Home Sweet Home

Insufficient lighting is a problem in most basements. You can add more light and get better ventilation by enlarging basement windows or adding new ones. Even with larger windows you will need supplementary lighting, perhaps illuminated ceiling installations. Wiring is not a job for amateurs. Your electrical contractor will tell you if your wiring is adequate and meets building-code specifications or, if not, what should be done. He will also recommend

What to do about moisture control

If your basement is damp, this should be corrected before you start redecorating. First, determine the cause of the dampness. It may be a poorly graded lot, bad tiling, or any one of a number of factors. Whatever the cause, it should be remedied before applying waterproofing material to walls and floors. To control outright flooding, install a sump pump. To stop active leaks in walls or floors, open cracks with a cold chisel and stuff them with hydraulic cement. To minimize seepage that shows up mainly in the form of damp or slightly oozing spots on the walls or floors, apply two coats of cementitious waterproof sealer. You may decide it is a wise investment to install a dehumidifier, too.

Decorating—the light touch

Basement rooms can be just as attractive as those above ground if the decorating scheme is thoughtfully planned. Light colors on the walls will make rooms appear more spacious, and will give a bright and cheerful atmosphere where natural light is limited. Walls may be painted, wallpapered, or covered with other materials such as cork, fabric, leather, or vinyl. If your walls are wood, paneled, brick, or stone, use cheerful colors for upholstered pieces of furniture and also for accessories.

Hobby collections displayed on open shelves add interest to a basement room. Lamps that are both decorative and functional are important. Pillows in bright colors that accent furnishings add sparkle and comfort, too. Wall hangings, pieces of sculpture, and greenery—either live or reproductions— can be casual or formal.

If you are using some furnishings that have been discarded from upstairs rooms, this is an opportunity to put your creative ability to work. Paint, refinish, and slipcover or upholster items so that the overall effect is one of harmony and comfort. There is nothing more depressing than to see a basement room furnished with tired old pieces of furniture and accessories that have that cast-off look when they could undergo a face-lifting that would give them a new personality.

Choose a durable floor material

Both tile and outdoor-indoor carpeted floors withstand hard usage in active areas and are available in a wide range of patterns and attractive colors.

Outdoor-indoor carpets are comfortable underfoot, durable, and easy to maintain. In general, they are strong, moisture-proof, long- wearing, and fade-resistant.

Vinyl floorings are popular because of their beauty and toughness. Vinyl asbestos is low- cost and versatile. Vinyl sheet goods are soft underfoot. Solid tiles are durable.

Rubber tile is one of the most resilient floorings and is comfortable underfoot. Cork is the quietest. Combining cork with vinyl adds to its longevity and cleaning ease. Asphalt tile is a low-cost favorite.

How to rebuild a basement

Even if your basement has walls about to buckle—or even if your entire house is sagging—you can avert impending disaster with renovations. They will cost a good bit, but probably not as much as you would think when you consider the extent of the job.

First have the house temporarily supported with jacks while the earth outside the foundation wall is being excavated. Then remove the old wall right down to the footings and lay up a new wall. At the same time, install a tile drainage system, and apply a waterproof coating to the new wall.

If you’re considering buying an old house or have already purchased one with a serious settling problem, be sure to get professional opinions from several sources so you will be absolutely sure that a new wall won’t suffer from the same problem. This may seem costly, but it could be the wisest investment you’ll ever make. Even though replacing a bad wall is relatively expensive, it doesn’t compare with putting a stop to extensive land settling.

Installation hints

You will find photos, drawings, and step-by-step instructions that will help you with your basement remodeling project: wiring your basement; checking for moisture; selecting the proper flooring; installing prefinished plywood. These are all jobs that can be mastered by the home handyman in his leisure time and without spending too much money. If they are planned carefully and carried out according to instructions, you can pare your remodeling costs to the bare minimum.

First, determine what tools you will need. If you don’t have all the necessary tools, they can usually be rented from a local hardware dealer. It is far more sensible to pay relatively low rental fees than to purchase expensive tools that seldom will be used.

Next, schedule the work in the order of its importance. First on the list will be the wiring; check to see if it is adequate, and make necessary installations. Then work on eliminating moisture problems. When wiring and seepage problems have been solved you are ready to start building—placing furring strips, installing prefinished plywood, closing in the stairs, and finishing the floors.

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