Q: What’s the best way to level a concrete basement floor in my 1931 house? The space is dry and in good shape, and I’m planning to install basement subfloor tiles as part of a campaign to finish the space. […]
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BASEMENT HEATING Q&A: “Should I Move Heating Ducts to the Floor?”
A Reader Asks . . . Q: How should I arrange the heating ducts as I convert an unfinished basement space into a couple of bedrooms? Right now the heating ducts are up at the ceiling. Should I extend them […]
Continue ReadingFINISHING YOUR BASEMENT: Powder-Actuated Tools Ideal for the Job
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, informs homeowners of the benefits of powder-actuated tools (PATs), especially for basement renovations.
Continue ReadingVIDEO: How to Finish a Basement Properly
Most basements get finished like it was still 1950. That’s why basement mold and mildew is still so common. This is bad enough in the basement, but it can also affect indoor air quality in your whole house. Click to watch this 6-minute video to see how the best basements are finished in the 21st century, and how this can help you breath easier.
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: Insulating a Basement the Right & Wrong Ways
Q: What steps should I take to insulate an unfinished basement in a house I’m thinking of buying? I don’t want to use spray foam and I don’t want the job to be too expensive. A: The standard method of insulating a […]
Continue ReadingPODCAST: Three Keys to Proper Basement Finishing
Listen as Steve Maxwell talks about the problems with conventional basement finishing, and how you can finish your basement in a way that will avoid mold, mildew, and poor indoor air quality.
Continue ReadingPLANS DOWNLOAD: Make a Cold Room That Works
Got a cold room that doesn’t work well for food storage? Download these plans and see how to make your space into a mini root cellar.
Continue ReadingEliminating Basement Mustiness
Ventilation in a basement is sometimes good, but sometimes very bad.
Continue ReadingHow do I Add a New Basement Window to a Masonry Foundation?
Steve offers advice about strengthening the area above a new basement window opening cut into a concrete foundation.
Continue ReadingHow do I properly insulate my basement using foam insulation?
Steve answers a question about using foam insulation properly in a basement.
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