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This 1921 basement must be cleared of debris and dried out before work can begin to transform it into usable family space.

Basement Finishing and Family Space Project

Removing Unwanted Junk and Combatting Basement Moisture (BV0209)

Bob opens project three of season two in Melrose, Massachusetts, where a family with two young sons needs extra room and looks to repurpose their damp basement for expanded living space. Homeowner Sarah Monzon shows Bob the backyard of the 1921 gambrel with a stone retaining wall they created to manage the slope for the kids’ play yard. She explains how the exterior has water intrusion and moisture buildup problems. Inside, Cyrus Beasley rips out the under-stair closet and assesses the stair support required while the plumber disconnects the old soapstone sink. The Monzons then clear out years of junk and demolition waste before calling 1-800-Got-Junk to stack, sort, and dispose of everything to donation centers, recycling sites, and the dump for a set price. Larry Janesky of Basement Systems reviews the exterior drainage problems of the home with Bob and then explains how they will reduce moisture on the inside. The crew breaks up the concrete floor to create an interior drainage trench, applies Clean Walls to isolate the stone walls and send moisture runoff to the drainage trench and sump, installs Thermal Dry radiant barrier behind finished walls to prevent moisture transfer, and creates a hole for the sump.

View Episode Locations:

• Melrose, MA

Watch scenes from this episode
Watch Videos ( Episode Clips 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 )

Additional Show Information
• Demolition Checklist
• Permits and Planning Before Demolition
• Deciding to Remodel or Move
• House Types
• Basement Systems Inc - Basement Waterproofing. View Showroom
• Basement Systems Inc - Basement Waterproofing. View Showroom
• View show transcript

Basement Finishing and Family Space Episodes
Previous Project - Babyproofing the House | 1 of 12 | Next

Featured Bob Vila Showrooms
• Basement Systems Inc - Basement Waterproofing and Crawl Space Contractor Network

Additional Bob Vila Showrooms
• Sears - Heating & Cooling Repair
• Western Red Cedar Lumber Association - Real Cedar for Siding, Decking and Outdoor Projects
• Endless Pools® - Swim at Home, Stay Fit for Life
• PexSupply.com - Your Online Source for PEX Plumbing & Radiant Heating Supplies
• TOTO USA - Elegant, technologically-advanced plumbing fixtures that perform!


	Show BV0209 Video Clips:	View all videos from this project

	Tour of Melrose, Massachusetts Bob reviews how suburban real estate values have skyrocketed in the last couple of years and talks about Melrose, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb and the site of this new project. ... Watch video and view full description
	Reviewing Backyard, Retaining Wall, and Moisture Issues Bob talks with homeowner Sarah Monzon about some of the improvements that have been made to the property. Monzon points out the retaining wall they put in the backyard. The ... Watch video and view full description
	Removing Unwanted Junk and Debris Homeowner Sarah Monzon explains the project and how they plan to expand the interior of the home by renovating the basement and adding another bathroom. This will allow more space ... Watch video and view full description
	Removing Junk and Debris Homeowner Sarah Monzon tells how she called 1-800-GOT-JUNK to take away the refuse from their basement, including demolition debris, old appliances, and a heavy stone tub, along with unwanted books, ... Watch video and view full description
	Fixing the Home's Gutter System Bob reviews how keeping water out of the basement is a central concern in any basement remodeling project. Bob talks with Larry Janesky of Basement Systems about the problem. This ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Systems to Keep Water Out of the Basement Larry Janesky of Basement Systems reviews the work being done to cut a drainage trench in the concrete around the perimeter of the basement floor. Water will be channelled through ... Watch video and view full description

Basements
• Basement Systems Inc - WaterGuard® Basement Waterproofing System, CleanSpace waterproofing system for unfinished walls or crawlspaces, and ThermalDry energy-efficient moisture-proof basement wall system - View Bob Vila Showroom

Home Services
• 1-800-GOT-JUNK - Flat-fee removal of construction debris, appliances, and unwanted items for recycling, reuse, and disposal

Real Estate
• RE/MAX Heritage - Melrose, Massachusetts, real estate service and licensed REALTOR®

> View All Product Resources

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BobVila.com

Basement Finishing and Family Space Project

Removing Unwanted Junk and Combatting Basement Moisture (BV0209)

Tour of Melrose, Massachusetts

Reviewing Backyard, Retaining Wall, and Moisture Issues

Removing Unwanted Junk and Debris

Removing Junk and Debris

Fixing the Home's Gutter System

Installing Systems to Keep Water Out of the Basement