Friday, April 9, 2010
So, you're sharing a bathroom with your entire family? (Maybe I should say trying to share it.) How many times have you thought about adding another bathroom - especially first thing in the morning when everyone's trying to get ready at once?
I'll bet one of the things that's holding you back is where to put it. Limited floorspace and plumbing can be logistical nightmares for bathroom additions - even for experienced do-it-yourself guys and gals. But, as my ever-lovin' always says, "There's always a way, if the idea is right." If you have a basement, this just might be that "way".
Before you decide to take on this DIY home improvement project, consider your level of expertise. Seriously, it's just you and me here. This is too expensive a project to let the I-can-handle-it pride get you in its grip! If you're the average home-owner, limit yourself to demolition and cleanup. Contract the rest out to someone who knows what they're doing. Actually, you'd be amazed at how much money you can save by just prepping the basement for the contractor!
I'll bet one of the things that's holding you back is where to put it. Limited floorspace and plumbing can be logistical nightmares for bathroom additions - even for experienced do-it-yourself guys and gals. But, as my ever-lovin' always says, "There's always a way, if the idea is right." If you have a basement, this just might be that "way".
Before you decide to take on this DIY home improvement project, consider your level of expertise. Seriously, it's just you and me here. This is too expensive a project to let the I-can-handle-it pride get you in its grip! If you're the average home-owner, limit yourself to demolition and cleanup. Contract the rest out to someone who knows what they're doing. Actually, you'd be amazed at how much money you can save by just prepping the basement for the contractor!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Unfinished basements (and in some cases, even finished ones) are dark and often damp and stinky. By the way... if you smell mold, check out
How to Prevent Mold In Your Basement for tips on how to deal with it.
The first step to improving your unfinished basement is to install lighting. The tips that follow are by no means "gospel", they're just an overall outline of how to install lighting in your basement. Besides, electrical building codes vary from town to town.
If you're not qualified to do electrical work, hire an electrician. I'm serious! You could be killed, or seriously injured if you don't know what you're doing.
How to Prevent Mold In Your Basement for tips on how to deal with it.
The first step to improving your unfinished basement is to install lighting. The tips that follow are by no means "gospel", they're just an overall outline of how to install lighting in your basement. Besides, electrical building codes vary from town to town.
If you're not qualified to do electrical work, hire an electrician. I'm serious! You could be killed, or seriously injured if you don't know what you're doing.
Okay, so, you want to finish off your basement. Look before you leap, my friend! One of the most expensive tickets in your whole basement remodel are the utilities.
If your basement has rough (unfinished) walls and flooring, check for water and sewer pipes, and any heating and/or cooling ducts, and electrical conduits or wires. Depending on what you want to do with your basement, you may need to extend or even completely upgrade all of these features.
Installing a full bathroom in a basement involves connecting the new sewer line to the existing waste line. It usually means cutting into a cement floor to run the drain line. That, my friend, can really jack up the cost of a remodelling job!
If your basement has rough (unfinished) walls and flooring, check for water and sewer pipes, and any heating and/or cooling ducts, and electrical conduits or wires. Depending on what you want to do with your basement, you may need to extend or even completely upgrade all of these features.
Installing a full bathroom in a basement involves connecting the new sewer line to the existing waste line. It usually means cutting into a cement floor to run the drain line. That, my friend, can really jack up the cost of a remodelling job!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The best way to keep mold out of your basement is to know why it would be there in the first place.
Living in a high water table area can cause droplets of water on the basement walls, and even collecting in puddles on the floor. Mold flourishes in damp humid air, so a temporary solution is to install a sump pump to remove the standing water. Check out this article about solving a "mysterious" leak in this guy's basement... good practical advice.
If your neighborhood is prone to flooding, you can count on the basement flooding. This is the ultimate growing medium for mold! It's imperative that you attack the problem immediately. First, remove the standing water with a sump pump, then use a dehumidifier to dry out the air and walls.
Living in a high water table area can cause droplets of water on the basement walls, and even collecting in puddles on the floor. Mold flourishes in damp humid air, so a temporary solution is to install a sump pump to remove the standing water. Check out this article about solving a "mysterious" leak in this guy's basement... good practical advice.
If your neighborhood is prone to flooding, you can count on the basement flooding. This is the ultimate growing medium for mold! It's imperative that you attack the problem immediately. First, remove the standing water with a sump pump, then use a dehumidifier to dry out the air and walls.
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