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House-Wise
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Is your unfinished basement the extra
room you've been looking for?
urning your basement
into a comfortable,
attractive living space
(like the one you’ll see on
page 90)
can cost half the
per-square-foot price of building an
addition. You can avoid extra work
and expense during the process by
first addressing these five questions.
ARE THERE MOISTURE PROBLEMS?
Because basements are below
ground, moisture can be a problem.
If you have water coming into the
basement, you should pinpoint the
source and correct it. Start outdoors
by checking the foundation and
making sure water runoff is
directed away from the house. Then
check the walls inside. Seal cracks
and paint concrete block or poured
concrete walls with a waterproofing
product such as Zinsser Watertite.
If these measures fail to stop water
from coming in, you may need to
excavate around the foundation and
waterproof the walls outside.
COULD THERE BE POTENTIAL
HEALTH PROBLEMS?
High humidity levels can cause
mold. Additional ventilation or a
dehumidifier can help you keep the
humidity level below 60 percent.
Another potential problem is radon,
an odorless, radioactive gas that
can seep from the ground into
basements. Conduct a simple test
to determine if radon is present. See
epa.gov/radon
for information on
tests and lowering radon levels.
IS THE CEILING HIGH ENOUGH?
If the ceiling in your basement is
low (most codes specify a minimum
height of 7 feet), the space may
seem like a cave. And, often it’s
necessary to reroute or enclose
existing ductwork and plumbing.
You may need to drop the ceiling
height in certain places to conceal
pipes or ducts.
ARE THE EXISTING STAIRS, DOOR,
AND WINDOWS ACCEPTABLE?
You’ll want windows for natural
light; they’re also required as
emergency exits. Building codes
often specify the size and location
of basement windows you can
exit through (known as egress
windows), so check to see if yours
follow the guidelines. If not,
windows can be added, though that
may be costly. Basement stairs also
must meet certain requirements.
IS THE PLUMBING AND HEATING-
COOLING SYSTEM ADEQUATE?
Additional heating and cooling may
be needed to make your basement
comfortable. If you’re planning to
install a bathroom, drains often
require installation of a specialty
pump to remove wastewater, inb
Danny is the host of the nationally
syndicated show
Today’s Homeowner
with Danny Lipford
(dannylipford.com).
N o R e s i d u e D u c t T a p e
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Design and the Plaid Design are tradem arks o f 3M.
Get m ore advice from Danny and subm it your
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BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS OCTOBER
2009
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