Custom House Plans With a Basement

A below-grade level under the whole footprint — the classic cold-climate choice that puts mechanicals, storage and bonus living space out of sight on a flat lot.

On a sloped lot, one side opens at grade with full-height doors and windows. It gains a private entrance and real light, making it the best value for finished living space.

A partial grade change lets you put full windows on one or two sides — bright enough for bedrooms and a family room without a full walkout.

A walkout or daylight basement with a private grade-level entry makes an ideal, high-privacy in-law or rental suite for a fraction of an addition's cost.

We rough in the plumbing, egress windows and ceiling height so you can finish the basement yourself down the road without tearing anything out.

In tornado and severe-weather regions, a basement doubles as a shelter — we can plan a reinforced safe zone into the design.

The number-one basement regret is water. We plan grading, drainage, waterproofing and sump strategy around your site's water table — it's far cheaper to design in than to chase later.

Any basement bedroom legally needs an egress window or door. Designing egress and daylight in from the start turns a dark cellar into livable space.

Nine-foot basement walls cost little more than eight and completely change how finished the space feels. We size it for how you plan to use it.

Builders often see a sloped lot as a problem. Designed right, that slope is exactly what gives you a walkout with a private entrance and real windows.