Home Improvement Basement

We all know what a skunk smells like, and it can be unnerving to notice the foul odor in your basement. The distinct smell of a skunk is off-putting and is enough to confuse any homeowner when it’s in your house. So, why does your basement smell like skunk?

There are many reasons that you might need to cut a concrete slab but doing so can seem like a daunting task to many. If that describes you, fear not! We are here to help. Whether you are planning to cut a trench in a concrete slab in your basement, your patio, or anywhere else on your property, the process is relatively similar in every case.

If there is one single room in every home that tends to be prone to mold, it’s the basement. Basements are dark, cold, and often have leaks from the outside. This leads to a lot of issues, primarily mold. We’ve all been in basements that had that telltale musty, moldy smell. Sometimes, you might even see the mold growing up a wall. Did you ever wonder what you can do to get rid of that mold?

There are a few things that homeowners never want to see. High up on that list is water damage. Leaks and invading water can make for a nightmare scenario for homeowners. The possibilities as it pertains to damage are seemingly endless.

The plumbing system of your home relies mainly on gravity to get the job done correctly. However, the sewage ejector pump must be installed in homes with finished basements so that waste can be moved “up” through the drainage system’s discharge pipe. Choosing the right pump for your basement remodel or any other space where you can’t use gravity to flush waste is very important.

Whether you’re looking for replacement windows for your basement or you need basement windows for new construction, you have many options to consider. Basements tend to suffer from poor lighting, which typically makes them very dark and gloomy. Although you can get creative with artificial lighting, few things will liven up a space quite like natural light.

A warm basement isn’t what most of us hope for when we walk downstairs. A cool, dry basement is most often the ideal type of environment. So why is it that my basement is so warm, and how can I cool it and make it comfortable?

Sump pumps are critical pieces of machinery that can save your home from flooding disasters. Nearly all homes with basements or any homes susceptible to flooding should have one (or more) sump pumps. It is also important to maintain these pumps to ensure they are working properly. When you inspect your sump pump, you might wonder if it is normal for there to be some water in the sump pit. 

It can be difficult to know which basement type to go for with your new home. Whether it be a crawlspace, cellar, full or partial basement, they all differ in cost and functionality. You’ve probably heard of a full basement but might be wondering: what is a partial basement?

When you purchase a new home you don’t expect to have any fundamental problems with it for many years. Cracked and sinking basement floors is often an image you associate with an old unkempt home. Sinking basement floors can actually occur at the inception of a house’s lifespan. It is important to know how much sinking is normal, and what is not.

If you’ve ever spent time checking out your basement floor, you may have noticed that it has a drain hole. You might assume that this drain hole has something to do with draining excess water. But do you know exactly what the drain is, how it works, and what system it connects to?

If you’re looking to install a shower in your basement, you’re probably wondering how it can be done without breaking any concrete. Basement bathroom shower installations can be incredibly difficult when it requires you to tear up your concrete floors in the process. Fortunately, you don’t have to.

Finishing your basement is a renovation that adds both living space and value to your home. But just because a basement appears to be finished doesn’t mean it counts as a finished basement on your taxes. So what is it that constitutes a finished basement for tax purposes?

Closet space is one of the most underrated aspects of a home. Having enough space to keep all of our clothes, whether we wear them or not, can either be a major plus or a huge inconvenience. That is why creating more closet space can become a necessity.

Natural light goes a long way in modern homes, and homeowners build additions for that purpose. It is more and more common to see listings for homes with daylight basements, but what does that mean?

The main reason for a sump pump is to prevent your basement from flooding. So, when your sump pump is not working and your basement is flooded, this can be a really frustrating issue to tackle. Unfortunately, you don’t have to live near a body of water to experience flooding. The combination of a heavy rainstorm and a sump pump that stops working can cause flooding in your basement.

A fresh air intake is one of the most crucial components of any HVAC system. It helps the HVAC system maintain a comfortable, safe environment for your home. Understanding what it is and what it should do for your home is essential. Additionally, knowing how to install one is vital as this is easy to do on your own and will save you the high costs of hiring a specialist.

If you choose a mobile home for your dwelling, you have a few different options for your foundation type. These usually fall into two main categories, permanent foundations, and non-permanent foundations. One type of permanent foundation that offers you flexibility and extra storage space is a basement. However, is this type of foundation possible with a mobile home?

Basements can be used for so many “extras”—extra storage space, extra living space, extra office space. They are one of those added bonuses in a house.

Digging a basement deeper can be a perfect solution for some. The popular renovation project can be costly, but it can also raise property value considerably when done correctly.

No matter what you use your basement for, an unpleasant septic smell makes you want to stay as far away as possible. Whether your basement is for storage, a workshop, or a bonus room, it becomes virtually useless if it smells like sewage.

I’ll be honest. I had no idea that crawlspace encapsulation was a thing until my early 30s. However, it’s a major procedure that helps reduce heating costs, reduces the chances of mold, and can even help ensure that you have a mosquito-free summer. But, does it actually add value to a home or is it more of a subtle perk?

If you’re looking for your mobile home to count as real property, you may be required to have a permanent foundation. Having a permanent foundation will broaden your financing options and make selling your home a whole lot easier.

In the winter, your basement is cool and dry, and you don’t even have to think about water damage. But once the summer months come around, it becomes damp and humid in your cool basement. Why does this happen, and what can you do to prevent it?

Sump pumps are not exactly the type of thing most people like to talk about. They’re just…there. Sump pumps are meant to divert moisture and water from basements away from a house. That’s great, especially the part where they pump all the moisture away. However, figuring out how to divert the sump pump discharge can be a difficult issue. How do you do this?

A fly infestation in your basement can start out as a nuisance but quickly become a health hazard. If there are flies in your basement, it’s essential to figure out where they’re coming from. Depending on the source, you may have to use different tactics to eliminate the fly infestation.

Has a home theater always been a dream of yours? Or perhaps with the explosion of streaming services and more and more movies going straight to these platforms, you find yourself craving a theater experience.

For smaller homes, space can come at a premium. While the simple solution may be to just get a bigger home, it also isn’t necessarily financially viable for some. That is why making the most out of the current space is sometimes the more optimal route.

Searching for the best lighting to fit an unfinished basement can be a challenge. Their barren concrete walls feel sterile and do not do well with reflecting light, and exposed floor joists can create odd shadows. Additionally, the process of mounting a lighting fixture in an unfinished basement is very different from installing them on a finished ceiling.

Hopeful homeowners looking to buy in California may have wondered; where are all of the basements? At first glance, none of the houses on the market may come with a basement. Homeowners seek ought basements often, so why doesn’t California have basements?

When I most recently went to parts of the Jersey Shore that were seriously ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, I noticed that something was a little different from how things used to be. The homes started to look a bit…different? Yeah, that’s the word. Apparently, island basements became part of the building code in many towns. But, what did that even mean?!

Many homes across the country have a basement. The basement can be finished or unfinished but usually, at a minimum, has some plumbing infrastructure. Unfortunately, sometimes the basement can develop a sewer smell that can be hard to diagnose and even trickier to fix. The first step to eliminating a sewer smell in your basement is to learn where the odor is coming from.

It can happen when you least expect it. You come into your basement only to find that the drain has overflowed, leaving raw sewage piping into your basement. The first thing you need to figure out is why. If the answer is the basement floor drain backs up when the toilet is flushed, you’re in the right place to deal with the problem.

Have you ever looked at your basement floor drain and wondered just where exactly it goes? It is easy to forget that they are so important upon looking at them because their purpose is not immediately clear. So, where does your basement floor drain go?

Just looking at your basement floor drain, you’d probably never guess it’s an essential part of your home’s plumbing system. The basement floor drain is an important component that serves as an outlet for undesired water in your home. But it’s nearly impossible to figure out where basement floor drains go just by looking at them.

We build our lives in our homes, and often our home is the greatest asset we own. Unfortunately, problems with the basement walls and foundation can put our home in jeopardy. A bowed basement wall is a big concern and one that should be addressed immediately to protect your home and investment. Fixing a bowed basement wall can be a DIY project, pending you have a minimal amount of bowing.

Many people use the words “basement” and “cellar” interchangeably, but do they really mean the same thing? By definition, basements and cellars have contrasting purposes and varying legal uses. But what is the difference between the two?

It’s stressful when a strong storm carrying heavy rains and flash flooding passes through, especially when you are a homeowner. The significant wind and rainfall has a tendency of highlighting all the vulnerabilities of your home’s exterior.

Ever been to the northeast? You might have noticed these strange metal doors on the ground near some of the homes. Do those mysterious structures lead to Narnia? Not quite. While basement bulkheads aren’t the most common, they are practical structures that will connect you to the underground basement of a home.

If you’re considering waterproofing your basement, there are two main methods to look into. Both the interior and exterior basement waterproofing processes come with their own pros and cons. This article will cover both methods in detail to help you decide which is the best for your home.

No that isn’t the sound of the house being sucked under by a giant whirlpool. What you are hearing, that sounds like a giant washing machine on steroids is actually the  sump pump. In many homes, it won’t even matter what room in the house you are in, because it seems there is nowhere that violent sucking sound can’t reach. So what do you do about it? Can you do anything about? What causes it?

In the never-ending quest for more living space, a walkout basement might be your solution. It can either be built as part of new construction or as an addition to an established home. Bear in mind the latter will be quite costly.

Window wells are an often overlooked, but very important, part of protecting the interior of your basement. If you have water leaking into your basement, the problem may be caused by your window well or lack thereof. Whether you don’t have window wells installed around your basement egress windows or need your existing ones replaced, you may be wondering how much it costs.

When you are ready to enjoy more living or storage space in your home, there are a few options that are available to you. You can either build up, sideways, or down. Building an additional story onto the top of a house or an extra room off to the side can certainly improve a home. Adding a basement, however, can be one of the best things that you can do to a home, if you do it correctly.

Basements tend to be cooler than the rest of the house, and deciding how to heat them can be tricky. Should you extend your current system or invest in a new one? What’s the most efficient way to heat the basement?

If you’re planning on selling your house soon or want to finish your basement just because, you’re probably wondering if its a must to get a permit. Well, if you’re thinking about skipping this process, don’t.

Cracked walls, peeling paint, and mold are all signs of water damage often seen in basements. If there’s water damage in your basement, then the clear solution is to waterproof it. But what is basement waterproofing, exactly, and what waterproofing methods can you choose between?

Sump pumps are a fixture in houses with basements. They help to get rid of, or pump out, excess water, and protect your basement and the rest of your home from flooding. Your sump pump is only supposed to run when water causes the float switch to trip. If your sump pump is running every 30 seconds, that could indicate that something is wrong.

The basement can be your refuge. Maybe it is the hangout for your teens or the practice room for your band. Perhaps it is your office, and you need quiet to focus and get work done.

Realty terms can be confusing, especially when it comes to terms like partial, raised, walkout, and English basements. Yes, even basements have enough variety that their function, cost, style, and layout dignify unique names. With all of the types of basements that appear on home listings, what is an English basement?

When you are beginning the process of home renovations, it can be difficult to determine which repairs will require permits. Permit regulations vary on the extent of the project and depend on the state and city in which you reside. Therefore, Pennsylvania homeowners may be unsure if they need a permit to finish a basement in Pennsylvania.

A crawl space is one of the coolest parts of a home if you’re a kid, but also if you’re a fan of efficient storage. Unfortunately, they also can be a pretty dangerous part of your home, especially if not well-maintained. If you’ve been thinking about crawl space encapsulation, there are a lot of pros and cons to consider before you call a construction crew.