Indigo Construction (605) 381-1601
Service 02

Basement finishing.

Egress first, then framing, drywall and trim, so the bedroom you build downstairs is one you can actually call a bedroom.

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A finished basement
The short version

We finish basements from bare concrete: egress first so the space can legally hold a bedroom, then framing, drywall, trim and doors. Because we build the escape opening ourselves, the room is laid out around the window instead of the window being squeezed in afterwards.

Start with the window

The most expensive basement mistake is finishing a room and then learning it can't be called a bedroom. Remodeling an existing basement doesn't by itself trigger the egress rules, but any new bedroom created in it needs its own emergency escape opening. Planning the egress window first sets where the bedroom goes, where the bed wall is, and how much daylight you'll have.

What a finish includes

  • Layout around the egress window, stairs, mechanicals and any posts.
  • Framing of perimeter and partition walls, soffits around ducts and beams.
  • Drywall: hang, tape and finish walls and ceilings.
  • Finish carpentry: doors, casing, base, window returns, stair trim.
  • Flooring: LVP, laminate and hardwood.
  • Paint, so the room is done when we leave.

South Dakota licenses electricians and plumbers separately, so electrical and plumbing work in a basement finish is done by those licensed trades.

A finished basement living space
The same square footage, finished and lit by an egress window.

Test for radon before you finish

The EPA puts every county we work in (Minnehaha, Lincoln, Brookings, Lake and Moody) in radon Zone 1, its highest-potential category, and South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources says the whole eastern part of the state is Zone 1. The state offers free test kits. Testing before the walls close is cheaper than fixing it after.

Winter is basement season

A house in deep snow
When the yard is under snow, the basement is where the work is.

Everything in a basement finish happens indoors, so it's work that fits a South Dakota winter. A common plan: get the egress cut in while the ground is open in the fall, then finish the room over the winter.

Permits

Sioux Falls lists lower-level finishes among the projects that need a building permit, and residential permits there go to licensed contractors. Indigo holds City of Sioux Falls license #16860, so we pull the permit and schedule the inspections.

From a remodel customer

Done start to finish.

Posted on Angi, June 2025.

“I had doors installed, Sheetrock, flooring and paint. Trim and wainscoting. Complete remodel of garage and much more!”
Starla V.Angi, June 2025 · Interior remodelRead it on Angi →
FAQ

Basement questions.

Every basement is different. The fastest way to an answer is a visit.

Do I need an egress window to finish my basement?

If the finish creates a new bedroom, yes: each new sleeping room in an existing basement needs its own emergency escape and rescue opening. Plan it first so the room is laid out around it.

Can you finish a basement in winter?

Yes. Framing, drywall and trim all happen indoors, so basement finishing is year-round work. Only the outdoor digging for an egress window depends on the ground being open.

Do you need a permit to finish a basement?

In Sioux Falls, yes: the city lists lower-level finishes among the projects that need a building permit. We pull it and schedule the inspections.

Should I test for radon before finishing a basement?

Yes. The EPA rates Minnehaha, Lincoln, Brookings, Lake and Moody counties as radon Zone 1, the highest-potential category, and South Dakota offers free test kits. Test before the walls are closed in.

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