I am laying carpet in the basement this week. It's has a quality carpet pad and will be on top of concrete. The drywall mud/tape guy and the guy who sprayed the ceiling left an absolute mess on the floor. I've cleaned, scraped, swept, scraped, mopped, scraped etc. for a couple nights and the floor is fairly clean now. At the very least, it is VERY LEVEL as any cracks are now filled with mud that has been smoothed over. My question is - how clean does the floor need to be? Do I have to worry about the little bit of mud/drywall dust somehow magically seeping up through the pad and into my carpet?
posted on Jul 23, 2008 - 7 answers

Finishing up a small basement project. Should I install the wood trim and base molding myself (with rented finish nailer) or hire some help? [more inside]
posted on Jul 15, 2008 - 13 answers

Should I fix my leaky basement from the inside or the outside? [more inside]
posted on Jun 25, 2008 - 10 answers

Why has this article on a basement door (and some other readers' questions) spent so much time at the top of the boston.com "most emailed" list? [more inside]
posted on Apr 20, 2008 - 12 answers

What is the best way to convert an old, dry cistern into a wine cellar? [more inside]
posted on Mar 23, 2008 - 11 answers

Is my central heating system killing me slowly? [more inside]
posted on Mar 17, 2008 - 3 answers

Home HVAC filter: Help us figure out if we're getting ripped off! We were quoted $800 for some HVAC work that needs to be done for finishing our basement; is this a reasonable amount? [more inside]
posted on Mar 12, 2008 - 3 answers

Is it possible to "seal" furniture in a plastic bag to protect it from mold while stored in a basement? Please help me protect my inheritance until I have a bigger house! [more inside]
posted on Jan 20, 2008 - 15 answers

Is there anything we can do to help prevent or minimize flooding in a finished basement? [more inside]
posted on Dec 22, 2007 - 7 answers

I've got a sick basement, I need to fix it. [more inside]
posted on Dec 14, 2007 - 12 answers

Help me unravel the enigma of the "Mysterious Basement-floor Chalk Dust." [more inside]
posted on Nov 14, 2007 - 7 answers

Has anyone ever painted their Owens Corning Basement System panels? I've scrubbed my watermarked panels per the instructions, contacted Owens Corning, begged for help and contacted the Attorney General's office in my state. All that said, I can't get the water stains out and my basement has been in disrepair for awhile and I'm anxious to put it back together. My son suggested fabric paint and there is a spray paint by Rustoleum. Any ideas other than spring for the new walls? Thanks.
posted on Nov 4, 2007 - 2 answers

For my woodshop, is there an alternative to a house with a basement? Trying to find rentals in the DC area with unfinished basements I can use as a workshop is challenging. Finding affordable properties to purchase even more so. What else can I do? [more inside]
posted on Jul 30, 2007 - 16 answers

Soundproofing material: What is this stuff called, and where can I find it? [more inside]
posted on Jul 17, 2007 - 10 answers

I have a plug-in space heater. I also have radiant heat. Which is more economical for heating a basement room? [more inside]
posted on Jul 5, 2007 - 9 answers

My basement flooded during the torrential rains of April and I need to really CLEAN the water marks on the Owens Corning Basement system panels in my basement. Everyone tells me that once stained, the panels can never be cleaned. Anyone have any other experience? [more inside]
posted on Jul 2, 2007 - 1 answers

What is this strange object attached to my basement floor? [more inside]
posted on Jul 1, 2007 - 23 answers

What can you store in a damp basement, and what's the best way to do it? [more inside]
posted on Apr 4, 2007 - 12 answers

A pipe in the basement is dripping. It goes to the boiler. What can I do to make it stop? Do I need a plumber? (Pictures inside) [more inside]
posted on Mar 27, 2007 - 7 answers

SumpPumpFilter: Is my sump pump incorrectly installed? The pump runs periodically when it's wet in the basement, and the water seems to run back in the sump pump bucket immediately after the pump runs. [more inside]
posted on Mar 26, 2007 - 4 answers

The parging is flaking off my basement walls. How do I repair it? [more inside]
posted on Jan 21, 2007 - 1 answers

I sleep on a futon mattress directly on the (carpeted) floor, in the basement. I think the coldness of winter seeps through the basement floor and into my mattress. How can I keep from freezing when I want to get to sleep? [more inside]
posted on Dec 30, 2006 - 27 answers

Got mice? I've got mice behind the drywall and I'm trying to figure out an expedient way of snuffing out their lives. [more inside]
posted on Nov 6, 2006 - 16 answers

Help me make my new basement room feel like a non-basement room. Specifically, paint, lighting, and other decorating ideas. [more inside]
posted on Aug 30, 2006 - 10 answers

Seeking advice on how top water seepage in basement [more inside]
posted on Aug 26, 2006 - 7 answers

Basements, mildew, and mold, oh my... [more inside]
posted on Jul 23, 2006 - 4 answers

Tree roots clogged our sewer pipe. What next? [more inside]
posted on Jul 7, 2006 - 7 answers

How much would it cost to raise a 900-square foot house a few feet & give it a new foundation? Looking at 1912 Craftsman in Seattle that is a good deal but would only work if we could add some space, and the attic doesn't seem tall enough to add dormers. Just looking for a rough idea of what to expect. [more inside]
posted on Mar 13, 2006 - 16 answers

Poor homeowner: What are my options for inexpensive carpeting? [more inside]
posted on Jan 16, 2006 - 8 answers

Our 100+ year old house has a fieldstone basement with no mortar between the stones. Water doesn't flood or drip in, but the walls are always a little damp. Black mold is beginning to grow down there, and we'd like to stop it. [more inside]
posted on Nov 4, 2005 - 15 answers

HomeImprovementFilter: I'm planning on having a basement room finished, and before I put the contractors to the time and expense of coming out for estimates, I want to know if the project will be something I can afford to do right now. [more inside]
posted on Aug 18, 2005 - 2 answers

Any suggestions for drying out a flooded basement? [more inside]
posted on Jul 12, 2005 - 8 answers

Our 1200 sq. ft. partially finished basement is cold. There is insulation in the ceiling, and the windows are pretty new. Our thermostat is upstairs, so when the upstairs is comfortable, the basement is about 5-10 degrees cooler (a guess), even though there are heating vents in each room.

Can I just hook up a squirrel fan and pump warm air from the ground floor downstairs? Cut more vents in the ducts? Any other possible cheap/simple solutions?

I get the gnawing feeling that I'm stepping into a complex feedback loop problem--if I install a second thermostat, then the two thermostats duke it out until one of them wins or becomes skynet. Bonus points if you can point me to a place online where I can ask these questions and not get my head ripped off by HVAC professionals.
posted on Jan 22, 2005 - 15 answers

I'm thinking about buying a new flat - but it's in the basement of a big old house. Anyone know of any pitfalls I should watch out for - and specifically, what are the tell-tale signs of damp (that even a novice would notice)?
posted on Jul 22, 2004 - 10 answers

Neighbor problems involving a basement [more inside]
posted on Mar 19, 2004 - 30 answers

Any easy and cheap methods to soundproof a basement room for guitar playing? Something about egg cartons?
posted on Jan 19, 2004 - 5 answers