My basement is currently flooding. Anything I can do before it stops raining? [more inside]
posted by selfnoise on Nov 14, 2009 - 13 answers

Why is my sump pump bone dry? [more inside]
posted by Waldo Jeffers on Nov 13, 2009 - 5 answers

How is water getting into my basement? [more inside]
posted by miyabo on Oct 18, 2009 - 14 answers

My cat hasn't used her litter box in over two weeks. The house smells great. She has no way to get outside. Where is the pee going? [more inside]
posted by miagaille on Sep 16, 2009 - 28 answers

My old house's basement walls are deteriorating and need attention. But, I'm just not sure how to prep them and what to use to re-coat them. Also, should I be worried about moisture problems? See pictures here [more inside]
posted by Swede78 on Sep 9, 2009 - 9 answers

[Renovation DIY filter] I need to install window wells for my basement windows. Is a drain really necessary or can I get away just by filling it with gravel? [more inside]
posted by ddaavviidd on Sep 4, 2009 - 7 answers

I recently bought a house that's an duplex joined on both sides. The basement is a ~2 foot crawlspace (though one small area is ~4 feet). I would like to excavate it into a basement. How could this technically be accomplished?
posted by Napierzaza on Jun 4, 2009 - 15 answers

My basement smells like rotting fruit. What is causing it and, since I'm thinking it needs dehumidifying, any dehumidifier tips or recommendations? [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry on May 7, 2009 - 9 answers

Are there any flooring options for a concrete basement floor that occasionally gets moist from groundwater/high water table? If so, do I need to remove the paint on the floor first? [more inside]
posted by dayintoday on Dec 31, 2008 - 10 answers

Tell me about your pool table... [more inside]
posted by docpops on Nov 28, 2008 - 15 answers

Can anyone help identify this object in the basement of an a 10 unit multifamily building built in 1915. I have posted a link to a flickr account with pictures. [more inside]
posted by mihaca on Nov 28, 2008 - 6 answers

Need opinions on insulating a basement... [more inside]
posted by docpops on Nov 12, 2008 - 15 answers

I need to convert a double 30 amp breaker that feeds a 240V dryer outlet into a subpanel for several 120 lines... [more inside]
posted by docpops on Oct 26, 2008 - 9 answers

Seeping (almost weeping) water from the floor in my basement suites bathroom. How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by edmcbride on Oct 10, 2008 - 9 answers

What’s the best way to build a storage room in my basement? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff on Oct 7, 2008 - 7 answers

Help me think of mural ideas! [more inside]
posted by ian1977 on Sep 19, 2008 - 11 answers

I've put an offer on a 1924 house that has a refinished basement. The remodel was done by the homeowners, with no permits. My inspector found some mold on some wood and drywall. What now? [more inside]
posted by j on Sep 8, 2008 - 11 answers

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 by tickettrader 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 by flyingrock on Jul 15, 2008 - 13 answers

Should I fix my leaky basement from the inside or the outside? [more inside]
posted by Badmichelle on Jun 25, 2008 - 11 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 by theredpen on Apr 20, 2008 - 12 answers

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

Is my central heating system killing me slowly? [more inside]
posted by lxs 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 by crunchtopmuffin 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 by intermod 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 by designmartini on Dec 22, 2007 - 7 answers

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

Help me unravel the enigma of the "Mysterious Basement-floor Chalk Dust." [more inside]
posted by Gordion Knott 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 by suzeQ 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 by phearlez on Jul 30, 2007 - 16 answers

Soundproofing material: What is this stuff called, and where can I find it? [more inside]
posted by Minus215Cee 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 by Gordion Knott 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 by suzeQ on Jul 2, 2007 - 1 answer

What is this strange object attached to my basement floor? [more inside]
posted by fusinski 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 by gottabefunky 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 by toddst 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 by Xazeru on Mar 26, 2007 - 4 answers

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

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 by DrSkrud 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 by jellicle 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 by PercussivePaul on Aug 30, 2006 - 10 answers

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

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

Tree roots clogged our sewer pipe. What next? [more inside]
posted by medusa 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 by _sirmissalot_ on Mar 13, 2006 - 16 answers

Poor homeowner: What are my options for inexpensive carpeting? [more inside]
posted by bradn 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 by nebulawindphone 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 by gwenzel on Aug 18, 2005 - 2 answers

Any suggestions for drying out a flooded basement? [more inside]
posted by jpburns 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 by mecran01 on Jan 22, 2005 - 15 answers