3 vetted design-build firms serving St. Paul · how we vet & rank
Finishing a basement is the most cost-effective square footage in a Minnesota home — family rooms, guest suites, bars, and home gyms below grade. Egress windows, moisture management, and mechanical work are where professional experience pays for itself.
A NARI-member design-build remodeler with 15+ years serving Hennepin, Ramsey, and Carver counties, Scala Design & Construction covers the full remodeling range — kitchens, baths, basements, additions, and whole-home projects — in the mid price tier.
One of the most-awarded remodelers in the Twin Cities, McDonald Remodeling has run full design-build renovations — kitchens, lower levels, additions, whole homes — from Inver Grove Heights since 2000.
A second-generation design-build remodeler founded in 1977, Castle specializes in older urban homes — kitchens, baths, attics, and additions — with over 4,000 Twin Cities clients and four neighborhood design studios.
Basement finishes in the metro typically run $50,000–$125,000 depending on size, bathroom count, and finish level — usually well below the per-square-foot cost of an addition.
Basement finishes in the metro typically run $50,000–$125,000 depending on size, bathroom count, and finish level — usually well below the per-square-foot cost of an addition. St. Paul's older housing stock can add scope — outdated wiring, plaster, and framing surprises are common in pre-war homes, so build contingency into the budget.
We currently list 3 design-build remodelers handling basement finishing & remodeling in St. Paul. All are being verified against Minnesota's contractor licensing records as we expand the directory.
Almost always, yes. Any project touching plumbing, electrical, structure, or egress requires permits and inspections in St. Paul. A legitimate contractor pulls the permits themselves — treat any suggestion to skip permitting as a red flag.
Most basement finishes take 8–12 weeks of construction once permits are in hand.
Tell us about your project and we’ll shortlist up to 3 vetted local builders that fit your city, budget, and timeline.
Planning new construction instead? See St. Paul home builders.