It starts with how to plan out your basement changes in a logical manner. One of the best parts is that it includes information that a lot of us may not know about. For example, if you are planning on adding a bedroom to your basement, there is one safety feature that you absolutely have to have - a window or an outside door. Most people don't even consider this, and it's incredibly unsafe. You need to provide that occupant with a safety exit or you may even risk a fine from your housing authority.

It's little tips like this that make the book well worth the time and purchase price. You'll get step by step instructions on how to plan out your changes, and put them into action. Pretty much everything is covered, from how to figure out minimum square foot requirements for different types of rooms, safety features, water hazards and much more. Before you get started, read the chapter on existing basements so that you can find out how your basement was constructed. You'll need to know this before going any further since it will affect the type of improvements that you can add.

Possibly the best feature of this book is that it includes projects that are truly useful for every day life. From building a sump pump to getting those stairs fixed, you'll find countless tips that will make it a lot easier to safely and effectively modify your basement. Instructions on how to frame out doors and windows are included, which is vital if you plan to add living space to your basement, as mentioned above.

Too many how to books throw out information and projects and never really get into exactly how you're supposed to do it, or the dangers that you need to keep in mind. This book definitely breaks that mold and provides absolutely everything you could ever need to get a project done. It's like having a contractor right there with you, without having to pay the exorbitant fees.

The end of the book includes information on permits and more on electrical safety. This is very beneficial if you're still trying to figure out what you want to do with your basement and you're not sure what you need to do before taking those steps to put a plan into action. Overall, if you need to renovate your basement, this is the best book to help you get the job done.

Originally posted 2008-11-15 16:16:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Book Review: What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating by Amy Johnston Why do so many home improvement projects end in disaster? According to Amy Johnson, the author of What Your Contractor Can't Tell You, it's due to the fact that homeowners simply don't have access to the right tools, knowledge and planning abilities that the pro's do. Her basic premise is......
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Exterior Maintenance:

Often, the source of moisture or flooding begins outside the home. Gutters collect and move mass amounts of water on a single home with just a few inches of rainfall. A quick inspection of your gutters, down spouts, and the grading surrounding your foundation can indicate a potential problem. Gutters should be clean and properly sized for your home. Down spouts should draw drainage away from the home, to the lowest portion of your lot. In other words, the water should be directed to where it would drain naturally. Some areas allow drainage systems to be connected to city storm sewers and retention basins. Check with the water and sewer department in your area before making any changes that involve public systems.

The surface grading around your home should provide a gentle slope away from your foundation, pulling any added rainfall or moisture back into your lawn. Most building codes state that the surface grading should, in the first ten feet from the house, slope down at least six inches. Check with your local building codes to find out the specifics for your area.

Interior Maintenance:

Some basic steps for keeping your basement moisture free are to provide proper ventilation for dryers, bathrooms or any other sources of moisture, and making certain that your sump pump is in proper working order. It is essential in dealing with moisture, and during a flood can save homeowners thousands of dollars. A dehumidifier can help remove moisture from the air, which can aid in the prevention of the formation of mold.

Applying a waterproof sealant can keep moisture at bay and is not only easy, but relatively inexpensive to apply. Walls and flooring must be prepared before the sealant is applied, by scraping away loose materials, filling in cracks, and creating the cleanest surface possible by vacuuming. Simply follow the instructions included with the sealant for application and drying processes. If a sealant has been used in the past, but is no longer effective, you may need to remove the old material from your flooring before applying a fresh coat. This can be time consuming, but a little bit of extra work in the beginning of the process will yield a dry, moisture free basement in the long run.

Flooring Solutions:

If your basement is mostly used for doing laundry and completing small projects, a fresh, bright coat of paint is often enough to improve the appearance and help keep moisture at bay. However, a finished basement may have carpeting, tiles, and even hardwood flooring in some cases. Moisture and flooding can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage on these types of materials.

A simple, attractive and cost-effective alternative to these typical flooring materials is water resistant carpet tiles. Not only do carpet tiles not require a carpet pad, which can become soaked with water, causing a nightmare for homeowners dealing with flooding, but the tiles themselves are often water resistant and can be individually removed, cleaned, dried, and replaced in their original position at no cost to the home owner.

With a little knowledge and preparation, you can have not only a dry basement, but an attractive and inviting space that will likely add to the ultimate resale value of your home.

This was a guest post written by Jason Capshaw. Jason Capshaw is a weekend warrior and former general contractor. He loves woodworking and spending time on home improvements.

Photo Credits: cafemama

Originally posted 2010-02-05 16:29:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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First and foremost, assess the concrete wall in your basement. If the damage appears to be leaking, then you should be using plugging cement that is quick hardening, or a concrete epoxy to fill it in. When you mix the cement for the dry patch spots, you should be using one part cement mixed with two parts of sand in order to make a mortar. You should slowly add water in until you have a dough like consistency, stirring well along the way.

Should a new leak spring up in an area close to the repair site, then there may be water that is backing up against the foundation's exterior, and this can be a serious problem. As a result, you are going to have to take more drastic measures with the help of a repairing building contractor as leak repair measures must be taken before this problem becomes any more serious or any more significant.

If you have a hole in your cement, here is what you can do: You can use a cold chisel to make the hole bigger, undercutting edges so that the plug is not going to pop loose. You can mix plugging cement, creating a stopper shape that you can pop right into the hole as if it were a cork. Keep it in place for a few minutes and let it harden.

If you are dealing with cracks in your cement, here is what you can do: You can use a hammer and a chisel in order to cut cracks back to the sound material, beveling the edges. Then moisten the cracks really well. Turn the mortar several times using a trowel, then work the well mixed mortar into the cracks using just the very tip of the trowel. One the mortar is beginning to harden, you can pack the crack completely full. Shave off whatever mortar is extra using a putty knife or a wet trowel and let everything harden.

Photo Credits: pirate johnny

Originally posted 2009-06-18 05:38:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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1. Install eaves/gutters.

The best way to make sure that you don't have excess moisture running into your basement is to install gutters or eaves on your home. This makes a big difference and you can even utilize rain barrels at the ends to conserve water. These are not that difficult to install and can mean the difference between a basement that is nice and dry and one that has a foot of standing water. This is the first step that you should take.

2. Pour rocks along the side of your home.

Rocks absorb some moisture and after you've got your eaves up, you can line the sides of your home with a rock bed. On the plus side, not only will it help prevent excess moisture from building up, but it will also look very nice. Add in some plantings and you'll be all set.

3. Make sure outdoor faucets don't leak.

Many of us have outdoor faucets that are situated right next to basement exterior walls. Even a small leak on one of these faucets can mean big water damage over time. Make sure that your faucets are not leaking and line the area where they are with plastic so that when you are using them, the excess water does not drip down into your basement.

4. Use water blocker paint on basement walls.

Sometimes, and in certain climates, moisture builds up on the concrete blocks that are used to make basements, causing them to weep. There are several different types of paint that can be used to seal these up so that they don't cause water damage in your basement. Make sure that you open up any windows downstairs or use a fan for ventilation when painting since these paints can be very fumey.

5. Keep a sump pump on hand.

When all else fails and you've had a ton of rain or flooding, getting that water out as quickly as possible is vital. Invest in a good sump pump if you have had flooding before. This can make all the difference when it comes to the amount of water damage you have after a flood.

6. Try re-landscaping.

If you are frequently having to deal with water in your basement, your landscaping may be to blame. Find out if there are any slopes that are diverting water towards your house instead of away from it. You may need to hire a professional to help you correct any of these issues unless you already have landscaping experience.

These tips make it easy to keep your basement dry and your storage items free of water damage.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-09-14 05:39:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Adding a room to your home is a significant expense. But renovating the basement, a space that already exists, adds more living space to your home, and raises the home's value without the same amount of expense. You can add almost any kind of room in a basement, from a family room to a bedroom. Often, basement renovations see more than one room added, or the large space becomes multi-purpose.

Will the renovations be more trouble than they're worth? If you have had water problems in your basement, those issues need to be fixed anyway just to preserve the sound structure of your home. Older homes typically have more basement moisture problems, because newer homes have built-in drainage systems in the foundation that help prevent these issues.

If you have an older home with a concrete basement floor that needs to be replaced or a dirt floor that requires a new concrete pour, then the expense of basement renovations could be closer to the expense of the addition of space at ground level. And in the case of an older home with a dirt basement floor, pouring concrete may not even be possible if that means the clearance from floor to ceiling will be less than 7 feet. It may be necessary for a contractor to dig the basement deeper to start basement renovations.

If you have an absolutely dry basement, you could put a wood subfloor over a cracked basement floor rather than replacing it. But if the potential for moisture is there, this can cause headaches later. Any water would require that the subfloor be removed to allow the floor to dry.

You could also opt to cover the concrete with laminate or wall to wall carpeting. You can even glue carpeting directly to the basement floor. This might seem problematic, but if you should have a water issue later, then it's just a matter of cleaning and drying the carpet rather than removing a subfloor and replacing it. No matter which covering you use, the floor has to be leveled first. A floor leveling compound should be spread across the area and leveled properly to ensure a good result.

Choosing which kind of flooring you want for your basement renovations will not only help you decide how to repurpose your basement, but will help you figure the rest of your budget for things like framing, drywall, lighting and other important issues.

If you're an experienced DIYer, then some jobs like covering the floor and even drywall are things you can probably do yourself. For framing the walls around pipes and obstacles, unless you're experienced doing this you may want to contact a contractor. Either way, basement renovations give you more living space and add value to your home, so decide what you'll do with the extra space and start planning.

Photo Credits: tandemracer

Originally posted 2009-09-24 03:23:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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• Dealing with Moisture in the Basement Moisture in general can cause all kinds of problems in the basement, including mold and the destruction of flooring and wall materials. But how do you prevent moisture or flooding in the first place? There are a few simple steps to stop this problem in its tracks, as well as......
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