Basement Remodeling

Basement Remodeling

Increase Your Living Space With Basement Remodeling

The basement was traditionally a dark and dank place to store holiday decorations and old toys.  But the modern family uses more space per person than in the past, and many homeowners are looking for more livable space. The most logical choice is basement remodeling.  Whether you have a full or partial basement, follow some basic steps to create a cozy and appealing basement remodeling retreat: prepare the space for safe living, consider how you and your family will use the space, and thoughtfully design the plan to meet those needs.

Prepare the Space for Safe Living

Subterranean spaces are always vulnerable to dampness and flooding.  Even if you rarely have water problems, address even small issues and take proactive measures to prevent larger problems before doing any other work. One bout of leaking or flooding can ruin any finish work.  Start by consulting a professional home inspector who specializes in waterproofing basements.

Air that circulates well helps prevent condensation and mold problems.  But most basements in older homes have few if any vents and return air ducts. During the basement remodeling process add these openings where they will be the most effective. If your basement houses the furnace and other major appliances install a carbon monoxide detector to ensure that dangerous fumes are not being sucked through the vents and into the rest of the house.

Decide How the Space Will be Used

A finished basement will add a significant amount of livable space to your home.  Consider your family’s changing needs and how you will use the space. Popular and practical uses include a recreation room for the kids, a music practice area, or a home theater. Utility components such as water lines and heating and cooling ducts are usually available, so it is generally easy to add a bathroom and other comforts to turn the space into a guest suite as well.

Design Thoughtfully

Make practical decorating choices.  Install surfaces that don’t easily absorb moisture instead of plush carpets and curtains.  If you want to carpet, consider a hardy indoor/outdoor variety or use area rugs that can be removed and cleaned.  And plan for electronics or technology needs by adding adequate wiring and outlets on each wall.
Maximize natural light – if the basement partially extends above ground level add windows or enlarge existing ones; you can dig window wells for completely underground spaces.  If you are concerned about security, install glass bricks rather than actual windows to allow light into the room. Keep the layout open so that light will move throughout the space. Creative use of artificial light can also help to open up the space and dispel that “cave feeling” of many basements.  Direct the light upwards to give the allusion of greater ceiling height. Strategically placed mirrors will also amplify the lighting effects.

You might be starting out from a rough space, but with the right design you’ll have a great basement remodeling addition that will increase your living comfort and your home’s value.

This article was brought to by SacramentoInspection.com

Sacramento Inspection recommends homeowners schedule yearly maintenance inspections to help protect their investment.

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Basement Remodeling

Clearing a Drain Blockage

Drain Blockage

Keep the Plumbing Lines Open

Some of the smallest household contraptions contribute in large part to the convenience of our modern living.  The drain is given little thought – until it doesn’t do its job properly. A blocked drain can disrupt a home more quickly than many other problems. Thankfully, unclogging a drain can be relatively easy with the right tools.  By learning a bit about drain cleaning you can save yourself time, money, and inconvenience.

Prevention is the best medicine, and it’s wise to use drain screens to catch hair and debris before they can run down into the pipes and cause a clog.  But over time it’s inevitable that your pipes will accumulate enough things like food particles, grease, and soap to cause even a minor clog. A blockage is easy to detect – water is slow to leave the sink or tub.  When you are faced with this situation there is no choice but to clear the line.  There are simple ways to clear a clog using items often found around your house.

Drain Blockage

Be proactive – in the event of a plumbing backup, a speedy response can make the difference between minor and major damage to your home and your belongings.

Begin by removing the drain stopper (it should pull up or unscrew).  Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain and let it sit for fifteen minutes.  This will soften many drain blockage enough to move it through the pipes.  Repeat this step once or twice if it does not work the first time. A homemade solution of equal parts baking soda and vinegar (1/2 cup each) can also be used to dissolve a smaller drain blockage.  Pour the solution into the drain, allow it to work for about fifteen minutes, and then flush the drain with hot water.  Repeat if necessary.  At this point a plunger may bring up the rest of the drain blockage: fill the basin with some water, block the overflow with a rag, and push the plunger down and up about a dozen times.

If the drain blockage still persists try to dislodge it with a plumber’s snake (you can buy or rent one) or a straightened wire hanger.  Work the tool up and down until you have cleared much of the clog.  The length of the professional plumber’s snake, a flexible steel cable over a dozen feet long, will be necessary for deep clogs.

At times, you may encounter a more difficult drain blockage, one that has moved further from the local drain site, causing problems with several or all drains in the house.  To deal with this problem you will have to work out the drain blockage at the main drain. Ensure that no one in the house is using any of the plumbing facilities, then find the access point and position a bucket to catch overflow before you remove the cap.  Feed a plumbing snake through the pipes until you hit the drain blockage then work the snake back and forth to dislodge the clog.

If your best efforts still cannot solve the problem it’s time to call in a professional.  Most drain blockage issues should be dealt with promptly to prevent water damage to the home.

Drain Blockage