Spruce Up That Old Basement For Some Much Needed Room!

As a family grows they need more space. The basement is a valuable and large source of space that is frequently overlooked by homeowners. Often when homeowners need more space in their homes they consider knocking out a wall or building an addition to their homes. What many homeowners fail to capitalize on is the significant amount of additional space that is already built into the house, space that few use to its full potential. That space is the basement.

A remodeled basement can drastically increase the amount of livable space inside of a home. A properly remodeled basement can serve any number of functions from a recreation room, laundry room, guest room, home theater, or even your own personalized sports bar. Why take a cab home from the local pub when you can just take the stairs?

Walls
Most basements have bare concrete or cinder block walls. You will need to finish the basement walls with a material of your choosing. Walls are a necessity for many reasons. Walls over the default brickwork create a more natural look to the new basement, covering exposed wiring, water pipes, and joists. Walls also provide much needed insulation. Moreover, walls create spaces to install electrical outlets, which will be a legal and practical necessity regardless of the planned usage.

Lighting
Typical basements come with very little lighting, often little more than a bare bulb with a string switch. Bear in mind, your new basement will be need to be better lit than the rest of your home, because of the absence of natural light. Lighting can be maximized by strategically adding windows or mirrored surfaces to your basement remodel plan.

Flooring
The poured concrete floor of your current basement will not do. The pores in concrete draw loads of moisture into the basement. Consider the many choices of floor coverings available for your basement. Carpet and hardwood are not recommended because they will react poorly to the moisture in the basement. Vinyl, stone and laminate flooring are better choices because they are resistant to moisture and they are easy to heat. It is wise to install electric floor heating in your renovated basement to combat the high moisture levels.

This list is not exhaustive by any means, but you cannot successfully renovate your basement without these basic considerations. Now that you are equipped with information, it’s time to do some homework. Find a reliable local contractor with a design team and ask some questions. Learn about your local building codes to see what you will have to do during the course of your project to make your basement safe and sound in the eyes of the law. Before you know it, you will be ready to get started. With the right design team, you can turn what was once an auxillary storage space into a cozy and inviting human habitat.

If you decide to remodel your basement, be sure to do the proper planning and preparing. When a home is originally erected, the basement is never intended to be a functional living space. To make it so, the designer will have to make some significant modifications to ward against darkness, moisture and cold. But if approached by a knowledgeable designer, making a basement livable is a welcome and rewarding challenge.

This brief basement remodeling guide will outline some of the essential considerations a homeowner must make before beginning a basement remodeling project. Once you are acquainted with some of the major obstacles in front of you, you will be better equipped to begin planning your basement remodel. Five essential considerations to make when assessing your basement are: moisture, usage, walls, lighting, and flooring.

Moisture
Moisture is the make-or-break factor of a basement. By virtue of being underground, all basements collect moisture. Some basements collect so much moisture that renovation is impractical or impossible. Examine your basement for significant moisture. Significant moisture means that water is actually pooling and/or dripping into your basement. If your basement is too moist, it is not a candidate for renovation and you can save yourself a lot of time by quitting while you are ahead and looking into that ground level addition project.

Usage
What do you want to use your new basement for? This is one of the most fun parts of a project. Pre-visualize the basement as it would appear after the remodel. Are you interested in building a home theater? If so, how many seats and where will you put them? Do you need a play room for the kids so you can have a little more peace and quiet upstairs? The way you choose to use the new basement will have the most affect on any subsequent design decisions. For example, if you include a guest room in your basement plan, building codes require that you equip the basement with an new exit in addition to the door that leads back into the home.

Your home improvement guide to residential lighting

The right lighting enhances the beauty and functionality of your home. Lighting is a powerful element of the overall home aesthetic. From flood lights to Christmas lights to tiki torches, lighting sets the mood, changes the mood, and can even denote the season of the year. In this lighting home improvement guide, we give a lighting primer. We will describe some general kinds of lighting, the importance of lighting controls and some essential room lighting tips. After reading this primer, you will have the basic knowledge and vocabulary to start formulating your own residential lighting plan.

Types of Lighting

When thinking of lighting, it is helpful to break it down into three categories: general lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. General lighting is also called ambient lighting. It is the typical level of brightness needed to get around the house without bumping into things. General lighting is used to substitute for daylight. The overhead lighting in the living room, the chandelier in a dining room, basic garage lighting, and the porch light are all examples of general lighting.

Accent is quite the opposite of general lighting. It is illumination that acts as an element of decoration and interior design. Accent lighting is directed toward a very particular element in a room, like a tapestry or a uniquely textured wall. Another example is spotlights on wall art or sculptures. Any illumination that highlights points of interest, like family photos, houseplants, or even outdoor landscaping, falls in the accent lighting category. Like the name suggests, accent lighting needs to be at least twice as bright as the surrounding light. Track lights and some wall mounted fixtures are common examples of accent lighting.

Task lighting is for specific jobs performed in the home. Task lighting must bright enough to avoid eye strain and be free of shadows and glare. Task lighting is the illumination over a workbench in the shed or it can be a reading lamp in the den. Other common instances of task lighting are under-cabinet lights in the kitchen workspace and portable lamps that facilitate hobbies, games, and office work. It can also be achieved through recessed lights and judiciously arranged track lights with the proper lighting controls installed.
Controls
Lighting controls are an essential part of any residential lighting plan. Over the years, technological advances have made impressive improvements to the scope and flexibility of lighting controls. Whereas lighting controls used to simply be an on/off switch, these days there are numerous forms of dimmers, from manual slide dimmers to fully computerized touch dimmers. Not only does lighting control offer an unprecedented amount of control over the illumination in the home, it also serves to increase bulb life and conserve energy.

Furthermore, the right state-of-the-art lighting controls allow you to alter lighting to match the current activity in a room, whether playing a game with the kids or watching a movie. With today’s computerized dimming systems, it is even possible to create and save preset lighting templates. This way, with the touch of a button on a remote control, a room can be lit for a holiday party, a modest family visit, or some quiet reading time alone.

Lighting for Different Rooms

The various rooms of a home have specialized purposes. The lighting you install in each room should complement the purpose and uses of the room. Living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens all need their own personalized lighting treatment.

Living room lighting needs the most versatility of all the rooms. Living rooms are host to a wide variety of activities, from entertaining guests to family meetings, recreation and play time. A well lit living room will incorporate all three forms of lighting – general, accent, and task. This way, you can show off some art, do a little reading, and enjoy quality time with your friends and family. Dimming controls are a must for the living room.
Dining rooms require functionality on par with living rooms, but beauty is essential, to complement the ancient ritual of dining together. Typical dining room lighting is achieved by a centerpiece chandelier with a dimmer control. Chandeliers provide a great opportunity to beautify a dining room. When dimmed, chandeliers can closely approximate candlelight. Additionally, when a chandelier is turned up, it is an excellent source of task lighting, for tasks such as homework and sorting bills.

Kitchens are the most intensive workspace in the home. Prevalent general lighting and task lighting are the rule of thumb for any kitchen. At the same time, kitchens inadvertently become one of the busiest gathering spots for family and friends. No matter how appealing the living room is, parties frequently move to the kitchen. For this reason, lighting in kitchens needs to be imaginative. Recessed overhead lights are great, but do not neglect the beauty and functionality of under-cabinet lighting for a functional accent.

This has been a brief primer to residential lighting. As you do more research, make a list of the rooms in your home that need lighting changes. Do you need less shadow in your bathroom? Have you considered the task lighting needs of your home office? With this information, you are equipped to do research and find lighting professionals that will help you implement the best possible lighting plan for your home.

How to Pick a Remodeling Contractor

How To Install A Tile Backsplash

Tools

• Tape measure
• Level
• Tile cutter
• Tile nippers/tile saw
• Safety glasses 
• Notched trowel
• Rubber grout float

Materials

• Waterproof mastic tile adhesive
• Waterproof grout
• Glazed wall tiles
• Latex gloves
• Tile

TIP:  It’s always a good idea to have spare tiles of the same dye lot in case you break some or have to replace one in the future. If you can’t get the same dye lot, mix all of the tiles together so the color difference won’t be as noticeable.

 

Estimating the Amount of Tile Needed

Once you’ve designed your backsplash, measure the length of all your countertops where the backsplash will go. Then measure the height of your backsplash whether it’s four inches, full height or somewhere in between. Multiply the two numbers together to get the square footage of the area you need to cover. This will be the first question they ask you at any tile store.

 1. Prepare the wall
• If there’s old tile, wallpaper or paneling, remove it. You need to apply the tile to a smooth, clean surface of either plaster or gypsum board. Scrape off any loose paint. Remove all the switch plates and outlet covers from the backsplash.
• Measure and mark the exact center of the room’s visual focal point at the counter level.
• Using a sharp pencil and a 2-foot level, draw a perfectly plumb starting line through the center mark. 

2. Apply mastic or thinset
• Scoop some tile mastic or thinset out of the bucket with the edge of the V-notched trowel.
• Holding the trowel to its long edge, use a sweeping motion to spread the mastic across the wall, covering only an area large enough for eight tiles.
• Look for any bare spots and fill them in with mastic.

TIP: Check with the tile dealer to make certain you’re using a trowel with the correct-width notches for your mastic.

 3.  Set the field tile
• Start setting the tiles at the bottom of the vertical center line. Place the edge of the first tile right on the line and make sure the base of the tile is parallel with the edge of the counter leaving just enough room for a bead of caulk.
• Firmly press the tile into the mastic. Then continue setting tiles, working out in both directions from the center line. Continue with the next rows up until you reach the row against the cabinets or one requiring decorative tiles.

TIP: If a skin forms on the mastic surface, stop setting and scrape the wall clean. Then apply a fresh coat of mastic.

4. Cut tiles to fit
• When you get to a cabinet or pattern edge that requires you to trim a tile with a single straight cut, place a full tile in the space and mark it.
• Using a score-and-snap tile cutter, score the tile once with the cutting wheel.
• Carefully snap the tile along the scored line.

 5.  Notch tiles with a wet saw
• Mark any tiles that need to be notched around a cabinet corner, switch box, or electrical receptacle.
• Lay the tile on the sliding table of a motorized wet saw (easier for shaped cuts) and push it forward into the blade to cut one side. Pull back the table, rotate the tile, and make the second cut.
• Use tile nippers to remove any material in the notch.
• Finish tiling the backsplash. On inside corners, butt the edges of the tiles against the tiles on the adjoining wall, leaving room for caulk. Install bull nose tile at open ends of the backsplash and at the top if there are no upper cabinets for the tiles to butt against.

 6.  Fill the tile joints with grout
• Allow mastic to dry overnight.
• The next day, mix a batch of unsanded tile grout. Sanded if grout lines are wider than 1⁄8 inch, following the directions on the carton.
• Scoop some grout out of the bucket with a rubber grout float and smear it across the surface of the tile diagonally to the grout lines.

• Pack the grout deep into the joints, but don’t get any into the seam between the tiles and the countertop or existing 4-inch backsplash.

 7.  Clean and caulk
• After grouting the entire backsplash, clean the surface with a soft sponge and clear water, rinsing the sponge often. Wipe diagonally to the grout lines so as not to pull any grout from the joints.
• Wait 30 to 45 minutes for the grout to set and for a hazy film to appear on the tiles, then buff off the haze with a clean, dry cloth until the tiles shine.
• Squeeze a thin bead of tub-and-tile caulk, the same color as the grout, into the joint at the very bottom of the backsplash, in the corners, and between the tiles and the cabinets. Smooth with a wet finger.

 

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Green remodeling benefits and incentives

Many have heard the phrase “green remodeling” floating around the home improvement industry and are not sure exactly what it means. While it is true that “green remodeling” has to do with making your home more energy efficient, the idea covers more ground than that.

A green remodel is like a philosophy you can apply to your home. From weatherization to waste disposal to choosing recycled and reclaimed building materials, green remodeling can be practiced on several facets of your home. Green remodeling does not just mean making your home energy efficient, it also means making your home, and consequently your daily life, more environmentally responsible.

The United States Department of Energy reported that buildings use up 40 percent of all the energy consumed in America. According to the Department of Energy, a large-scale greening of homes can save more money, and reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions more than hybrid cars do.

Greening your home takes many forms, from installing new windows to purchasing Energy Star appliances. If you want to green your home, search out a green remodeling professional. What does that mean? Well, a green remodeling professional is one who takes sustainability into account at every stage of your remodel. A green remodeling pro is skilled at responsibly maximizing resources, both your own and mother nature’s.

A green professional knows that green remodeling is also a way of thinking, not simply a way of buying. For example, if you are thinking of replacing your kitchen cabinets, your green remodeling professional may suggest carefully removing your old cabinets and donating them to Habitat for Humanity for reclamation, rather than simply adding them to the waste stream.

Green remodeling professionals meet a lot of clients that are skeptical about the quality and value of greening a home. The truth is that most green homes do not look different from conventional homes. Most green remodeling elements, like improved air quality or increased energy efficiency, are part of the inner structure of a home. Furthermore, most recycled products, like floors and counter tops, look the same as their non-recycled equivalent.

These days, green remodeling is getting a lot more publicity than usual, and that is a good thing. There are many benefits to green remodeling, from the pride you can take in your beautiful new, environmentally responsible home to the direct savings in energy costs you will notice after your remodel is complete.

Since money talks, here are three tangible economic reasons why now is a better time than ever to invest in green remodeling your home.

1. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, also referred to as the Stimulus bill, offers significant tax credits to homeowners that perform a green remodel. If you want to install, for example, a solar water heater or a new energy efficient HVAC, the stimulus bill qualifies you for a tax credit. This tax credit was approved in 2009 and has been extended all the way to the end of 2010. If you get some green remodeling done this year, the government will pay you to do it.

2. If you are thinking of selling your home, a green remodel will pump up the value of your home. Because of the potential long-term energy savings of a green home, homebuyers are willing to pay a lot more for homes that already have these improvements.

3. For those of you who just bought a home or are planning to live in your home for a long time, a green remodel is just as valuable, if not more so. A green remodel will improve the energy efficiency of your home. The investment you make in a green remodel will start coming back to you right away in lower monthly energy bills. Over the years, these savings will pay for your remodel, then start paying you.

Look into green remodeling. Find an informed green remodeling professional. Ask them questions and gather knowledge about energy and water conservation, renewable and recycled materials, and the potential for drastically improving the living quality in your home. All of these benefits, coupled with the economic breaks outlined above, make this the best time yet to green your home.