Brightening Up Your Basement for Winter and Beyond

Ask the Expert: How Can I Brighten Up My Basement for Winter?

RISMEDIA, Friday, November 25, 2016— Today’s Ask the Expert column features Dan Steward, president of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors. 

Q: How can homeowners brighten up a basement to fully utilize the space as they prepare to spend more time indoors this winter?

A: Before turning to cosmetic fixes, make sure basic safety and inspection issues are covered. Check the following issues and address them first:

• If your basement or crawlspace smells musty, it’s likely due to a moisture problem. The smell is usually caused by the growth of mold and mildew, which thrive in damp environments. Allergies, difficulty breathing and low-threshold headaches are all symptoms that can be triggered by mold and mildew. 
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• Water can make its way into the basement through cracks in the walls, or oversaturated soil seeping water through the wall itself. If the basement is finished, look for discoloration on the drywall, as this is a sign that water is coming in. 
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• When paint is exposed to water or extreme moisture, it may bubble or begin to peel off the walls and floor. Painting over the affected area—even with waterproof paint—only masks the issue, allowing the underlying problem more time to become worse. 
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• Efflorescence is a chalky white substance that has the potential to develop a budding crystallized appearance over a period of time. In either case, it’s an indication of a water issue that must be addressed. 
• Rust on metal surfaces in the basement is an indication of moisture. 
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• Moisture attracts insects such as roaches, centipedes, earwigs, carpenter ants and termites, in addition to rodents such as mice. Water problems must be corrected before attempting to remove pests, or they’ll likely return. 
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• Large cracks or waves in the foundation can be a sign of structural problems that require attention. 

After all is structurally sound, it’s time to brighten the area up and add some decorative items. Low ceilings, limited light and general dreariness can make the basement a hard spot to hang out in, but the following tips will go a long way toward brightening things up:

• Paint the walls a light shade. To give the illusion of height, paint the ceiling an even lighter shade. 
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• Use various lighting sources (wall sconces, lamps, etc.) layered at different heights to brighten up the space. When choosing lighting sources, go for LED bulbs, as they’re typically brighter and cheaper. 
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• Place mirrors across from windows in order to maximize the effect of natural light. 
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• Don’t break up the space by incorporating different flooring materials. Pick solid, continuous flooring to help make the space appear larger. 
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• Look into decorative wall murals, which can be found on a variety of websites. 

These are just a few simple ways to transform your basement from dark and dreary to bright and beautiful. Before you know it, your basement will become an alternative area for hanging out at home.

For more information, please visit www.pillartopost.com.

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Specialized Homes: What Makes a Home Foundation Sound?

Structural Standpoint: What Makes a Home Foundation Sound?

RISMEDIA, Wednesday, November 30, 2016— Now that the American real estate market is enjoying a solid rebound, residential construction and custom-homebuilding are on the upswing. Prospective homeowners are once again interested in specialized homes, which entails making certain decisions about how the property should be built.
 

When it comes to choosing home foundations, future homeowners should think of the following:

Concrete Blocks vs. Poured Concrete
Although masonry is an honored craft that has served humanity well for many centuries, stone and block foundations have been largely replaced by poured concrete. In some cases, a combination of concrete block and poured concrete can be used to support different parts of the house, but many builders these days mostly prefer poured foundations because they are known to reduce the potential for cracks and leaks.

Soil Analysis
This step takes place before forming, and is one of the most important. The soil analysis takes into account water tables, ground conditions, potential impact of flood plains, and porosity. Choosing the right mix of backfill according to the soil analysis is crucial, particularly in areas where the ground is known to be very fertile, which means that it is rich in organic matter and bound to expand during the rainy season.

Types of Home Foundations
Builders settle on the types of foundations they will use according to local building codes and the practicality of construction. In warm climates, a raised slab of poured concrete can be formed into a single unit that combines the footing with the actual foundation elements. A more unusual type of foundation involves building the home entirely on concrete piers; however, building codes now call for footing and pier foundations.

Materials Testing
Laying out foundations primarily made of poured concrete is a laborious process. For this reason, it is not uncommon to run into situations whereby laborers may not lay a perfect foundation on the first attempt. Material testing is essential in residential construction, particularly in areas that are rich in aquifers or of high seismicity. Builders use concrete monitoring equipment, like the products found at Certified Material Testing Products, after the concrete mix has been poured and set to measure possible displacement and cracks caused by shifting of the foundation, backfill or soil. It is not unusual to repair foundations after pouring. Not all cracks or imperfections are caused by improper forming, and thus builders wait a few days to monitor how the concrete cures and sets.

In the future, precast foundations and concrete forming made of advanced polyethylene material will make home foundations sturdier than they are today, and they will also make the construction process easier.

This was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. Visit the blog daily for housing and real estate tips and trends. Like Housecall on Facebook and follow @HousecallBlog on Twitter.

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