First of all, it’s important that you get all your facts straight. You need to make sure that it will actually be possible to turn your basement into an apartment that is up to code. To find out if this is possible in your case you need to contact your local authorities and find out what regulations apply in  your area.

You also need to make sure that you don’t run into problems with moisture. As a general rule basements run a great risk of becoming infected with mold due to the high levels of moisture. This can stop any basement apartment plans you might have in their tracks!

It’s also important that you take a good look at your basement and evaluate its potential as habitable area before you get started. If there are no natural sources of light, turning your basement into an apartment is probably a bad idea. That doesn’t mean you should stop right there though. It might still work great as a gym or as a home theater.

Making the most of your basement is a key element to raising the overall value of your home. The basement usually makes up a lot of unused space. If you can make this area useful as something else than storage area it will greatly improve its value.

Cleaning Mold Requires The Correct Safety Measures

If you don’t know how to clean basement mold one of the most important things to stress is safety! As I mentioned mold can be hazardous to your health and so can the chemicals you need to use to remove it. Make sure you’re wearing long sleeved clothes, rubber gloves and protective goggles. While it’s important to ensure that you remove all of the mold it is even more important to make sure you protect yourself.

Use Mold Remover Not Bleach

Although you might consider just using regular bleach to remove the mold in your basement I highly recommend that you don’t. Bleach isn’t always able to ensure that the mold doesn’t return in force. For that reason it’s a far better choice to use proper mold remover that has been specifically designed to remove mold. The last thing you want to do is give the mold a chance to come back.

Seal Off The Room Before Cleaning

Before you start cleaning your basement you need to make sure that it won’t return to haunt you again. The first thing you need to do is try to find the source of the mold. Mold is caused by moisture so, if you have any leaks in your basement they are the most likely sources of mold in your basement. If that is the case you need to get it fixed. Although it can be very expensive it is probably best to hire a contractor. Although it is expensive it will be far cheaper in the long run if you find a contractor who can provide the best quality work possible.

If you don’t happen to know how to clean basement mold this can seem like a very daunting task. However, it is of critical importance that you don’t neglect to get it done. You need to protect yourself properly. Use the appropriate chemicals and detergents. Finally it’s important that you do your utmost to make sure that it doesn’t return. Once you have removed the mold from your basement a world of opportunity will become available to you.

Concrete Cracks in Basements

Many homes that have concrete basements have foundation cracks. This is a normal situation because as the concrete cures it shrinks in volume. This shrinkage creates stresses in the concrete wall. To relieve the stress, the concrete cracks. The most common areas for a “shrinkage crack” to occur are in the middle of a long wall, below a corner of a basement window or where the foundation wall changes height.

A large number of homes built since 1990 have their walls coated with a waterproof membrane. This waterproofing protects many cracks from leaks, but it can be defeated. Whether your home is protected by waterproofing or not, there are several ways for water to get into the basement;

1. Soil above the waterproofing allows water to enter above the protective waterproofing. When rains occur, water enters the crack above the waterproofing and leaks into the crack from the top. The water runs down inside the crack until it is seen on the interior surface of the basement wall as a leak.
2. The corners of basement window openings are a common area for concrete to crack. During rains water runs off of the window and then enters the crack at the window opening corner. Again the water runs down the inside of the crack until the crack narrows and forces the water to the interior face of the basement wall.
3. Some cracks are sufficiently wide to exceed the maximum width the waterproofing is designed to protect. In this case the waterproofing tears and leaves a gap in protection against the water. Water can enter directly into the crack and enter the basement.
4. Foundation walls without waterproofing run a high risk of having cracks leak. Water can enter unhindered through any shrinkage cracks and appear on the interior side of the basement.

Whatever the source of the leak, homeowners wish to stop it.

DIY Concrete Basement Crack Repair Kits

Urethane foam injection used to be a process only professional repair technicians could perform. Kits with urethane foam are available for homeowners to stop water leaks in concrete basement cracks. Urethane foam liquid is injected into the crack using a common caulk gun. Once inside the crack the urethane begins to expand. This expansion forces the urethane foam all the wall through the crack. Once finished the crack will be sealed from top to bottom. Now water will remain on the outside of the basement and not leak into the basement.

Urethane Foam Injection Advantages

1. No chiseling the foundation wall
2. Entirely fills the crack top to bottom
3. Fast repair performed in about 2 hours
4. Little mess

Limitations

1. Concrete basements only. This repair will not work on block foundations.
2. Surface must be dry. The interior face of the basement wall must be dry for application.

This article is written by Aaron Kuertz with Applied Technologies Aaron has been in the waterproofing industry since 1998. Applied Technologies is a manufacturer and supplier to professional waterproofing contractors and homeowners in the United States. To learn more about concrete crack repair visit Applied Technologies on the web.

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As with any kind of decorating project you need to take the room into consideration. You don’t want to stuff a gazillion things into an already small and cluttered space. By putting a bit of thought into your decorating choices you can really get the most out of your basement.

There are endless philosophies about how to decorate a room. However, in my opinion common sense has always been a good starting point. If you want it to appear spacious you obviously don’t want to clutter it with furniture and you certainly don’t want to put furniture in the passageways. Careful consideration of the furniture you use and how to place it will go a long way. With some basement improvement projects the furniture is given, however, where you put it can still make a huge difference.

You need to plan out which furniture and accessories you want in your basement at an early stage. Although a lot of people will recommend a spacious zen like style the most important consideration is whether you like it or not. If you don’t like it, it really doesn’t matter how modern or sharp it looks. Odds are you’re not going to use your brand new basement and we don’t want that to happen.

The coloration of your basement is another way to add your own unique style to it. If you have a lot of small rooms you want them to appear as spacious as possible. Certain color palettes can help you do that. Although it’s more complicated than that light color palettes generally makes a room appear bigger.

You can also use wallpaper to give the rooms in the basement a unique style. However, it is particularly important to control the level of moisture in your basement when you are using wallpaper. If you do go that route it might be worth considering grass cloth wallpaper which in addition to being environmentally friendly can also add to the uniqueness of your basement.

Creativity and elbow grease are the most important factors in decorating your basement. If done right it will be a true haven for you and your family.

Pick A Concept For Your Basement

So it’s crunch time. You’ve got a big decision to make. Do you turn your basement into a fitness room or a game room? As far as construction is concerned it doesn’t make too much of a difference. However, if your basement improvement project is geared towards a fitness room then you need to make sure you have reasonably big rooms in your basement. A word of advice though; before you break down any walls make sure they aren’t supporting walls.

Can Your Basement Improve Your Health

If you’re anything like me you’ve probably made a resolution to lose weight at least once. You’ve had big plans to go to the gym on a regular basis. When it came down to it though you found a lot of excuses to avoid the gym. Why not put one in your basement? That’s a solid way to eliminate the majority of excuses you have for not working out. The disadvantage is that fitness equipment can be quite expensive, but it’s a great way to show off the potential of your basement. If you insist on being a couch potato there are other options for your basement improvement project.

I’m A Couch Potato And Proud Of It!

Well then. How about a nice isolated game room where you can dedicate yourself to your favourite games without outside disturbances. Another option is a home cinema in an environment that’s optimal for showing great movies. Basically, this is the kind of basement improvement project that the entire family can enjoy. In the end the decision is yours alone, but the options as you can tell are numerous.

Decide On A Theme For Your Basement

Before you start your basement improvement project you need to decide on a theme for your basement. You need to decide what the purpose of your basement is supposed to be. You can turn it into a game room or entertainment room that the entire family will enjoy. You can also choose to turn it into a separate apartment that you can rent out to a student or a small family. Both options will add tremendous value to your home and potentially a great deal of fun for your family.

Let Your Basement Add To Your Family’s Quality Of Life

Even if you want to keep it in the family the options available to you for your basement are endless. How about a game room where your entire family can have endless hours playing board games or video games together. You can also turn it into a home cinema which, again, will really pull you together as a family with a lot of good times. Another option, if you hate going all the way to the gym is to turn your basement into your own personal gym. All of the basement improvement options will add great value to your home.

Hey, I’m Not Looking To Sell, But I’d Still Like To Cash In

Your basement improvement project can help you do that too. If you decide to turn your basement into a separate apartment you can cash in every month. This kind of apartment can become a very comfortable home for a small family or even a student. This will not only add value right now, but will also add to the entire homes value when and if you decide to sell it.

The Square Feet Of Opportunity

Well, I know. That last headline is a corny joke, but the possibilities are nearly endless. Don’t let your basement go to waste. The right basement improvement project can add great value to your home right now and in the future.