Elmhurst, Illinois
Basement Remodeling in Elmhurst
Finishing a basement in Elmhurst without addressing the sewer is a decision, and in several neighbourhoods it is the wrong one.
The backup risk is specific to this city
Elmhurst's flooding problem has had two faces. Surface water in a heavy storm, and sanitary backup when the system surcharges and the only low point available is your basement floor drain. The second one is the reason finished basements here have been destroyed by water that never touched the outside of the house.
The protections are well understood: an overhead sewer that lifts your drain lines above the floor, or a backflow device that closes when the main surcharges. Which is right depends on your property and your fixtures. What is not sensible is spending five figures finishing a basement and leaving the floor drain as an open path from the street.
Find out your history
Ask neighbours whether the street has backed up. In Elmhurst that local knowledge is more useful than any general advice about basements.
Call (847) 380-8212What we do here
The rest of the work in Elmhurst
Same builder, same crew, whichever of these you need.
Custom Home Building in Elmhurst
Custom homes in Elmhurst. Salt Creek floodplain, stormwater rules and narrow teardown lots handled properly. Call Skycrest at (847) 380-8212.
Read the pageHome Remodeling in Elmhurst
Custom homes, remodels, kitchens, baths and basements in Elmhurst, with a finished project in the city. Call Skycrest at (847) 380-8212.
Read the pageBathroom Remodeling in Elmhurst
Bathroom remodels in Elmhurst. Waterproofing to spec, old stacks replaced, layouts that actually work. Call Skycrest at (847) 380-8212.
Read the pageBasement Remodeling
Build it so a bad day is a clean-up
Even with protection in place, assume the worst can happen once. Framing held off the slab, closed-cell insulation rather than fibreglass, drywall stopped short of the floor behind the baseboard and flooring that can be lifted and relaid. It costs a little more and it is the difference between drying a room out and gutting it.
- Overhead sewer or backflow protection evaluated before any framing
- Sump capacity and a power-failure backup checked under load
- Wall and floor assemblies chosen to survive a wet event
Nearby
Finished work in Elmhurst
Photographed on site. Ask us what went wrong on any of them.
Questions
Asked in Elmhurst
Something not answered here? Call (847) 380-8212 and ask us directly.
Do I need an overhead sewer?
It depends on your street's surcharge history and on your property. It is the most complete protection available and it is a real piece of work with a real cost. We will tell you whether your situation warrants it rather than selling it to everyone.
Does the city help with the cost?
Elmhurst has operated cost-sharing programmes for flood-control improvements and the terms change over time. Ask the city directly for what is currently available. We will specify what the house needs regardless of what assistance exists.
Can I finish the basement in stages?
Yes, and the water protection is not one of the stages you defer. Do the drainage and sewer work first, then finish rooms as budget allows. The reverse order is how people end up paying twice.
On the map
Where Elmhurst is
DuPage and Cook Counties. Close enough that a site visit is a drive, not a trip.
Building or remodeling in Elmhurst
Tell us the address and what you are thinking about. You will get a straight answer on whether it works, what it costs and how long it takes, including when the answer is no.