Basement Remodeling Experts
Expert Basement Remodeling Services
GS Construction & Remodeling specializes in professional Basement Remodeling. As a father-son team, we bring decades of combined experience to every project.
From the first walkthrough to the last punch-list item, Greg or Patryk runs your Basement Remodeling project themselves. That means a scope written out line by line instead of one number, permits pulled and handled with your village, and the same faces on site rather than a crew you've never met.
- Specialized Basement Remodeling expertise
- On-site supervision for every project
- Transparent pricing with no surprises
- Quality craftsmanship guaranteed
"Your Basement Remodeling project deserves the best—we deliver it."
Neighborhoods & landmarks near our Great Lakes basement finishing
Naval Station Great Lakes, Recruit Training Command, Ross Field parade ground, Building 1 clocktower, National Museum of the American Sailor, Great Lakes Metra station (UP-N), Forrestal Elementary School, Forrestal Village, Sheridan Road
Neighborhoods we work in
- Naval Station Great Lakes Housing
- Forrestal Village
- Ross Field
- Fort Sheridan (nearby)
- Green Oaks (nearby)
Basement finishing in Great Lakes, IL
Basement finishing in Great Lakes often involves transforming the lower levels of mid-century and split-level homes found just outside the base gates. Many of these residences, built from the 1950s through the 1970s, feature unfinished basements with open layouts, offering a blank canvas for expansion. Converting these spaces significantly increases usable square footage, providing much-needed room for growing families or accommodating evolving needs. The typical project here transforms a utilitarian space into a vibrant, functional extension of the home, often involving new walls, flooring, lighting, and climate control to create comfortable living areas. We frequently see these renovations add substantial value and utility to homes near the Naval Station.
What Great Lakes homeowners ask for
Great Lakes homeowners frequently request dedicated home offices or study areas within their finished basements, especially given the professional demands of military and civilian staff. Family entertainment zones, complete with media rooms or play areas for children, are also highly sought after. Another common request is for additional bedrooms, often with an attached bathroom, to host extended family or provide more private living quarters.
About Great Lakes
Great Lakes is not a typical suburb: the entire community is Naval Station Great Lakes — a federal installation with its own ZIP code (60088) inside North Chicago's city limits. So when Great Lakes families plan a remodel, it is usually for an owner-occupied house just outside the gates.
Great Lakes is home of the Navy's only boot camp at Recruit Training Command and the largest military installation in Illinois, sitting in Shields Township between North Chicago and Lake Bluff. Even the water is Navy-run, drawn from Lake Michigan and treated at the base's own plant rather than by a village utility. Housing on base is privatized — Great Lakes Family Housing, managed by Hunt Military Communities, maintains more than 1,460 duplexes, triplexes, and single-family homes across six neighborhoods, including Forrestal Village beside the newly rebuilt Forrestal Elementary School (North Chicago District 187).
The prevalence of duplexes, triplexes, and single-family homes in privatized housing often means varying basement layouts and ceiling heights depending on the specific neighborhood and construction era. Given the base's own water treatment from Lake Michigan, moisture control and drain tile considerations are crucial for basements in Shields Township properties. Egress window requirements are particularly important in these diverse housing types, especially within the six neighborhoods managed by Hunt Military Communities. Ejector pump needs may arise in these homes, especially if new plumbing fixtures are added below grade. Mechanicals like HVAC and water heaters can be centrally located or distributed, requiring careful planning to integrate them into finished spaces. The local ground and flood history, tied to Lake Michigan and the base's water management, necessitates robust waterproofing and potentially sump pump installations to protect finished basements.
Basement finishing projects, especially those involving new bedrooms, plumbing, or electrical work, necessitate specific inspections from the relevant jurisdiction (North Chicago, Lake Bluff, or Lake County). GS Construction & Remodeling manages the entire permit application process, including coordinating all required inspections for framing, electrical, plumbing, and insulation.
How your Great Lakes project runs
ProcessThe same six stages on every job — free in-home estimate through warranty.
Free in-home estimate
Greg or Patryk — the owners, not a salesperson — walk your space, take real measurements, and give you honest feedback on what your budget buys.
Itemized scope & contract
Labor, materials, demolition and disposal priced line by line, not one mystery number. Payment terms and warranty are in the written contract.
Design & selections
Bring your own designer, use our architects and designers, or choose everything yourself. Selections are scheduled ahead so lead times never stall the site.
Permits & scheduling
We pull and manage building, plumbing and electrical permits with your village — typically 1–2 weeks — and hand you a written schedule before demo day.
The build, owner-supervised
Long-standing trade partners working in sequence under daily owner supervision. Your client portal shows the schedule, change orders and current balance.
Walkthrough & warranty
We walk the finished job together, close out every punch-list item, hand over manufacturer paperwork, and your written workmanship warranty starts. Our commitment never expires.
Testimonials
Your Neighbours in Great Lakes Love Us
Real reviews from homeowners. Ask us for live phone references.
I don't even know where to begin, Patryk & Greg are just amazing! We hired them to remodel approximately 4000 sqft of a 1985 house which included an unfinished basement. The whole experience could not have been better. It took about 7 months and for most of it, we lived in the house with two children. They are incredibly professional, can troubleshoot any issue and are 100% dependable. Patryk led the project and he was very detail-oriented. Everything had a purpose and was finished with beautiful extra touches. I changed my mind frequently and they didn't miss a beat. They worked around the changes and kept moving. The materials they used and the teams they brought in were all top notch. They didn't spend money where it wasn't necessary and in fact, they were always trying to find ways to save money. Finally, they are really nice guys. Polite, respectful and very accomodating. After spending so long in my house, we (almost) miss having the around. As I mentioned, we had the whole house remodeled and its impossible to post every picture so I will showcase just a few highlights. The whole house is beautiful! Scott & I THANK YOU!!!
Before & After & Timelapse
What homeowners near Great Lakes say
“GS Construction & Remodeling is the best of the best. We've hired them to work on 5 different properties (4 were extensive remodels) and continue to be thrilled with their work and have referred them to friends and family. I constantly brin...”
“I don't even know where to begin, Patryk & Greg are just amazing! We hired them to remodel approximately 4000 sqft of a 1985 house which included an unfinished basement. The whole experience could not have been better. It took about 7 month...”
“They did an outstanding job on our complete bathroom renovation! Our bathroom was an icebox due to poor insulation from the original build. They made excellent design recommendations to resolve the poor insulation and also installed heated...”
Basement Remodeling stories from the blog
Kitchen Remodel · Barrington, IL
A Bright, Hardworking Kitchen Renovation in Barrington, IL
This kitchen renovation in Barrington, IL, completed in 2021, shows the kind of bright, hardworking space we love to build, centered around a striking gray island.
Sep 4, 2026
Kitchen Remodel · Hoffman Estates, IL
Hoffman Estates Kitchen & Wet Bar: A Bright, Cohesive Renovation
We transformed a kitchen, wet bar, and living room in Hoffman Estates, IL, creating a bright, updated space with white shaker cabinets and granite counters.
Sep 4, 2026
Kitchen Remodel · Palatine, IL
Palatine Kitchen Renovation: Dark Wood, Granite, and a Mosaic Accent
This Palatine kitchen renovation showcases rich dark wood cabinetry, elegant granite countertops, and modern stainless steel appliances.
Sep 4, 2026
Budgeting first? See real 2026 price ranges in our basement remodeling cost guide — and what your Great Lakes permit will add in our permit guide.
Completed projects around Great Lakes
GS Construction crews have completed 45 projects within 10 miles of Great Lakes — part of 429 completed projects across 69 Chicago-area ZIP codes. The map below shows real project density from our records, not a service-area claim.
More Remodeling Services in Great Lakes
Contact GS Construction
Let's Build Beautiful Spaces Together
GS Construction is a father-and-son construction company, and basement remodeling in Great Lakes is work Greg and Patryk run themselves. Expect clear communication, quality craftsmanship, and a straightforward plan—reach out today to schedule a free in-home consultation and get a detailed estimate and honest feedback.
- Telephone
- (224) 735-4200
- [email protected]
- Service Area
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Service Area
Great Lakes and surrounding Chicagoland areas