Basement finishing in Horace
Finishing the basements of newer homes in a growing Cass County city just south of Fargo and West Fargo.
Horace is a Cass County city on the Sheyenne River, about 8 miles from Fargo. It had 3,085 people at the 2020 census, up 27 percent from 2010, and it has kept growing. Much of that growth is new subdivisions, which means many Horace basements are recent, unfinished and ready for a first finish.
What Horace owners usually ask for
- A family room and a second living area for kids
- Finishing a basement bathroom from the builder's rough-in
- One or two bedrooms, each with its own egress window
- An office or workout room
Built near the diversion
The Sheyenne Diversion, built from 1990 to 1992, carries Sheyenne River floodwater around the west and south sides of Horace. A lot of the town's housing has gone up since. Even so, the area sits on the same lake clays and high water table as the rest of the valley, so make sure the sump discharges well away from the house and watch the basement through a spring before you finish it.
Permits and timing
Horace is its own city, so check with the City of Horace about building permits rather than Fargo. If your home is brand new, ask your builder whether anything in the warranty is affected by finishing the basement.
Common questions
Should I finish the basement right after closing on a new Horace home?
Many people wait through one spring to see how the basement handles snowmelt and settling. Ask the contractor to look for moisture or cracks before you commit.
My builder left a capped drain in the floor. Is that a bathroom rough-in?
Usually, yes. A contractor can confirm where the drain and vent lines are and whether they're positioned for the layout you want.
Services in Horace
- Full basement finishingTurning a bare concrete basement into finished living space: framing, insulation, wiring, drywall, ceilings and floors.
- Basement remodelingGutting and redoing a dated or damaged finished basement, from wood paneling and drop ceilings to a new layout.
- Basement bathroomsAdding a full or half bath downstairs, including breaking the slab for drains when there's no rough-in.
- Basement bedrooms and egressMaking a basement sleeping room legal in Fargo: an escape window, alarms, and a layout that passes inspection.
- Wet bars and home theatersFamily rooms built around a bar sink, a big screen or both, with the plumbing, wiring and sound control planned in.
Nearby areas
Ready to use the space under your feet?
Call and a local basement finishing contractor will look at the space, the moisture and the permits with you.