utilities — ideal for staff housing or premium rental income.
Basement Conversions to Condo - Create an independently titled unit within your Kalorama property. Given neighborhood valuations, basement condos here represent significant six-figure assets that can be sold separately from the primary residence.
Crawl Space to Basement Conversions - Some Kalorama properties have underutilized partial basements or crawl spaces. We excavate and build out these areas into fully finished, climate-controlled living space.
Basement Lowering DC - Grand old homes weren't built with modern ceiling height standards. We carefully lower floors and underpin foundations to achieve code-compliant headroom while preserving structural integrity.
Historic Home Basement Finishing – Much of Kalorama falls under historic protection. We manage the approval process for any exterior modifications and ensure all work respects the architectural character these regulations exist to protect.
OUR PROCESS
