ElkStone, Inc.

We used Elkstone to finished our basement. They were fantastic! Completion ⁴⁄₂₀₁₆. Our basement finished close to the time frame. Entire process went very smooth! Dave our salesman, was a pleasure to work. He listened to all of our concerns. Phil was our project manager, he was awesome! Easy to talk to with any questions or concerns. All of the sub contractors were excellent and very friendly! I plan on using them again on a another project.

We had our basement finished by ElkStone, which took 5 weeks and was completed the first week of March. First off, we were ecstatic with the timeline as other companies had on average an 8 –12 week completion time frame. We love our new living space! It is beautiful! Having the opportunity to pick our finishes to our taste was also great. We could pinch pennies here or there and go big elsewhere if desired (like we did with the backsplash of the bar). The line items for «variable» costs were very fair and we could go anywhere to find the necessary items, whether it was online or through a specialty store. Elkstone did a wonderful job, stuck to the timeline and everything went very well and according to the plan. Our project manager was great and always addressed all of our questions or concerns, whatever they might have been, and dealt with my pickiness with patience. We highly recommend ElkStone, and will absolutely recommend them to anyone who asks in the near and even distant future. The estimator/​designer also did a wonderful job recommending tray ceilings and some other features we would not have thought to ask for or even know that we could! Thank you Elkstone! We – and all of our friends and guests — love our finished basement!

Elkstone just finished my basement in Denver, and I am thrilled with the results. Glenn (the estimator) did a terrific job working with us to make sure the basement was exactly what we wanted. I received two other bids, but Glenn’s very detailed proposal and willingness to work with us caused us to choose Elkstone. Phil (the project manager) did a fantastic job working with us and making sure that the entire project ran smoothly. The project ran like clockwork (which is pretty amazing in the construction business). The subcontractors (framers, electricians, tile, etc.) were also excellent. Elkstone apparently finishes about 200 basements a year and gives the subcontractors a ton of work, so it seems the subcontractors give Elkstone projects top priority. Long story short, these guys are the best!

Randy our designer did a good job creating our basement on paper and responded quickly to all the changes big or small. Justin rocked as a project manager. All the trades were great and easy to work with. we started on Nov. 17 and finished a few days late on Jan. 12. We probably had more than our fair share of glitches pop up during construction and the two biggest snowfalls this season contributed to the few days late. Would highly recommend Elkstone.

We had our basement finished by ElkStone last Sring and have been using and loving the space ever since. ElkStone was able to complete our basement in their promised timeframe of 5 weeks. The entire process ran smoothly — our project manager, Phil, made sure we stayed on schedule and helped work through any minor issues that arose (inevitable in construction). The trades were all experts in their field and completed quality work in a timely fashion. We were impressed with how quickly the project was completed and how well the whole process flowed.
It’s been close to a year now and we have enjoyed the additional space and have not had a single issue. We would absolutely recommend ElkStone to anyone looking to finish their basement.

We contracted with Elkstone to finish our basement in November 2015 and the job was completed in just over 5 weeks. The only major delay was weather related and the team worked to get the project back on track. Our basement is approximately 760 square feet of finished area with three unfinished storage areas. Our basement includes a media room with surround sound, a ¾ bathroom, a walk-​up wet bar with a separate custom-​built bar with three bar stools, an exercise area, an office/​playroom and a wall-​to-​wall storage closet with built in shelves.
We received bids from four contractors and, although Elkstone was not our lowest bid, we chose them based on their detailed proposal, service expectations and project list that described what we needed to buy, where to buy it, how much to pay, and quantity to purchase. Our salesperson, David, was extremely helpful in finalizing the design of our basement and provided a very detailed proposal and our project manager, Phil, was very responsive to both questions and requests and worked hard to make sure the project stayed on schedule and that we were totally satisfied with the final outcome.
My review lacks the fifth star because we had one design flaw that we would have preferred to be resolved during the design phase or at least brought to our attention prior to drywall installation. Once we noticed the flaw there was nothing we could do about it. Also, we were told we could leave our treadmill and weight machine in the basement during the project and they would work around them but the equipment was not well covered/​protected so both pieces were extremely dirty and the treadmill belt, as well as the rubber mats, have permanent marks from paint, drywall, dirt, etc. I would suggest removing everything from your basement prior to project commencement.
Overall, we would recommend Elkstone as we are extremely pleased with the outcome. We truly enjoyed this extra living space with family and friends over the recent holiday season!

ElkStone finished our basement in March/​April of 2015. The project didn’t come without hiccups; however, I think that’s to be expected with any home construction project. ElkStone did a great job of resolving any issues we had without difficulty. There’s definitely something to be said for great service from begging to end and beyond.
Our basement is approximately 900 square feet. We put in an office, guest bedroom, ¾ bathroom, reading nook with built-​in cabinets, a wet bar and theater area with surround sound. It sounds like a lot in a small space but it flows beautifully and doesn’t feel like a small space. Our family and friends love it and so do we!

Look no further!!! These are the guys you want to use. We just finished our basement buildout and we are very happy. These guys finished on time and on budget. The trades were very friendly. Nothing but great things to say about this company. I know how you are feeling, you don’t know what you are doing and you don’t know who to trust when it comes to building out your basement. Take a leap of faith with these guys, you are making the right choice.

We used Elkstone in March 2015 to finish our basement and we are very pleased with the results. I delayed writing this review to see if we’d have warranty issues and how Elkstone responded to them. We finished ~1000 sq. ft. and left about 250 unfinished.
We spent over 6 months interviewing basement companies, comparing bids apples to apples and designing and redesigning the layout before we chose Elkstone. Finishing a basement costs a lot of money and we wanted to make sure we knew everything before signing a contract with a company. We definitely made the right choice with Elkstone.
–Pre-​decision Process–
We interviewed several companies and received bids from 3 of them. Elkstone made the design (pre-​contract) process easy. They provided detailed proposals, CAD drawings and renderings of the space. Their designer was very responsive and spent a lot of time with us in person and over email prior to us signing the contract to make sure everything was just right.
The hardest part of making the decision was comparing the 3 different companies’ bids with each other to make sure we were looking at things equally. Some companies bundled customer provided costs (pendant lights, for example) and others separated them out. It was important for me to compare how much each company was budgeting for carpet, granite, tile, cabinets, etc. Elkstone’s bid was very clear about what items were customer provided and how much money they factored into the bid for those items.
–Process–
The process from start to finish was very easy. They’ve obviously spent a lot of time tweaking the process and communication between employees and subs to create smooth transitions for customers. Usually when working with contractors, you don’t know when they are coming to your house and you don’t know when they are going to complete. This is not the case with Elkstone. They handed us a project schedule a few days before they started and the project manager kept the workers on schedule. Then the project manager was at our house every day of the project. He would tell me what to expect for that day and we’d talk about any questions/​concerns that I had. I’m glad I was able to meet with them daily because there were a few tweaks we made on the fly such as moving light switches and vent locations.
Elkstone also provided a «project list» document at the beginning of the project which outlined exactly what items I needed to buy on my own and when I needed to provide them by. This allowed us to decide on tile, carpet, granite, fixtures and faucets in time without being rushed. All of the contractors in our house were courteous and respectful. The came and went through the basement window and never came into our main living area.
–Price–
We received bids from 3 companies and Elkstone’s price came in the middle of them. They were all close to each other so the price didn’t sway us one way or another. We ultimately chose Elkstone because of the quality of the work we’d seen and the faster completion time.
–Overall–
Our experience with Elkstone was better than we expected (honestly). The project management was outstanding, quality is outstanding and most importantly, they are honest people. I never felt that I was being taken advantage of or they were trying to hide something from me. We had 1 «issue» during the project which delayed the overall completion by a few days (the stain on the custom cabinets didn’t come out right the first time). You can tell a lot about a company when an issue comes up. They went above and beyond what was needed to rectify the issue. Elkstone is very good at managing the project schedule and «rolling with the punches» as things come up. It didn’t bother me that we were delayed a few days. The project was still completed many weeks ahead of the other companies’ timeframes.

I have been around the construction industry most of my life. I worked on my father’s construction crew as a teen, and I’ve been around the process of building often since then. At the risk of sounding like hyperbole, the basement finishing process with Elkstone was simply the best I’ve ever seen. There are always surprises, changes, set backs, and tough decisions during any building process. What sets Elkstone apart is how well they communicate from start to finish. Justin, our project manager, was fantastic. He responded to questions quickly and thoroughly. Here are some of the reasons why you should look no further than Elkstone if you’re considering finishing your basement:
1. The estimation process is thorough, and David had some great ideas we had not considered.
2. The entire process is mapped out from start to finish, so you know exactly when each part is going to take place.
3. You have a dedicated project manager that is the source of all communication.
4. Problems, even though they were rare, were dealt with quickly and correctly.
5. They stick to the 5 week schedule. Drywall got a bit behind and worked over a weekend to catch up.
*6. This is probably the biggest endorsement for Elkstone — I talked to every subcontractor as they were working on the project. Every one of them had lots of respect for Elkstone and truly appreciated working for them. It was very apparent that they took pride in their work, both because they were good at what they do, and because they value their relationship with Elkstone and didn’t want to lose that business. That is huge, in my opinion. Because of this, all their subs have worked for Elkstone for quite a long time.
7. We couldn’t be happier with the finished product.

From the initial design meeting to the punch list walk through at completion, Elkstone constantly impressed and created an air of excitement for the addition to our home that our family would soon enjoy.
The design meeting began with a professional approach and progressed to creative ideas and a calming sense that this project would be under control from inception to realization. As soon as framing began, I was impressed! The framers gave us ideas as they were framing and snapping the lines. Very cool experience to be involved in that. The meeting with Boris, the electrician was comfortable and easy. We chose the lighting locations and he gave us some cool recommendations. Throughout the remaining process, Justin, our Project Manager was always available and he answered his phone nearly everytime, even after 6pm and on Sunday! This impressed my wife and I greatly! When the basement was completed, it exceeded our expectations! The workmanship was terrific and the punchlist completed in a timely manner. It is now an inviting space and we actually use the new spaces every night with our two daughters, either playing in our new play area or watching our new theater! The reality with Elkstone, is the time frame was 5 weeks from Dumpster drop off to completion! This may invoke some fear in your mind, but the quality and price are on par, if not much better than the «other» guys that take anywhere from 8 weeks to 16 weeks! Having dust and noise and contractors in your home for nearly 16 weeks was not acceptable for our family.
Elkstone’s business model is amazing. Superior customer service and an impeccable schedule and project management. I have spoken to friends that have used other basement contractors and there are many days/​weeks where there is nothing happening and no progress. Elkstone has progress happening everyday! It was fun taking the family down there every night and seeing what new progress happened! I would highly recommend Elkstone! 5 out of 5 and a fantastic experience!

We used Elkstone to finish our basement (only through drywall) and had an overall positive experience. We worked with Keith on the initial design and he had some great layout ideas for us to maximize our space. Our project manager, Phil, was constantly in communication with us and prompt to resolve any issues. Having a baby in the house during construction was no problem because other than the necessary construction noise, there were no interruptions as all contractors came and went through the window well. We are very happy with the end result and the only complaint we have is that it felt very rushed at the end and the quality of construction seemed to have sacrificed a bit to finish within the four week window.

Elkstone did a great job on our basement, finished March 2015. We did a total of almost 2,000 finished sq ft for our basement, including bar, rec room, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, and living room. They worked with us to put together a great design, and executed the project within the agreed upon time frame (6 – 7 weeks). I was certainly doubtful when they said they could get this large of a basement finished that quickly, but they pulled it off, and did not sacrifice quality to do so.
I would recommend Elkstone to anyone looking to finish their basement. No construction process ever goes perfectly. Elkstone was responsive to my questions and concerns, and always remedied anything I was not completely satisfied with. They work to find solutions to keep the client satisfied, which is very important. Their sub-​contractors were fast paced and focused on quality, and worked 6 days a week to get the job done. Nobody likes having contractors in their house for weeks on end. These guys get in and get out, no wasting time.
If you need assistance designing your basement, or a competent contractor to execute the design and construction in a timely manner; Elkstone should be on your list to receive pricing from.

I highly recommend ElkStone for basement finishing projects. I had them finish my basement, giving our family an extra bedroom, bathroom and media center, and we have loved the addition to our home!
To kick things off, our consultant took measurements of the available space in the basement, talked with us about our goals for the space, and took notes and photos of the main floor of our house. The ElkStone team designed an awesome layout that maximized the usable area, matched the upstairs precisely, and still left us with some unfinished storage area.
Joe has the process «dialed in», and your basement will be completed astonishingly quickly. ElkStone uses a sealed, zippered door to make sure construction dust does not invade the rest of your home, and his crew even use the basement window wells for access, so no workers are walking through your home! At the end of the project, everything is left immaculately clean — inside and outside.

We hired Elkstone to finish our basement here in CPV. It was a moderate-​to-​high end reno which ended up totaling about 85k for 1250 finished and 250 unfinished square feet; slightly over budget, but exclusively due to us adding additional options and/​or changes along the way. We got three estimates from 3 different vendors and all the quotes were within a few thousand so price was not really a differentiator during selection process.
We would characterize the final Elkstone product as excellent in terms of initial quality and craftsmanship.
Things we really liked:
1) the detail in the initial quote process
2) their flexibility/​adaptability throughout the process, and ability to start quickly and finish on-​schedule.
3) how they used the storm drain window well egress to go in and out of our house and to transport their materials
4) how the project management process provided frequent updates and opportunities for questions and discussion
5) the hickory-​cladded decorative buildout around load-​bearing steel post in the middle of the main room
6) the outcome of the arches and custom nooks
7) Fireplace, f/​p masonry work and hearth surround
–The following (sub)-contractors were excellent: dry wall; millworker; carpet; framing.
–The following (sub)-contractors were very good; tiler and painters (*painters quality of work was very good but they lacked professionalism; see comments below)
Opportunities for improvement/​dissatisfiers:
1) Outcome the the double layered (6 cm) granite slab edge with chiseled finish.
–Their granite supplier and fabricators showed us dark granite samples where the 6-​cm chiseled edge looked great; however, ours yielded an obviously seam after the installation, even after they came out to manually polish the edge. There should have been more transparency in the process. Specifically, upfront disclosure of how a lighter colored granite would show/​manifest a seam much more than a darker color. We also requested to review the slab (via photos we were supposed to get from the fabricator) prior to them starting because we had selected the slab based on a very specific area we wanted to use; the ball was completely dropped on this and we got the opposite side of the granite. Very disappointing.
2) Elkstone has no existing relationship for
subcontracting moving of furniture and/​or appliances. We had to hire appliance movers towards the end of the process to move the refrigerators down to the lower level. Moving services would be a helpful option.
3) There were a couple of instances when subcontractors brought their young kids to the worksite on Saturdays. Inappropriate and unsafe. *The painters were also very «loud» on-​site (constant blaring music, very loud laughing and actual screaming; it was literally at «party-​level»). My husband and I both work from home so this was very distracting. I have no objection to people enjoying their work and listening to music at an acceptable level, but this was excessive and ultimately unacceptable.
4) I noticed some of the subcontractors did not wear the appropriate personal protective equipment while working.
–On different occasions I noticed the lack of: Hearing protection, eye protection, and respirators. I am probably more cognizant of this being a physician, but there is definitely opportunity to educate some of their subs on hazard recognition and avoidance.
Overall, we would recommend Elkstone but would definitely suggest sourcing/​using a few different (sub)-contractors.

I have been working with Elkstone for the last five years. As a subcontractor doing all their flooring. Last year I did over 90 basements with them. being the flooring contractor selling carpet I come in at the end of the project and I am amazed at their speed and quality of workmanship. I work with several other basement finishing contractors and truthfully I see the project is taking much longer with no better quality. I just had my own basement finished and the people that worked on it were fantastic. Prompt and up and communicated well. If you are having your basement finished I would highly recommend Elkstone

I did not ultimately hire Elkstone, but the limited experience I’ve had with them was negative.
I had a short window of time (10:30am-12:30pm) to get bids for finishing the basement of a house I’m buying next month. I scheduled Keith to come at 11:30 and he explained that his process takes an hour. Keith was more than 15 minutes late and forgot his laser measurer, so it took him much longer to measure the space and our time to discuss the project was cut significantly short. No big deal, we all make mistakes.
What really really irked me about the experience was how Keith outright rudely blamed me for poor scheduling. I was apologetic about the limited amount of time, even though he was the one who arrived LATE and UNPREPARED. He said he would call me that afternoon to discuss the project further. Never called. I sent him an email later that day with detailed information about the project. Never responded. Never even sent me the bid. Extremely unprofessional.
From my experience working with contractors, I have one piece of advice: Always trust your instincts. Keith’s accusatory tone and rude behavior was a big red flag and I am very happy that I did not hire Elkstone.

We have been frustrated and disappointed with Elkstone. One of their primary selling points is basement completion in 3 – 5 weeks. We had a signed a contract for a five week finish that resulted in over 12-​weeks and is still has outstanding warranty work. From the first week it was apparent they sacrifice quality for time though their contract indicated the opposite. Every single step of the process required interaction with the owner of Elkstone, Joe, in order to move forward. We experienced mistakes that were contrary to the agreed upon plan (like framing), that would not have been corrected unless we pointed them out. Specific examples include: uneven electrical outlets, windows that shims were missing, crooked tile, broken tile, miss-​matched paint, uneven door trim, crooked slab granite & cracked drywall. Tile and paint had to be independently contracted (by me) as a result of sub-​par work — tile had to be removed, re-​purchased and reinstalled. Basement was painted three times before they were able to match the color. One of his sub contractors confided in me and apologized for the poor quality of work and said it was due to the required turn around time from Elkstone. This is completely contrary to the sales process and contract though apparent early on in the basement finishing process. The most disappointing step in the process most recently surfaced after the basement was recently completed. Due to poor installation of the slab granite on our bar originally, it had to be removed, re-​fabricated and reinstalled. In the process, they broke part of the slab. As a result they patched where it broke, and the worst part is they did not tell us what had happened. We discovered the issue weeks after they led us to believe the reinstallation went perfectly. Overall a very frustrating experience.

Elkstone came in on budget and on time, 4.5 weeks. 1500 sqft basement with wet bar, bathroom, rec room and a couple of bedrooms. Overall a great experience.

I hired Elkstone to do a significant construction project on my house. I followed the proper process, architecture, structural and electrical drawings. However after being told for 7 weeks the permits were sitting in the city office I called the city to quickly realize I had been lied too for that period of time. The plans were never submitted. Obviously I could not trust them with my money or the project going forward. Be very cautious if you plan on hiring them and ask for all relevant permits forms as they happen.