Tags » ‘Basement Renovations’
April 8th, 2010 by admin
If you’re thinking about a basement conversion, one of the biggest issues you are likely to face is how to heat the new area.
Although the basement is where your furnace is located, most cellars are not equipped with heat vents or registers. And that can make for a cold and clammy environment.
One way to make sure your basement renovation creates a cozy space for your home is to install radiant or hydronic floor heating. Radiant floor systems installed in a concrete basement floor can translate into warm winter nights and big-time fuel cost savings. This system is ideal for all types of slab construction, which is found in most basements.
Finishing a Basement With Radiant-Floor Heating
Radiant-floor heating comes in many forms–some circulate warm water through tubes under the floor, while others use solid-state electronics to distribute the heat. One thing they have in common is that they’re all more economical than central heat. And it doesn’t just keep your feet warm; radiant-floor heat keeps the whole room warm.
One of the advantages of installing radiant-floor heat during a basement renovation is that you won’t have to face the added cost that comes with retrofitting floor heat to another floor of your house. Basement tubing can be installed in a thin, new, concrete layer to your existing basement slab floor; however, in upper floors, many types of radiant heat have to be embedded in heavy mortar slabs that often require reinforced framing to support the extra weight.
With radiant-floor heating, your concrete basement floor becomes an asset rather than a liability because the concrete helps retain heat longer. It provides what the experts call a “thermal mass” that increases the efficiency of your heating system.
A Basement Remodeling Contractor Can Save You Money
It might also be cheaper to install. Tubing in concrete can be installed 12 inches apart, while heating tubes installed in the sub-floors of upper-floor rooms must be much closer together.
A large area of lower surface temperatures–such as a radiant heat floor in a basement renovation–transfers more heat into a room that a steam radiator or heating vent running at a much higher surface temperature.
Although some homeowners elect to install their own radiant-floor heating systems, others prefer to consult a basement remodeling contractor. In-floor heating systems–particularly if they are being installed beneath wood floors or into concrete–are not simple jobs. A basement remodeling contractor likely has experience installing these systems, and the necessary tools to do the job right.
Be sure to select a contractor who has references. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau and your state contractors’ board. A good contractor can save you time and money in the long run.
About the author: Jim Sloan is a freelance writer in Reno, Nevada.
Easy Basement Renovations & Other Home Renovation Ideas
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Turn a Cold Basement into a Cozy Living Area with Radiant-floor Heating
March 5th, 2010 by admin
Among the more energetic basement remodeling ideas floating around now is the use of a qualified basement remodeling contractor to build a suitable space for a home gym. Basement waterproofing leads the list for completing this basement renovation the right way. Can you imagine breathing in dust and mildew while amping up your heartbeat on a treadmill?
If your basement has adequate drainage, lighting, heating, ventilation, waterproofed floors, pipes, and walls, you might consider completing the gym transformation on your own. But in most cases, you should call in a qualified basement remodeling contractor to design, bid, and complete the project. There are plenty of benefits to finishing a basement.
The Health-Related Basement Renovation, Simplified
Having a basement gym is a great idea. It can increase your home’s value and bring the workout to you. No driving to the gym on hot or wickedly cold mornings. No membership fees. No excuses.
Before you do anything, can you claim that your basement is dry enough? It may not suffice to install a dehumidifier alone. Have a remodeling contractor conduct a thorough inspection. One thing you may not want, despite how appealing it may be, is a carpet for your basement gym. Instead, consider concrete floors or rubber flooring with adequate padding when finishing a basement.
Even outdoor or tough carpeting may show its wear under the stress and weight of workout equipment, and you may spend more time working out the mildew problem than you do working off fat.
The first step is to determine your workout routine and equipment needs. Are you going for cardio or installing a weight room, too? If your space is too confined for a treadmill or elliptical trainer, perhaps a stationary bicycle will do. Is the electrical supply adequate to power gym equipment, new overall lighting, task lighting, alternate heaters, air conditioners, fans, stereo equipment, televisions, water coolers, refrigerators, etc.? A good basement remodeling contractor can help you answer these questions.
You don’t necessarily need a huge basement to consider adding a home gym. Even a small basement can benefit from some fun basement remodeling ideas.
More Basement Renovation Considerations
Is there room, ample electricity, and plumbing to add a bathroom stall or small shower? Or, do you want to add a hot tub or sauna? Perhaps you’ll just put in a small workout room and segment other sections of the finished basement for laundry, a children’s gaming center, or basement office.
After your basement renovation is finished, it’s time to furnish your new space. When it comes to workout equipment, you can always shop for used gear to help cut the overall basement renovation cost. You can add better-quality treadmills or weight sets when you know that you’ll use the gym.
October 7th, 2009 by admin
“By doing a little preventative maintenance now, you can prevent minor problems from escalating into a major headache in the spring,” Felton said. “Minor repairs done now can prevent air and moisture penetration from attacking the structural integrity of your home down the road,” he added.
Cleaning the eavestroughs in the fall, for example, can prevent ice damming in the winter, where moisture is forced up under the roof’s shingles during winter’s freeze-thaw cycles. “Our roofing contractors are always busy in the spring, fixing damage and leaks that have occurred because of ice damming,” Felton added.
Here are some home maintenance ideas jobs that should be on a homeowner’s winterizing checklist:
“ Clean eavestroughs after the last leaves have fallen. Run a garden hose and check that they are draining properly and that downspouts are operating and directed away from the home’s foundation walls. Check for leaking or damaged gutters, downspouts and hangers. Remove rust and patch the gutters with roofing cement. Caulk leaking seams and make sure pop rivets are secure.
“ Check the roof for trouble signs such as broken or missing shingles, cracked, buckling or curling shingles, or bare spots where the granular coating has worn off. Check flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys. Look for pieces that have peeled back and for cracked caulking that could allow moisture penetration.
“ Have the chimney cleaned and check the exterior structure for worn flashing, loose bricks or crumbling mortar.
“ Have your furnace cleaned, inspected and safety checked. Depending on the system, you will need to have the furnace vacuumed, the filter changed and the pilot checked.
“ Check for blockage of attic louvres by wasp’s nests and put sheet metal, wire screen or wood over any openings, including under the eaves, to prevent animals from nesting.
“ Remove and store your window air conditioner. Make sure to clean the coils and filters and cover loosely for the winter. If you are leaving the air conditioner in the window, put a weatherproof cover over it to protect it during the winter.
“ Clean your lawnmower and other garden tools before storing. Give all the metal parts of your tools a wipe with an oiled rag to prevent rusting. Drain the fuel from gas-powered machines and run the engine until the lines are clear. Drain the oil and replace it. Clean caked-on grass and debris.
“ Check doors and windows for proper caulking and weatherstripping. Do the draft test: hold a lit candle and run it along the seams of doors and windows. A flickering flame means your heating dollars are going out the window. Check the bottoms of doors for a snug threshold seal or door sweep.
“ Make sure your fireplace is in safe working order. Check that the damper opens and closes smoothly and fits properly to prevent heat loss. Check inside the fireplace to make sure no bricks are loose or broken. If your fireplace is smoking excessively, check the chimney for fallen bricks. Installing a chimney cap can cure a smoking fireplace by improving the draft.
“ Drain exterior water lines, hose bibs, sprinklers, and pool equipment before the first major freeze. Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.
“ Clean your barbecue and store it in a protected place for the winter. Never store propane tanks indoors.
“ Clean patio furniture and store, loosely covered, in a dry place.
“ Wash windows to let in the maximum heat and light during cold winter days.
Doing your fall chores can make your life easier come spring, when you would rather be fishing than fixing winter damage. There are a lot more tips in our categories section.
October 7th, 2009 by admin
Taking the guesswork out of hiring a contractor has proven a successful formula for Homeservice Club of Canada. Its members don’t have to cross their fingers when hiring a contractor; instead they rely on the Club’s unique quote system to get the job done on time and on budget with guaranteed standards of workmanship for your home renovation ideas.
For homeowners, the system not only guarantees the work, it ends the stress of dealing with contractors. “I can’t believe how much Homeservice Club has helped me,” says member Ann Buffer of Toronto. “I’ve had a roof leak for a few years now, and every time I called a contractor they did minimal amount of work, and were paid handsomely. A few weeks later my roof once again begins leaking. I contacted Homeservice Club, became a member and immediately within the same day they assigned me a contractor who had a very credible track record. My roof was fixed quickly, and I was happy with the job. Their system guaranteed I would not be screwed over as I had in the past.”
For contractors, the system ensures they are kept working at capacity with less time spent on sales and administrative tasks. It frees them to spend more time doing the work they do best.
The Club’s unique “quote” system and its Double Guarantee set it apart from simple contractor referral businesses. In-office service representatives take calls from members who pay a small yearly fee. Each representative specializes in different trades such as masonry, roofing, and electrical. When a member calls in to request a quote on a renovation or repair, the appropriate contractor is assigned to the job and will be have to complete the job. On larger jobs, the member is encouraged to get at least three quotes from Club professionals. The jobs are equally distributed amongst all contractors to keep each and every contractor satisfied and working at their full capacity. The representatives monitor the progress of each job and are in touch with the member to ensure the work is being done to their satisfaction. If the contractor can’t or won’t complete the job properly, another is dispatched to remedy the problem. And finally, both the individual contractor and the Club guarantee the work.
“We take the hassle out of home renovations,” explains Club president Richard Felton. “There’s the convenience of calling one number no matter what job you need done. And the peace of mind knowing that the person you are letting into your home has been prescreened and bonded by Homeservice Club™.”
But, says Felton, the most important aspect of his business is the “Double Guarantee” he offers homeowners. “You hear about home renovation ideas and basement renovations nightmares all the time – contractors taking the deposit and skipping town, or not finishing the job. That’s what sets us apart in the home renovation business – we guarantee the job will be completed to the customers’ satisfaction,” Felton said. “We add our guarantee to that of the individual contractor. If the job is not done to your satisfaction, we’ll send someone else in to fix it – that’s a double guarantee of satisfaction for the member.”
Homeservice Club™ has been in the business of protecting homeowners since Harry Felton opened its doors in 1961 to protect homeowners against “shoddy workmanship and fly-by-night contractors”. Today, his son runs the family business, but the concept remains true to his father’s vision. For a small yearly membership fee, homeowners have access to a network of over 400 licensed, bonded and insured contractors in every trade imaginable. The contractors are all independent tradespeople who compete with each other for members’ business, keeping prices competitive.
Club members also have access to an extensive shopping network offering discounts on everything from cars to travel, security systems to real estate, and insurance to appliances.
The Homeservice Club model is a win-win deal for both the homeowner and the contractor, says Felton. “We take the hassle out of hiring a contractor for our members and we take the hassle out of running a business for our contractors – everyone wins,” he added.
September 22nd, 2009 by admin
One of the most daunting home renovation tasks, basement renovations are hard and complex but can vastly increase the selling power, aesthetic and living space of your home.
Basement Renovations
The basement renovations plan might be as simple as drywall finishing the wall framing, a few extra light fixtures and shelving to increase basement storage potential. Or it can be as involved as transforming the area using a family room design or basement game room that includes finished walls, ceiling, carpeting, and the addition of bathroom plumbing.
Your only restraints are available floor space, basement renovation cost, and other practical considerations. Such as whether the project will be a DIY, if you require the services of a reliable renovation contractor, and what you hope to accomplish by the renovation.
Basement Storage Idea
One basement renovation Toronto style idea is to make use of wasted space under the lower end of the stairway leading into the basement. Consider custom made roll-out bins for this project.
Simple-style bins made from ¾” plywood and mounted on casters can be designed. Reinforce the inside corners of the bins using ¾” square molding. Create a template for the front, back, and filler pieces of each bin by tracing the slope of the stairs on cardboard.
Remember to allow for the casters when determining bin height; the back and front of the bins should clear the stairs by at least ¼”. Attach cupboard handles to the front of the bins for ease of access. This makes great basement storage space for sports equipment, boots and winter wear, seasonal decorations, or even cleaning supplies.
Basement Floor Idea
If part of your basement renovation plan is to incorporate a family room design or basement game room idea into the mix, you’ll want to finish off the floor. If the floor of your basement is concrete, the following is a great way to make it chill-free. Of course, concrete floor should be level.
1. Clean off the surface of the basement concrete floor.
2. Apply thinned asphalt mastic (used for roof waterproofing).
3. Lay high-density polyethylene sheeting; 6-mil is good. Press flat using a weighted floor roller.
4. Using 2 X 4 pressure-treated sleepers, embed them from one end of the floor to the other in rows of mastic.
5. Nail ¾” sheets of B-grade exterior plywood to the sleepers.
6. Install carpet pad.
7. Install carpet.
Hide Ugly Concrete-Filled Steel Posts
A great way to hide eye-sore steel support posts in the basement is to box them in. Shimming bottom edges off the floor use 1” X 6” and 1” X 4” lumber. Join the pieces in a box around the post, using same-size lumber on opposite sides.
Drill 1/8” holes through the box into the post. Attach using concrete screws; countersink the heads so they are flush with the wood. Trim the top and bottom of the wood box using quarter round.
Bathroom Renovations Idea
If part of your home basement renovations design includes a bathroom, time and costs can be cut if bathroom fixtures are located near existing plumbing. This means designing the bathroom floor plan close to the main waste-vent stack and house drain. Fixture drain lines should maintain a downward slope of at least ¼” per foot.
Plumbing rough-ins are a common addition during the construction of many newer homes. If your house is older and has no drain rough-ins, you will most probably have to cut into the slab floor to make drain connections.
And remember, when deciding on small bathroom design it is easier and less complicated to arrange the bathroom fixtures along a line on one wall. Be sure to check local codes for plumbing and electrical aspects of your project.
Hanging Drywall on Concrete Basement Walls
Another aspect of basement renovation might be hanging drywall. If your basement walls consist of concrete instead of basement framing, here’s a handy drywall tip. Use masonry nails to install furring strips on concrete basement walls. Of course, you’ll want to pre-drill holes first to make the job easier.
Start holes through the furring strips for each masonry nail so that they just begin poking through the back of the strip. Hold the strip firmly in place against the wall; tap the nails to mark their locations on the walls.
Remove the strip and drill holes in the concrete using a 1/8” masonry bit. Replace the strip and nail them in place. Pre-drilling the holes first prevents the concrete from chipping and helps insure that the masonry nails will go in straight and hold tight.
Now you are ready to hang drywall. Be sure and tape each drywall corner and seam. When you are finished with drywall taping, cover nail heads with drywall compound; sand smooth when dry. Complete the project by painting drywall, using drywall texturing, or some other drywall finish technique.
Handy Safety Tip
One important safety basement renovations idea; if you plan on the addition of a space heater for basement use, select a model with safety features such as automatic shut off in case the unit gets tipped over. If basement flooring is flammable, make a brick platform to set the heater on.
Make sure the platform is large enough so that if the heater does get tipped over it won’t fall on the floor.
September 22nd, 2009 by admin
Many families nowadays just don’t seem to have a proper place in their home where they can play air hockey and watch cheesy horror movies. Hence, basement renovations are on the rise. However, in the midst of the recession, it may seem like a good idea to embark on renovating your basement yourself in an effort to save money. Unless you own over three tool belts or personally know Bob Villa, this premonition will almost always be wrong. Don”t try to be a hero, call a general contractor.
What is it?
Renovating your basement involves many steps that require expertise in areas ranging from flooring and framing to plumbing and electrical installation. Therefore, if you are at all unsure about one of the many processes involved in renovating a basement, you should hire a general contractor, who will, at the very least, be able to give you estimates on how much you”ll be paying. Although a finished basement can be a nice addition to a home (and a convenient place for parents to store deadbeat children), renovating it without the proper knowledge can lead to serious damage that can result in flooding, a busted furnace, mold, or even an electrical fire.
Flooring and framing are two of the most basic and integral parts of basement renovations. Chances are, if you”re living in a newer home your basement floor was constructed on a poured or concrete block foundation. Luckily for you, these concrete floors are mostly equipped with innovative drainage systems that are designed to keep water drained away from the structure and therefore eliminate the risk of moisture problems. Older homes, however, generally suffer from moisture problems, whether it be because of dirt floor foundations or cracks in old concrete floors. In these situations, pouring a concrete floor may be your best option. This is no easy task, so the assistance of a foundation contractor and a masonry contractor (some specialize in both fields) are highly recommended.
Other options for flooring include wood subfloors, which would be installed over older concrete flooring, or in the case of cracked and uneven concrete, some sort of laminate or carpet could be used as covering. If you”re interested in wood subfloors, make sure your basement is moisture-proof because mold and mildew can form between the concrete and wood. If this happens, then you”ll probably have to tear up the wood subfloor in order to eliminate the problem.
Framing walls is even more of a trickier and arduous task, as you often have to build the walls around obstructions like pipes and duct work. This will oftentimes mean that stick-building the walls is necessary, as you can cater walls to your basement’’s specific needs. You should also consider whether you want to insulate the walls to help keep you basement warm in the winter.
Other renovations that must be taken into consideration are whether or not to drywall the ceilings, what kind of lighting should be installed, should more windows be installed, should a bathroom be included (which would require the installation of waste water lines in the basement floor), and the inclusion of a utility room where the furnace and various other water tanks can be isolated from the rest of the basement. Even still, this is not a complete list of services that need to be considered when finishing a basement.
Who needs it?
Most families will find enjoyment with the addition of a finished basement renovations, as it allows for much more added space, which in a single-story house can be monumental. It can also be helpful for moms across America, as they can fully enjoy watching Bravo upstairs while their kids and their friends go crazy in the basement.
Benefits
There are many benefits to a finished basement, one being the overall increase of value it will bring to your home. Also, the extra space is ideal for, you guessed it, activities! An exercise room, an entertainment center, a wet bar, a game room, and anything else that will make you feel cooler than your friends can be built with the extra space. Even an extra guest room can be built in order to keep your in-laws as secluded as much as the schematics of your house will allow.
Risks
Renovating a basement is, by all means, risky, especially if you do it yourself. Unless you are legitimately an expert (owning the first five seasons of Home Improvement on DVD does not make you an expert) you are probably going to have to deal with several contractors. This of course, presents a new risk, one that will be taken out on your wallet. In an effort to avoid getting ripped off by general contractors, it’’s probably best to do a little research and shop around, possibly getting estimates from several competing contractors. In any case, before you embark on basement remodeling, you should be fully aware of your budget and your schedule.
The Bottom Line
You may want to wait until the economy gets better before you start paying contractors right and left to finish your basement. Either that or devise a plan to become best friends with an entire construction crew. Basement renovations are more work than it seems.
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