BASEMENTS

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The Best Wood Stove Fans to Evenly Circulate Warm Air Through a Room
Wood stoves may be a good source of secondary or even primary heat for a home or cabin, but on their own, they aren’t...
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How Much Does It Cost to Dig Out a Basement?
Highlights Most homeowners will spend between $60,000 and $150,000 on basement excavation costs. The cost to dig ou...
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How Much Does It Cost to Frame a Basement?
Highlights The cost to frame a basement averages $1,200, but a common price range is $500 to $1,600. The size and t...
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Kidde Water Leak and Freeze Detector Review: Cool Device, or Is It All Wet?
While we know that water is essential to life, it’s also an incredibly destructive force. Leaking pipes can rot cabin...
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Winter Storm Alert: Flood Preparation Essentials to Buy Online and Pick Up Today
With severe weather threatening many parts of the United States, it’s important to be prepared. So far in January 202...
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How Much Does Bowing Basement Wall Repair Cost?
Highlights The typical cost range to repair a bowing basement wall runs from $350 to $10,000, while the national ave...
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Solved! Why Is Water Seeping Through My Basement Floor?
Q: After heavy rainfall yesterday, I noticed water seeping through my basement floor. I removed the water and dried m...
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Solved! Here's What to Do About Water Leaking Into the Basement After Heavy Rain
Q: Lately I’ve noticed water leaking into my basement after heavy rain. It seems to happen every time a storm rolls i...
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10 Basement Flooring Ideas for Finishing Your Below-Grade Space
The basement floor is typically made of solid, sealed concrete that is designed for long-lasting durability. However,...
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My Basement Flooded…What I Wish We’d Have Known to Better Prepare, and What We Learned
The area of Colorado where I live tends to be in a perpetual state of drought, and flooding isn’t typically something...
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Does This Popular Frigidaire Dehumidifier Tackle Humidity With Ease? We Tested It to Find Out!
Upstate New York is no stranger to humid summer weather. As of late, our summers are hotter and more humid than in ye...
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The 10 Best Paint Colors for a Brighter Basement
Finished basements can serve all sorts of purposes, whether you’re in need of an extra den or a playroom or you want ...
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15 Basement Ceiling Ideas to Inspire Your Space
Figuring out a basement ceiling design can be trickier than doing a ceiling in any other room in a home. While it can...
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5 Important Things to Know When Insulating Basement Walls
One of the most important steps to finishing a basement is installing basement wall insulation and basement ceiling i...
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The Best Home Bars
Tired of spending money at your local bar? Consider a home bar instead. Bars come in many different styles and format...
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The Best Flooring for Basements
Few things can turn a basement into a finished living space like flooring. And since the average size of a basement r...
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Solved! Who Installs Sump Pumps?
Q: I have a basement in my home that is in need of a new sump pump. Who installs sump pumps? Should I call a plumber ...
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The Best Foundation Repair Companies
Cracking, crumbling, and tumbling foundations are nothing short of terrifying. When homeowners first see the signs of...
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Solved! Why Is There a Crack in the Basement Wall, and What Do I Do About It?
Q: I recently noticed a crack in my basement wall, and I’m concerned it’s a foundation issue. Is there a difference b...
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The Best Basement Lighting
Shining some light on below-grade spaces can do a lot for your home. Proper lighting increases the usability of your ...
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Solved! Does Basement Space Count as Part of a Home’s Square Footage?
Q: I’m trying to decide if the cost of finishing my basement is really worth it. I know it will add some additional l...
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Solved! How Long Do Sump Pumps Last?
Q: I have a sump pump in my basement that was there when I moved in. It’s pretty gritty looking, and it makes some od...
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The Best Basement Waterproofing Companies
Keeping a basement dry is vital to the condition of a home and the health of the people inside. Wet basements can res...
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The Best Dart Boards
Few pub games are as popular as darts, which has been around in some form or another since medieval times. A man cave...
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Sump Pump Maintenance: 6 Crucial Steps for Storm Readiness
How often should a sump pump run? What do you need to do to maintain a sump pump? If you’ve been asking these questio...
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The 12 Best Pool Table Brands
People have been playing billiards in their homes and at local pool halls for hundreds of years. This classic game of...
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10 Ways to Warm Up a Cold Basement
A finished basement adds significant square footage to a home, providing an additional living space that can be used ...
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Breaking Down Basement Remodel Cost and Budgeting
Highlights The typical range for basement remodel costs is $12,070 to $33,687 with a national average of $22,138. T...
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12 Stunning Home Wine Cellars to Inspire Oenophiles
These show-stopping wine cellars will inspire you to include wine storage in your next basement renovation.
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8 Steps to Take for Better Basement Window Security
Basement windows can add a touch of natural light and a breath of fresh air to a space that can otherwise be dark, st...
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Everything You Need to Know About Flooded Basement Cleanup
A flooded basement is one of the most dreaded home maintenance problems. Seeing standing water in the basement, wheth...
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10 Essential Products for Cleaning Your Home After a Flood
Whether the home takes on just a few inches of water or the entire basement is full, floods aren’t fun to deal with a...
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12 Finished Basement Ideas for Creating the Ultimate Bonus Space
It’s dark down there. It feels damp down there. There’s a unique odor—moldy, musty, fusty, fetid, putrid—that smells ...
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How To: Get Rid of Booklice
Books can be used in several ways in the home, sometimes as decor on a bookshelf or as reference materials in a libra...
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How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement?
Highlights It typically costs between $2,800 and $34,500 to finish a basement, with homeowners across the country pa...
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The Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers of 2023
Crawl spaces are dark and dusty, and air quality isn’t always at its finest. If the humidity level climbs (which it o...
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How Much Does Basement Waterproofing Cost?
Highlights The typical cost range for basement waterproofing is between $2,300 and $7,575, with a national average c...
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The Best Water Heater Blankets of 2023
Traditional tank-style water heaters typically store between 40 and 60 gallons of water, heating and reheating them a...
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14 Game Room Ideas That are Truly Impressive
Big or small, a designated game room is the perfect way to encourage family time, relaxation, and fun in your home. Here are some game room ideas to help you get ...
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The Best Storage Bins of 2023
“A place for everything and everything in its place” sounds good in theory, but putting away all the stuff that can e...
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The Best Battery Chargers for the Car
A battery charger for your vehicle can recharge a dead or dying car battery so your vehicle can start and get you on ...
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The 10 Best Infrared Heaters of 2023 From Our Hands-On Tests
Technology has made considerable advancements in so many areas, and heating is no exception. While you may be familia...
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The Best Battery Backup Sump Pumps of 2023
Basements are subject to flooding because they’re below grade. If water trickles in, it has no place to go. Many base...
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The Pros and Cons of Finishing Your Unfinished Basement
While not all homes have basements—they are more common in cold-winter northern and Midwestern states where house fou...
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21 Stunning Mother-in-Law Suites You’ll Want to See
You needn’t be a mother-in-law—or have one—to reap the benefits of these gorgeous self-contained suites.
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The Best Sump Pumps for Crawl Spaces and Basements
A good sump pump is invaluable in times of flooding or to prevent mildew. Sump pumps reside in a pit below the baseme...
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The 7 Best Wireless Surround-Sound Systems for Amazing Home Audio
A fully wireless surround-sound system can replace the directional sound of a television or stereo with multiple inte...
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Why Go Out? 12 Bars You Can Build at Home
Stay entertained while staying at home. Get ideas and inspiration from these real basement bars, so you can build one for your own home.
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Solved! What’s Up with the Musty Smell in My Basement?
Q: Lately, I notice a musty smell whenever I go into my basement. What’s causing the odor and most how do I get rid o...
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15 Places Water Damage May Be Hiding in Your Home
Building materials and water don’t mix. Insulation, wood studs, plywood sheathing, and subflooring can all degrade, rot, or develop mold when they’re repeatedly s...
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Beautiful Basements: 13 Surprisingly Cool Underground Amenities in Real American Homes
Give your unfinished basement a new lease on life. With the help of designers, these homeowners turned their drab basements into stylish entertainment and relaxat...
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10 Things Not to Keep in Your Basement
If you don’t have room for it, stick it in the basement, right? Well, maybe not. Basements are prone to dampness, mold, and temperature swings, which can adversel...
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The Dos and Don’ts of Finishing Basement Walls
With the cost of living space going up, many homeowners are looking down to expand their home’s square footage with a...
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The Dos and Don’ts of Waterproofing Basement Walls
Because they’re built below grade, basements tend to take on water. You may notice moist basement walls from time to ...
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All You Need to Know About Basement Drains
Perhaps unsurprisingly, basements are more likely to take on water than any other part of your home because they’re b...
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The Best Dehumidifiers for Basements Tested and Reviewed
Dehumidifiers for basement ventilation reduce the likelihood of mold and mildew growth leading to cleaner, safer air ...
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7 Health Hazards Lurking in Your Basement
Basements were once used solely as utility rooms that housed furnaces, laundry areas, and overflow storage for seasonal items, tools, and sometimes even root vege...
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Solved! What Cracks in the Basement Floor Really Mean
Q: We moved into a new house and I just noticed some cracks in the basement floor. They don’t look new, but I can’t b...
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The Best Ways to Improve Your Home's Value in 2022
Priced out of the current housing boom? Remodeling might be the way to go instead of buying a new house, and these projects offer the best value for the money.
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The Secret to a Warmer, Drier, Faster Finished Basement
This article has been brought to you by Amvic Building System, who provided BobVila. com with a complimentary product...
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Waterproofing Basement Walls: Saving MY Damp, Dingy Furnace Room
This article has been brought to you by DRYLOK. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. As homeowners, we a...
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How to Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Home
Knowing how to get rid of a black mold is a skill set every DIYer and homeowner should have in their know-how arsenal...
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14 Tips for a Cozy Basement Bedroom
Say goodbye to the basement bedroom blues! You don’t have to settle for a dark and gloomy subterranean chamber. Through creative lighting techniques and the use o...
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Solved! What to Do About a Flooded Basement
Q. Help! I went to the basement to do some laundry but found water on the floor instead! How do I rescue my flooded b...
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Basement Waterproofing: Here's How to Dry Out a Wet Basement—And How Much It Costs
Unless the plan is to install a swimming pool in the basement, you probably cringe at the idea of water trickling ben...
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10 Shortcuts to a Not-So-Scary Basement
If you have an unfinished basement, you probably don’t want to spend a ton of time down there. The air is musty, the floors are damp, and it feels just a tiny bit...
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The Do’s and Dont’s of Basement Storage
Whether you're packing away seasonal gear, or stockpiling a few extra home essentials, the basement is a natural storage spot. Because the basement is dark, cool,...
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16 Finishing Touches for Your Unfinished Basement
Try these basement ideas to make use of the extra space in your home.
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Convert Your Crawl Space into a Storage Area
For children and perhaps even many adults, the crawl space is shrouded in mystery. Rarely do we think of the dark, di...
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Bob Vila Radio: Prevent Basement Window Leaks
Basement windows are great for letting natural light into subterranean space, but what if they also let in water? The...
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What Would Bob Do? Leveling a Concrete Floor
Q: I’d like some advice on how to level a concrete floor. We plan to finish the basement in my house, and there are g...
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How to Install a Sump Pump
In an ideal world, there’d be no basement flooding. But in reality, despite our best efforts to address the underlyin...
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Life Underground: 10 Beautiful Basement Makeovers
Is it time to give your basement a new look? Because many underground living spaces suffer from the same problems, such as low ceilings and small windows, you'll ...
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Pro Tips: Basement Waterproofing
A clean, dry basement—there, doesn’t that sound nice? Yet the fact is, many of us live with basements that are damp, ...
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Basement Flooring 101
Surprise! It's all right to install virtually any type of flooring in your basement. Although hardwood should be avoi...
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Planning Guide: Basement Remodeling
Do you feel like your home is shrinking? Are the kids growing up and accumulating more stuff? Is your teenager demand...
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Upgrade to a Basement System
Finishing the basement is a smart way to add space to your home. Using a complete basement system package may be the ...
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Add an Entrance to Your Basement
When building a new home, plan the foundation to include an exterior staircase and entry basement doors. The foundati...
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Basement Storage Ideas
Poured concrete foundations, coupled with Styrofoam insulation forms and improvements in perimeter drainage and water...
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7 Steps to Avoid a Flooded Basement
There are certain signs of spring we all welcome: cheery daffodils, increased daylight, and the chirping of birds returning from their winter vacations. Along wit...
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What You Need to Know Before Buying a Sump Pump
I’ve been lucky with basements. Having purchased five houses in my life, not one has had serious basement moisture is...
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How To: Dry a Wet Basement
A basement water problem can be as obvious as there being several inches of floodwater standing at the base of the st...
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Thinking About Installing a Basement Bathroom? Here’s What You Need to Know
Adding a bathroom to a finished basement adds value to the home, but installing toilets and sinks in a below-grade en...
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Know the Rules for Finished Basements
Converting your basement is like finding new space, fully equipped with plumbing and heat. Before you begin your remo...
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Preparing the Foundation
Todd LaBarge describes the ReddiForm block system used to create a one-step monolithic pour.
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Pouring the Foundation and Starting the Walls
Bob and Howard discuss the concrete mesh used in the foundation that saved time and materials. Bob reviews the upcoming episode during which first floor walls ar...
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Building with Polystyrene Forms and Concrete
Bob explores innovative construction technologies – Insul-Tarp and ReddiForm polystyrene blocks – as the structure is reinforced and the first-floor walls start t...
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Building a Metal Stud Wall in the Basement
Bob meets carpenter Danny Ruffini to see how a metal stud wall is built in the basement.
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Pumping Concrete to Make a Basement Floor
A slab is poured in the basement and work is underway to add two new dormers to the roof.
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Building a Kitchen Staircase
Furniture maker Todd Allen builds a staircase from scratch, which will run from the basement to the kitchen, using a technique that is a couple of centuries old.
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Replacing and Installing Windows and Costs of Finishing a Basement
An old basement window is replaced, and experts explain the costs of the Owens Corning finishing system.
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Keep Water Out of the Basement
Basement drainage systems are installed to control moisture and humidity and to eliminate rot and mildew.
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Removing Unwanted Junk and Debris
Bob discusses the best ways to discard debris and unwanted items before starting a renovation.
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Touring a Neighborhood in Melrose
Bob meets with a local real estate broker and with homeowner Sarah Monzon, whose basement will be finished to create additional family space.
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Repairing the Chimneys, Installing a Gas Fireplace Insert and Completed Cabinets in the Basement Family Room
The house's two chimneys are repaired, allowing the installation of a gas fireplace insert, and basement family-room cabinets are completed.
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Installing a Basement Half-Bathroom
Bob discusses the installation of a basement half-bathroom, including wiring, plumbing, and radiant heating.
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Touring the Completed Basement Remodel
Bob meets with homeowner Sarah Monzon to recap the project, from the initial preparation to the renovations to the finishing touches.
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Basement Finishing System Installation
Bob takes us through the installation of an Owens Corning Basement Finishing System.
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Restoring the Guest Cottage
Bob checks progress in the basement and attic of the governor's mansion, then visits the guest cottage to see how the restoration is progressing.
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Inspecting the Concrete Slab in the Basement
Carpenter Bob Ryley and contractor Mike Wescott inspect the basement concrete slab, then go over other construction details in the basement.
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Installing Steel Stair Stringers for the Bulkhead
Installer Juan Gonsalves shows Bob how to install steel stair stringers.
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Exterior Shingles and Brick Walkway
Bob talks with contractor Bob Ryley about shingle exposure, brick surrounds for basement windows, and the design of a brick walkway.
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Constructing a Custom-Recessed Bulkhead Door
Contractor Larry Landers builds a trapdoor to enable access to the old bulkhead from outside. Sheet lead flashing and an ice-and-water barrier are used to waterpr...
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Constructing an Insulated Floor
Bob helps carpenter-contractor Bob Ryley build an insulated floor so as to extend living space into the basement.
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Installation of Paneling in the Basement
Refinishing the basement continues with the installation of wood paneling.
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Excavating the Basement
The excavation crew digs out the dense clay material in the basement to clear the way for a cement slab floor.
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Pouring the Basement Slab
The concrete basement floor is poured, leveled, and screeded.
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Bulkhead Entrance and Trim
Bob helps carpentry contractor Bob Ryley install a bulkhead from a kit and put trim (a soffit, fascia, and drip edge) on the front façade.
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Continuing Work on the Bulkhead Entrance
Bob and carpentry contractor Bob Ryley continue working on the bulkhead entrance into the basement.
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Discussing the Basement Renovation
Ron Gan and architect Bill Bauhs talk over the budget and convince Bob to renovate the basement.
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Pella Window Factory Tour
Bob visits the Pella Window Factory in Pella, IO to see how they reproduce the special circle-head window in the basement to create a custom piece.
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Finishing the Basement Family Room
The circle-head window, and its accompanying window seat, are now finished in the family room basement.
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Attic and Basement
The tour of the project house continues up into the attic and down into the basement. Bob and general contractor Ron Gan discuss the necessary repairs and desired...
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Discussing Plans for the Basement
Bob joins architect Mike Morgan and general contractor Ron Gan in the basement of the coach house to discuss options for making the basement space useful and/or m...
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Basement Excavation
Bob takes a quick tour of the demolition work that's ongoing in the basement. He and general contractor Ron Gan discuss the advantages of renovation over rebuildi...
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Garage Entry
Bob helps general contractor Ron Gan and his crew take down a section of brick wall in order to make way for a garage door leading into the basement.
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Garage Construction
The concrete floor has been poured in the basement, and general contractor Ron Gan explains how a ledger board is attached to the masonry wall to support ceiling ...
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Progress Report on the Coach House
Bob tours the completed living room and dining room of the coach house, then heads down into the basement to see the work that's been done on the heating system.
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Basement Demolition
Bob joins demolition Jim Ferguson in the basement of the coach house to review progress.
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