With a very busy February vacation week ahead of us and three kids having their own separate space to play in and enjoy, we do not know why we didn’t do this project sooner!
We currently own our home in Westwood and it has served us very nicely. We bought the home several years ago with plans in the back of our mind to renovate the basement. My wife and I work during the day, everyday; so although this was an idea and something we knew we wanted to move forward with the timing never really seemed to make sense to us. After years and years of pushing it off, we finally scheduled a time to meet with several basement finishing companies and were ready to pull the trigger.
After researching and comparing designs, options, material quality, durability, and style, a week after we received all of our quotes back, we decided to move forward with KAKS Basement Finishing and Design based out of Hanover, MA.
Everything we asked for they delivered upon. It was that simple. Steve (the owner) made the process simple and easy for us while his team worked diligently to complete the space for our family!
This space was designed originally for added living space and some clothing storage, but has morphed into the most enjoyable space in our home for us but also for our kids. We have a couch and TV, but also a carpeted area where our son and his friends play knee hockey. Our daughter (almost 17) hosts her group of friends frequently.
My wife and I had always though we should wait for the ‘right time’ and push it off because we always were always so busy, but the truth is, the space has been so usable and helpful to our family life that we wish we hadn’t waited so long. After going through the process, our only regret is truly that we waited so long. If you are in the market for a basement, please, do not wait! It is the best decision we have made to improve our home.
Finished basement in Mashpee Massachusetts
August 25 at 8:09am · Mashpee ·
Mashpee basement renovation
This finished basement in Mashpee Massachusetts was finished about 5 years ago using wood studs, fiberglass insulation & drywall.
Here’s the story.
The homeowner called us and asked if we would be interested in taking a look at her basement. After our conversation we decided to go to Mashpee Massachusetts to evaluate the space. During the evaluate I met with the homeowner and her parents. She explained that they would like for the parents to be able to utilize the existing space in the basement. Because they were getting older and the house that they are currently living in is getting to be just too much, and the homeowner would feel a lot more comfortable knowing that her parents were with her and she would be able to care for them. Their initial ideas was to use the existing space and maybe just configure it a little bit different adding a bathroom a Living room etc but they had concerns. (Mold) the homeowner explained that she had the space built about five years ago using a general contractor, after just a short time she never used the space because she complained about slight headaches and could smell a musty moldy smell. She went on to explain that she did not feel comfortable having her elderly parents living in a space with these conditions, so how do we fix it? I explained to her that the materials used in the basement by the general contractor were the wrong materials to use, and the only way to get rid of it would be to start over and rip it all out. This is not what she wanted to hear, she was devastated, I spent all that money with the general contractor and now you’re telling me that it is no good? As we concluded I told her that I would come up with a price to refinish the space with everything that she asked for. About 3 days later I gave her the price immediately she asked if we could meet again. I said sure not a problem would you like to meet in our showroom in Hanover Massachusetts? She replied with yes that would be great. As it turns out her parents are from Hingham Massachusetts the next town over how convenient. After reviewing the layout, pricing and materials they decided that the best thing to do was to start over from scratch & move forward with Kaks. They signed on the spot.
Please visit us @ www.impressivebasementsboston.com
Basement Finishing – Greater Boston area – Kaks – Us Builder Review
KAKS Basement Finishing & Design
Utilizing space to increase value of homes in New England
Written by: Tom FaunceProduced by: Sean O’Reilly
Basement finishing is a home renovation method that has become increasingly popular as homeowners seek to increase the value of their home by utilizing every square inch. For nearly 10 years, KAKS Basement has been the leading source in the Greater Boston area for basement finishing and organizing. With top-quality workmanship and a professional, personal touch, KAKS converts unusable space into a new level of living.
Founded in 2007 by Steve Sweeney, KAKS maintains dedicated teams comprised of qualified licensed professionals with many years of experience. These skilled craftsmen have helped KAKS to establish a reputation for completing projects on time and budget. “Our goal is to direct, manage and work closely with our installations crews and electricians to determine our customer’s specific needs while keeping their budget a priority,” says Sweeney. “We believe in open communication as a key to achieving the desired results.”
A full-service company
KAKS is a one-stop shop. With its talented and experienced crews, KAKS is able to see every project through from design to completion. In addition to basement finishing, KAKS provides full basement clean-out services as well. Customers do not need to concern themselves with emptying junk and clutter and KAKS is a full-service company. By providing all labor and hauling the company is able to maintain low overhead and pass the savings along to the customer. Once the project is complete, KAKS will rearrange any items or furniture for its customers by performing a full cleaning of the space, leaving it spotless.
In all of its basement renovations, KAKS uses Impressive Basement Systems, which has been utilized in the industry since 1972. The 100 percent eco-basement finishing system has been installed all over the country and was featured on the A&E hit show Flipping Boston. Along with proven durability, advantages of the system include water and stain repellant, removable panels for easy access, noise control and high thermal insulation. KAKS also uses 100 percent waterproof vinyl flooring planks with realistic textures in wood or stone and also offers lighting and ceiling options. Customers can complete their space with new lighting, detailed suspension ceilings for easy access from top names like USG and Armstrong or a plastered finish ceiling.
With mold and mildew a concern for most homeowners in New England, KAKS uses wallboard products that are specifically designed to inhibit mold and mildew growth. Unlike ordinary wallboard or other common building materials, these specially treated selections create an environment unsuitable for mold to survive. Prior to beginning any renovation, KAKS will thoroughly inspect each basement for signs of moisture penetration, which could be through foundation cracks, window seals or other vulnerable points.
Maintaining a personal touch
With its full-service approach and the niche market that KAKS maintains, the company has been fortunate to not only survive through the economic downturn but to thrive as well. “We really weren’t affected by the housing market collapse,” says Sweeney. “What we witnessed was people wanting to take advantage of getting the full value from their home. We saw some of the luxury builds decrease a bit but not by much.”
With an influx of space-utilizing work, KAKS has managed to maintain steady, manageable growth as a company. “I don’t want to become a company with a corporate feel,” says Sweeney. “I want KAKS to continue to be a company that runs a tight operation, and has people that want to do business with us because they know that they are going to receive personal attention. We remain very aware of that when it comes to growth.”
With its attention to detail and personal touch, Kaks Basement Finishing & Design remains a leader as a premier New England basement finisher.
Impressive Basements on the South Shore
Hanover, Ma. contractor on A&E real estate reality show ‘Flipping Boston’
By Dana Barbuto
Steve Sweeney, owner of KAKS Home Improvement Services in Hanover, is on the real estate reality show “Flipping Boston.”
Hanover contractor Steve Sweeney of Kaks Home Improvement has signed on to do seven more episodes of the A&E real estate reality show “Flipping Boston,” airing in the fall. It follows the adventures of a pair of Massachusetts house flippers as they buy a home, renovate it and sell it (ideally) for a tidy profit.
Sweeney, who has run his family owned business for seven years, said the best way to increase a home’s value, is to increase its living space. That’s why co-stars Dave Seymour and Peter Souhleris brought him onboard to renovate basements. “A good basement is a slam dunk,” Sweeney said.
In the episode “War Next Door,” Sweeney dramatically transformed the basement of a three-bedroom Colonial in Lynn from a cold subterranean concrete cave into a warm 900-square foot living area with hard-wood floors, light coconut-colored walls with white trim.
“That Lynn basement was challenging. Most city homes are challenging. I had a lady in Quincy, she was like ‘I never step down here.’ Now she doesn’t want to go upstairs,” Sweeney said.
Sweeney uses an eco-friendly finishing setup called Impressive Basement System. He said it takes about a week (or two) for most build outs, which includes, floors, walls, ceilings, electrical and plumbing. “We can move pretty quick,” Sweeney said.
Filming is under way for season two. Sweeney has shot basement remodels in Rockport and Middleton. He’ll be on seven of the season’s 14 episodes. Sweeney said he was asked to do the whole season, but couldn’t because of the time commitment.
“It was a gamble going in. I wasn’t sure this will make good TV,” Sweeney said. “But, there is a lot of drama in home remodeling.” Mining that drama is something A&E and others of its ilk – HGTV, DIY and TLC – are already successfully doing. “Flipping Boston” joins the similarly themed shows “Flipped Off,” “Flip This House,” “Flip That House,” “Flip Men.” And so, while the real estate market remains shaky, the home television bubble continues to grow. Sweeney is grateful for the latter.
“‘Flipping Boston’ got great ratings and has catapulted us business-wise,” he said. Being on “Flipping Boston” was a stroke of luck. “I was at the Plaza with my daughter and a woman called to ask about doing the show. I thought my brother – who is a big jokester – put someone up to it. Turns out it was a referral from a past job. I still don’t know who it was.”
The four episodes from Season One are available via cable On Demand. You can also catch the repeats Friday, June 29, starting at 4 p.m.