Basement Remodeling

February 12, 2013

Basement Remodeling by Advanced Renovations, Inc Columbus Ohio

Filed under: Basement,Basement bars,Uncategorized,basement ideas,basement remodeling,finished basements — Basements @ 9:24 pm

I am the owner of Advanced Renovations, Inc. Our basement remodeling service is currently serving the Columbus Ohio area.  Mainly Dublin, powell, Lewis Center, New Albany, Westerville, Worthington but are expanding those areas rapidly.  This  blog on basement remodeling is to help home owners with tips on finishing thier basements, give updates on current methods and materials, and to show off some of the current projects we are working on.  If you are thinking of basement remodeling maybe you will be able to learn tips, tricks, or ways to save money when completing your project.  If your in our area and want basement remodeling done check out our website www.aribuilding.com/basement and see photos from basement jobs we’ve done.  Give us a call.  we would love to help you with your new basement.

Thanks

Advanced Renovations, Inc.

Wet BarHome TheaterMedia Center

February 11, 2013

Finish basement design ideas.

Filed under: Basement remodeling design and planning,Uncategorized,basement ideas,basement remodeling images — Basements @ 8:14 pm

Basements can sometime be plain and boring. You want an idea for an inexpensive way to upgrade your basement living space? Add Old World charm and the warmth of wood to any room with wainscoting. It also gives the walls a nice texture and breaks up large open walls. It’s a project you can do by yourself in a couple days you just need are a few basic tools. Most home improvement stores even sell kits with the base, chair rail and the paneling that makes it an easy process. You can always hire a contractor to do it if your willing to spend a bit more.

Finished basement by Advanced Renovations Inc

Finished basement by Advanced Renovations Inc

More great finished basement ideas

December 30, 2012

For Great Basement remodeling ideas try google images or a basement remodeling book

Filed under: Basement,Basement remodeling design and planning,Basement remodeling pictures,Uncategorized,basement bathrooms & accessories,basement ideas,basement remodeling,basement remodeling images,finished basements — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Basements @ 2:45 am

If you are getting ready to finish your basement ? check out google images for ideas but try this basement remodeling book for all your answers.

basement remodeling home theater dublin ohio

Copyright: Advanced Renovations Inc.

They are both a great place to find ideas for finishing your basement.  If the project is a ” Do it yourself ” remodeling job or your hiring a contractor you should really check out the following book:

” Basement Ideas That Work“

I recommend it to customers who are still looking for ideas and its a must have for anyone who is planning on finishing a basement on their own.

This book has all types of tips, tricks, plans and more about finishing a basement

Otherwise you need to hire a basement contractor or design expert to guide you through the process.

Whether its google images or the book you will be able to see what some of the latest trends in basement remodeling are along with samples of home theaters, bathrooms, wet bars, playrooms, fitness areas, built ins, basement flooring, basement remodeling plans and much more. You can find other basement remodeling books On Amazon.

Both are helpful tools for creating the layout of your space because you can see ideas that have  worked for others. Helping you choose style, colors, textures and much more.

If you need a basement remodeling contractor in Columbus Ohio and surrounding areas contact us.

Thanks.

December 4, 2012

Your basement and the dangers of radon

Filed under: Basement,Plumbing Fixtures,Radon in your Basement,basement ideas — Basements @ 11:49 am

Basements and the hidden danger of Radon

More and more people are turning towards finished basements especially now with the slow housing market. It’s a very cost effective way to take advantage of the extra space in your home. However there are some precautions you need to take when finishing a basement. Number one is Check for RADON. You cannot see, smell or taste it, but it could be lurking in your home.Most people don’t think at all about the danger of radon in their home. Radon is a radioactive cancer-causing gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Surgeon General’s office have estimated that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If your home has high radon levels, you’re at risk for developing lung cancer. There are scientific studies of radon exposure that indicate that children may be more sensitive to radon. Do you really want to expose your family or your children to this toxic hazard? You shouldn’t, it’s not worth the risk.

Testing is the only real way to know if your home has a radon problem. There are many different test kits that can be purchased online. If your homes radon levels are high there are many ways that you can fix it yourself fairly inexpensively. Here are some of the recommended test kits:

First Alert RD1 Radon Gas Test Kit
 by First Alert

Professional Radon Gas Dual Canister Test Kit
by Accustar Lab

You can also purchase a radon gas detector
Safety Siren Pro Series 3 Radon Gas Detector # HS71512
by Pro Series

RADON CAN GET IN THROUGH:
Cracks in concrete floors
Crawl spaces cracks in walls
Sumpump opening  gaps around service pipes
Cavities inside walls
Even the water supply

Radon is a national and global problem. The EPA estimates it in millions of home nationwide. Elevated radon level have been discovered in every state in the US. Check your state and see the results.

For more information visit the EPA or the following links

EPA Radon Publications for Homeowners:

Consumers guide to radon

A citizens guide to radon

Health Risks

Is radon where you live

Source: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/

April 26, 2012

Basement Waterproofing and Your Home: What You Need to Know

Filed under: Basement Waterproofing — Basements @ 10:31 am

Have you given much thought to basement waterproofing in your home?

Because water is capable of wreaking so much havoc on your property, you want to make sure you do everything within your power to protect against water damage and keep it from being the kind of headache that thousands of homeowners experience.

But just what can you do in order to protect your home?

Let’s take a look at some of the methods you can practice and you’ll see just how beneficial basement waterproofing is to your home in the long run.

Looking for Problem Areas

A close inspection of your home’s foundation will often expose the faults that can eventually lead to water damage, so you will want to begin your search there.

When looking, you will want to keep an eye out for issues like:

  • Surface cracks – This telling sign signifies not only a possible problem with water, but a potentially weak structural integrity as well.

Given enough time, cracks grow longer and deeper, making them that much more of an issue. When you notice one, it pays to act on having it fixed as soon as possible.

  • Leaks – Leaking is another sign that something is wrong. You could notice dripping water, stains, or wet spots, but each of these signifies a leak somewhere.

The problem often becomes apparent during rain storms, but if you notice a leak at times when it isn’t raining, then the problem could be something like a broken pipe.

  • Musty Odor – Water damage related problems can also lead to mold growth, which makes itself known thanks to its distinct, pungent odor.

While mold can often be easily found, it’s no so easily cleaned up by the average homeowner. Because it presents a health risk and can spread so easily, you may want to turn to professional help to get rid of mold.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Property

When it comes to protection of your home’s foundation and keeping your property safe, there are a number of measures that you can take in the name of basement waterproofing

  • Have cracks sealed – As stated, cracks are a serious problem, but they can be sealed so that that won’t have the chance to expand and make a bad problem worse.

No matter how minor a crack might seem, have it sealed as early as possible.

  • Have mold taken care of – Mold can threaten your respiratory health and deteriorate surfaces on which it grows, so you want to make sure it gets remediated before it has a chance to spread throughout your home and create a much longer list of issues.
  • Protect yourself against excess water build up – Some water damage comes from excessive flooding, but that can remedied with a functioning sump pump in your basement.

Put one in place in your basement and you’ll be well protected against pooled water should the situation arise.

Protecting your home through the above basement waterproofing methods can go a long way toward giving you peace of mind and ensuring that you aren’t caught off guard by anything that might come your way in the future.

Of course, these are just methods that protect your home from the inside.

If you want to protect your exteriors, then that can be done through roofing and siding services as well as window replacement services that can make sure the outside of your home is sealed and the elements aren’t able to get in.

February 25, 2010

Choosing a basement remodeling contractor

Filed under: Uncategorized — Basements @ 11:19 pm
Finsihed basement job

Copyright: Advanced Renovations Inc

Finding a trustworthy, reliable, quality contractor to finish you basement can be difficult. After all finishing a basement is  a big job and you want a contractor that has a lot of experience dealing with basement remodeling. There are a few things to consider when hiring your basement contractor.

Here are some basic questions to ask the basement contractor:

How long have you been in business?

Do you have liability insurance and workers compensation coverage on your employees?

Will you provide the proper building permits?

Will you assist with basement designs and create custom drawings for the job?

Does your pricing include all labor and materials for the project?

What is the standard warranty period?

How long will it take to complete the project?

Will I be provided a project manager or who will be the available for communication of any issues?

Do you have any references and jobs we can go visit? ( This one is very important )

Everyone always says “You need to check references”. I find that most people don’t. I’m not sure if they if they just don’t want to bother people on the reference list or if they are nervous to talk to strangers. Who knows. The one thing I do know is that if you don’t talk to people that have had work done by the contractor you are considering using then you are not getting the full story on what to expect. Take the time to call those references and pick the most recent ones if possible. Ask the contractors previous clients:

Did they do a  good job?

Did they keep within the budgeted estimate?

Was it a high quality finished product?

Did you get everything you expected?

Did they finish the project on time?

Did they keep the jobsite as clean as possible? ( They should be treating your home like their own )

Were their workers and subcontractors friendly and polite? ( They should treat your family with kindness and respect )

Would you use them again?

and last

Can I come to see the finished basement job?

Some people will not want a stranger coming into their home to see their basement. My experience is if the homeowners are happy with the quality and they like the contractor they used they will be more than happy to have you over to see the finished project.

These tips should help you narrow you search down to a few good contractors. Good luck.

For more information on basement remodeling visit BasementSource.com

February 24, 2010

Basement bars

Filed under: Appliances,Basement bars,Basement remodeling design and planning,Cabinets,Ceramic Tile,basement remodeling costs,basement remodeling images — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Basements @ 10:00 pm

The top three items people want when remodeling their basement. Home theaters, bathrooms and bars. A basement bar adds a nice touch to a finished basement. It can make a simple snack area for your home theater or an exciting place to entertain friends and hang out to watch a football game on the big screen. Whatever it is you need, it can be done. The biggest factor when creating a basement bar is budget. By time you add cabinets, countertops, tile, appliances, etc the cost can add up very quickly. You need to figure out what the primary use of the bar will be and try to set your budget accordingly.

A simple basement bar could be made up with several different cabinets choices for the floor and the wall cabinets. You could use a midrange quality cabinet with a laminate top. You can use an inexpensive sink and faucet to make it a wet bar. Depending on budget you can add a tile floor or backsplash.  If that’s not in the budget just paint the drywall behind the bar and carpet up to the cabinets. You can always add the tile work later down the road. The average cost of a simple basement bar would be around $2,500-$4,500 depending on your selections and feature

Basement bar

Basement bar with undercabinet lights, a mini frige and wine fridge but no sink

Simple basement bar
Bar with mini fridge, wine fridge, and sink

An custom bar would usually consist of higher end cabinets, granite countertops and be slightly larger or have an actual wrap around bar for seating. The cabinet choices for this type of bar would vary greatly. You could also dress up the cabinets with different types of decorative moldings. This would be the type of bar for entertaining guests at a party. You would basically have all the features of your kitchen. This bar would not only have a sink and faucet but it would have a disposal, dishwasher, refrigerator, wine fridge, microwave and more. You would complete the bar with floor tile and an interesting tile backsplash accent complete with under cabinet lighting to highlight the features in your design. You could have different levels to the bar or add pendant lighting above. You could build in flat screen TV’s or fish tanks in the wall. There is many different ways you can make your bar stand out above the rest. the average cost of a custom basement bar will start around $5,000 and go up from there. For more information on basement remodeling visit BasementSource.com

Custom basement bar

Basement bar with full fridge, microwave, wine rack, undercabinet lights, tile backsplash, and more

Finish your basement with less dust and save your furnace

Filed under: Basement remodeling design and planning,HVAC (Heating & Cooling),Products and Supplies,basement ideas — Tags: , , , , — Basements @ 7:13 pm

When finishing a basement there is going to be dust spread throughout the house. It travels through the air and in the vents and on the shoes of the workers coming in and out of the basement. It comes mainly from rough framing, concrete demolition, installing insulation, drywall, interior trim and painting. There are ways you can help control the levels of dust in your home during the project.

Keep the dust down

Make sure that you or your basement contractor take these steps before starting the remodeling work.

Move all personal belongings out of the basement. If there is no room and they have to stay in the basement move them into an area that is not being finished and cover them well with plastic. It’s also good to hang plastic over the crawl space openings and Install a wall of plastic around the mechanicals area (furnace, hot water tank, etc.). Make sure when you do this that you leave enough room for the furnace and other gas appliances to breath. Stay at least 4 ft away from all of the mechanicals. You can also buy a system called a    ZipWall   that makes it easy to block off areas from dust.

Make sure the door at the top of the stairs is always kept closed when not in use. Open a basement window and place a fan in the window blowing out. This will create a vacuum in the room and blow a majority of the dust outside. Then when the door on the upstairs is opened the dust in the air will be drawn down and out the fan in the basement window instead of upstairs.

When installing the return air lines in the basement make sure you stuff a towel into the opening or tape them off with duct tape. Otherwise your sending all that dust and debris straight into the furnace and throughout your home. Make sure to remove the towel or tape when the basement remodeling is complete then you can install the return air grills

Change your furnace filter several times throughout the project. It is best to change the filter once after the drywall is done, after the painting and after carpet and your final cleaning. This will help cut down on dust in the upstairs and save your furnace. When all that dust gets into the furnace it gets into the blower motor and burns it up.

And finally when your basement is done hire a professional duct cleaning company. They will come and vacuum out the all the construction dust in the air supply and return lines in your furnace. Otherwise you might be seeing dust in your house for the next several months after the project is completed.

January 25, 2010

Egress Windows

Filed under: Basement,Basement remodeling design and planning,Egress Windows,Fire protection & Safety,Uncategorized,basement ideas,basement remodeling images — Tags: , , , , , , — Basements @ 9:38 pm

Are you considering basement remodeling? You should be aware of your local building codes egress requirements. Most municipalities are now requiring emergency exit from the basement and proper emergency entry by firemen and rescue workers in the event of a basement fire. Installing a Egress Window not only allow natural light into your basement but more importantly it will provide a safety escape for you and your family and meet your local basement egress window requirements. The best installation option is to choose a contractor that is familiar with the local codes to be sure you are meeting the requirements. The following information should give you a general idea of the requirements.
  

Building Planning Codes
IRC Code Section R310
  


R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue required. Basements and every sleeping room shall have at least one operable emergency and rescue opening. Such opening shall open directly into a public street, public alley, yard or court. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency egress and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Where emergency escape and rescue openings are provided they shall have a sill height of not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor. Where a door opening having a threshold below the adjacent ground elevation serves as an emergency escape and rescue opening and is provided with a bulkhead enclosure, the bulkhead enclosure shall comply with Section R310.3. The net clear opening dimensions required by this section shall be obtained by the normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening from the inside. Emergency escape and rescue openings with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground elevation shall be provided with a window well in accordance with Section R310.2. Emergency escape 52 2006 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE® and rescue openings shall open directly into a public way, or to a yard or court that opens to a public way.
  

  

Exception: The ladder or steps required by SectionR310.2.1 shall be permitted to encroach a maximum of 6 inches (152 mm) into the required dimensions of the window well.
  

R310.2.1 Ladder and steps. Window wells with a vertical depth greater than 44 inches (1118 mm) shall be equipped with a permanently affixed ladder or steps usable with the window in the fully open position. Ladders or steps required by this section shall not be required to comply with Sections R311.5 and R311.6. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width of at least 12 inches (305 mm), shall project at least 3 inches (76 mm) from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18 inches (457 mm) on center vertically for the full height of the window well.
  

R310.3 Bulkhead enclosures. Bulkhead enclosures shall provide direct access to the basement. The bulkhead enclosure with the door panels in the fully open position shall provide the minimum net clear opening required by Section R310.1.1. Bulkhead enclosures shall also comply with Section R311.5.8.2.
  

R310.4 Bars, grilles, covers and screens. Bars, grilles, covers, screens or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings, bulkhead enclosures, or window wells that serve such openings, provided the minimum net clear opening size complies with Exception: Basements used only to house mechanical equipment and not exceeding total floor area of 200 square feet (18.58 m2).
  

R310.1.1 Minimum opening area. All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.530 m2).
  

Exception: Grade floor openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5 square feet (0.465 m2).
  

R310.1.2 Minimum opening height. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches (610 mm).
  

R310.1.3 Minimum opening width. The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches (508 mm).
  

R310.1.4 Operational constraints. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge.
  

R310.2 Window wells. The minimum horizontal area of the window well shall be 9 square feet (0.9 m2), with a minimum horizontal projection and width of 36 inches (914 mm). The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened.
  

Sections R310.1.1 to R310.1.3, and such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool, special knowledge or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening.
  

R310.5 Emergency escape windows under decks and porches. Emergency escape windows are allowed to be installed under decks and porches provided the location of the deck allows the emergency escape window to be fully opened and provides a path not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in height to a yard or court.  

** Always be sure to check your local building department to make sure you meet the local requirements**




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January 3, 2010

Your sump pumps best friend, the battery backup

Filed under: Back Up sum pump,Plumbing Fixtures,Products and Supplies,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — Basements @ 10:15 pm

One of the most important things you can do before you finish your basement is to ensure you have a quality sump pump and backup system.
Every year I get calls from homeowners who’s basements have flooded due to power outages or failed sump pumps. I recommend backup systems in every basement I finish. If only the contractor that finished their basement would have recommended or installed a backup sump pump system they could have saved thousands of dollars in repairs, insurance premiums, not to mention the headaches of refinishing their basements. If your remodeling your basement spend the extra $500-$1,000 to install the proper backup equipment. Most water backup insurance deductibles are $1,000 and if you have a problem you’ll spend that anyway. At least this will save you the hassle and headache of tearing out the carpet, trim, drywall, insulation and re doing it all.
There are many things that can go wrong down with a sump pump that can cause basement flooding. It can be a power outage, a failed sump pump, a stuck float switch or a sump pump that cannot keep up with the inflow of water. Most builder use the cheapest pump they can find during construction and usually the sump pit is littered with debris by the end of the job. that sump pump has been pumping out mud, sawdust, trash, or anything else that falls in the pit. By using a battery backup sump pump your basement should remain dry during almost any occurrence.

So here are my recommendations.
1. Change out your existing pump with a high quality pump like the Zoeller M53 Automatic Mighty Mate 1/3 hp Sump Pump

2. Buy a battery backup system to install or have your contractor do it. The two I recommend are the following:
Standard- Glentronic’s Bw4000 Combination Primary and Back-up Sump Pump System
Best- SUMPRO Gold Complete Battery Back-up System w/ 2 Batteries (5000 GPH) – SPD- SUMPROGOLDKIT
(Most systems require you buy the batteries separate but you normally get the best deal from a local dealer like interstate batteries or an auto part store.)

3. Always, Always, Always have you battery backup system installed on a seperate breaker from your existing sump pump. If for some reason one of the breakers trips the other one should still function.

4. Normally the batteries only last for about 4 years so keep track of when you installed it and when its due for replacement. 

Always use a backup sump pump in your finished basement

Always use a backup sump pump in your finished basement

Author: David Michael

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