Home (Basements)
Home  
 
 
Home » Home » Basements


 

Basements

Home Basement windowBasic electric

Basements
Basements provide a great extension of the home, serving as a multi-purpose space that can be used for additional rooms and storage.

 


Basements
Basements: The Pros and Cons
What are the benefits? Clive Fewins explains
Basement Basics
A basement can be the key to unlocking development potential and getting the very most out of your plot ...

Basements and Crawlspaces
Another area of a house, which must breathe for its well being, is the basement and crawl space.

Basements
Narrow further:Skills and Techniques
Site Work and Foundations (6)Insulation and Weatherizing (3)Maintenance and Repair (1) more __Water and Moisture Control (1) fewer __ ...

Basements in homes offer extra space. Depending on your needs, basements can provide many living solutions for many different lifestyles. The different kinds of basements include finished, unfinished, below ground and above ground.

Basements and attics are great for messy, noisy hobbies you don't want to have take over the family room or other parts of your domain.

Since basements are partially or completely underground, they often have inadequate windows. Adding more or larger windows to a basement can make it feel less claustrophobic and provide a welcome source of natural light.

New House Plans with Photos, Basements, and More!
Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
House Plans with Videos
Is it hard to modify a set of House Plans?
House Plans with a Bonus Room
Searching for House Plans? We can help you!
House Plans made EASY! ...

Moisture - Moisture in basements can go from outright seasonal flooding to mere condensation on the walls. Moisture is by far the biggest determining factor when we discuss basement flooring.

Moisture Control in Basements Reading List
Some of the following documents may be available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
Weather-Resistive Barriers (PDF 223 KB). (October 2000). DOE/GO-102000-0769. U.S. Department of Energy.

Insulating Concrete Slabs, Foundations and Basements
Most residential concrete-foundation systems will come into contact with the ground and face moisture-management and heat-loss issues.

find out more in Finishing Basements
Follow these links to our archives of past Q's & A's:
Basement Finishing questions
Crawlspace questions
Wet and leaky basement questions
Other miscellaneous basement questions ...

Technological advances in the last 15 years now allow most modern basements to be made into comfortable, livable space. However, all basements are vulnerable to some water penetration during their lifespans.

Home /
Collections /
House Plans with Walkout Basements
quick search ...

Basements or cellars (depending on which part of the country you are from) are primarily seen as dark and dingy parts of a home.

Basements
Articles & Advice > All Basements Articles > Prevent Costly Damage with Basement Waterproofing ...
Prevent Costly Damage with Basement Waterproofing ...

Basements and Family Rooms
According to this month's This Old House magazine, the best space heater for a basement or family room is a baseboard model, such as the Q-Mark Electric Hydronic Baseboard Heater.

Basements and Attics
Basement Hazardous Material Storage Basement General Shelving and Cabinets Attic Holiday Decorations Attic General Storage
Garages and Sheds ...

Full basements
Basements can be insulated either on the interior or exterior. Interior insulation can use conventional 2´4 framing with batt or wet-spray insulation.

DAMP BASEMENTS
Water or excessive moisture in a basement renders the space useless for storage and its smell can permeate the whole house.
WATER-STAINED CEILINGS ...

Basements that leak water through the joint where the floor and wall meet after a rain or snow melt (basement corners), the most common wet basements.

Basements are close enough to the ground floor area to be used as playrooms, nanny bedrooms and bathrooms when a new baby arrives, living rooms, kitchens or accommodation for relatives.

Basements
Lower Level: Finishing Details
A lower level or basement can be a complicated area to finish off -- more than a dining room or kitchen for instance -- because a wide range of items can easily fit into a lower level scheme.

Basements come with special considerations for incorporating them into the available living space offered by the home. Basements are prone to water and humidity problems.

Basements
Basement Remodeling - learn the basics before beginning your project.
More on Decorating ...

Basements can be an important source of home moisture. Take measures to prevent water from entering your basement by making sure your builder slopes the ground away from the foundation and extends the downspouts so they discharge away from the home.

Wet basements must be a BIG problem, because I get more questions on this subject than any other not covered on my website.

From basements to bedrooms, you will find plenty o...
House Tours: A Cottage-Style Makeover
See how this once dreary home was transformed into...

Basements & Foundations Cabinets & Shelving Carpeting Ceilings Cleaning Cooling Crown Molding Decks Doors Drainage & Gutters Driveways & Walkways Drywall & Plaster Electrical & Lighting Fall Upkeep Fences & Stone Walls ...

Damp basements problems
Topic :Damp basements As summer progresses, I have been getting more and more people asking about how to eliminate mold and mildew problems in basements. The f…
Changing light bulbs ...

In-ground basements
Over or under double hung windows
Over shower or tub enclosures
On exterior walls in walk-in closets
Over exterior doors ...

Finished Basements - A Popular Home Improvement Trend
Finished Basements and Lower Levels offer a Variety of Additional Living Space Options
By: Mark J. Donovan ...

Walk Out Basements: If a house had a "walk-out" basement, then a garden hose could be connected to the water heater drain valve. The hose can be run out the door and the system will drain itself with minimal effort.

Ways to keep basements dry
Condensation problems can be solved by improving ventilation and using air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Eliminating seepage, however, is another matter.

Waterproofing Basements
No foolproof cure exists for wet basements, despite what a salesperson or home improvement contractor may promise.

In homes without basements, the water lines are preferably located in the crawl space or under the slab.

See also: Topics: Basements
Splash Block
A pad which is placed under the lower end of a downspout and diverts the water from the downspout away from the house. Usually made out of concrete or fiberglass.

Basement unit
Basements are hard to sell. If given a choice between looking at a basement or penthouse, which would you choose? A better choice is "lower level." ...

Most basements have a concrete floor, it’s best to cover it with a cushioned material. Use rubber matting or tiles, or for more versatility for the future, carpet.

Insulation priorities include your attic, including the attic access door, under floors above unheated basements or crawl spaces, and on the edges of concrete slabs. Your options for insulating existing walls are somewhat limited.

If you live in tornado country where basements are a necessity, or if you live elsewhere and your budget allows a basement, then you're ahead of the rest of us.

Wet basements are generally caused by ground water being either adjacent to or higher than the basement floor.

These work spaces function well in basements, garages, or sheds as a large area is required for power tools, tool boxes, and raw materials.

Waterproofing - Leaky basements, mildew and mold ...
Home Decor - Look up home improvement catalog for remodeling and improvement designs ...
Home Furnishing Idea - Play around with fabric, color and texture in your home ...

(Or basements, which can get chilly: that's where its insulating properties really shine!) It's covered with a UV-resistant acrylic, adding to its longevity.

For this report, the following are included: basements, whether or not they contain finished space; finished and/or heated space in attics; and garages, if they have a wall in common with the house.

Basements are different than other environments in that they're gonna be damp, they're gonna be wet at times and, you know, the question that we ask — have to ask ourselves is, when we do a project like this, ...

Be sure that all pipes that are in unfinished rooms such as basements and garages are covered with heating tape and insulated. Also check for leaks and have them repaired immediately - this will prevent costly repairs later! ...

To stop water from entering basements, a trench drain is but one part of a system. The water from roofs and all paved surfaces like patios, sidewalks and driveways must not be allowed to discharge or collect near the house.

Running the length underneath each home (except those going on basements or perimeter foundations) are steel I-beams. Singlewides have two I-beams, doublewides found and triplewides six.

Many people finish their basements to add a playroom for the kids a recreation room for the family or even another bedroom for family and guests.
When converting your basement to a finished living space .
Read More.

This particular home improvement project has been a recent trend with homeowners seeking to transform their basements into more usable living spaces such as game rooms, play rooms, offices, home theaters or guest bedroom space.

Semantics aside, concrete is the signature material in driveways, patios, basements, and a host of other household items. It also is the world's most widely used building material. Annual global production of concrete is about 5 billion cubic yards.

Most builders figure $60-80 per square foot for finished space for an average to good quality home, and $20-40 for garages and unfinished spaces such as basements. Check a subdivision in your area and make the calculations for yourself.

Turning marginal areas into livable spaces such as turning basements into recrooms, home theaters, or home offices - or attics into spare bedrooms.

Home Electrical Wiring Diagram for Basements >>
Summary: See the ceiling fan wiring and installation in home wiring - part 2 where the approved ceiling fan box is installed and the wires are connected.

Open stairs are good design feature for basements. Check with your local building department as to how high you are allowed to open without additional railing protection.
Finished Basement...Finished ...

Common word for concrete floors, driveways, basements, and sidewalks.
Floating
The next-to-last stage in concrete work, when you smooth off the job and bring water to the surface by using a hand float or bull float.

Flatwork- Common word for concrete floors, driveways, basements, and sidewalks.
Floating- The next-to-last stage in concrete work, when you smooth off the job and bring water to the surface by using a hand float or bull float.

Another fact to contend with is that many basements are entirely underground, therefore not even having the option for windows. This lack of natural lighting only adds to the cave-like issue.

See also: Basement, Home, House, Design, Room