Questions tagged [basement]

For questions generally relating to habitable spaces in a home below ground level, and to foundation types that include a space of this type.

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Identifying Vent in Unfinished Basement & General Bathroom Layout

I am looking to finish my basement and wanted to get validation on my vent tie-in locations. I believe I have correctly identified it in the photo (top right of photo). I believe the builders have it ...
Joe Faber's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
18k views

Connecting a sump pump to sewer

I'm attempting to install a new sump pump in my basement after having a few minor flooding incidents and addressing as much of the external causes as possible (gutters, etc). The pump is only used for ...
antiduh's user avatar
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Help! Is our contractor skimping on us on our basement foundation repair?

Our contractors just finished a job to completely redo one of our basement foundation wall, but we have some questions about the quality of the work. They assured us it was fine, but is it normal to: ...
Basement Reno's user avatar
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198 views

Should I treat my sill plate and rim joist before insulating?

Original 1943 construction with an unfinished full-height basement that I'm beginning the process of converting to habitable space. There are various signs of historical water damage on some of the ...
Peter Schilling's user avatar
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177 views

Well line cover is leaking in heavy rain. What is the likely fix?

My well line comes in at this point below. The water line itself is just the Pex but it’s wrapped in a PVC-like cover. There is water coming in from the PVC cover in heavy rain. It’s coming through ...
podcastfan88's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
119 views

Replacing a terracotta drain pipe underneath the floor

I started to trench to rough in a bathroom in the basement with 2" concrete floor and although the vertical stack is cast iron, underneath the basement floor I discovered the below the CI ...
ecco88's user avatar
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0 answers
2k views

Is it okay to use multi-cable staples/hangers on a running board for NM wiring?

As part of a basement project, I am trying to tidy up the previous homeowner's electrical work. One thing I have encountered is a number of NM cables run perpendicular to joists and stapled directly ...
susie derkins's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
104 views

cold air return using resilient channel

I'm using resilient channel on a metal stud wall for sound reduction. The cold air return is in a wall that is not panned. The plan was drywall would enclose the area making it tight with airflow ...
Steven Jennings's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
51 views

Adding Extra Insulation to Rim Joist

I'm just beginning a basement finishing project, so I expect this is my first of many posts. Right now I'm wondering about whether it would be worthwhile to add insulation to my rim joists. I live in ...
grin0048's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes
0 answers
65 views

Basement Wall - Proper wall material

I have one unfinished room in my basement which holds the furnace and hot water tank, and I use it as a workshop and gym. I have block foundation and the concrete walls have this foam board mounted to ...
keener_Ottawa's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
732 views

Should I install a subfloor if I'm putting LVP in my basement?

I live in an area with temperatures from -7°F to 118°F. I'd like to put Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) in my concrete basement, but I've heard conflicting reports on if I need a subfloor. Some assumptions: ...
Sawtaytoes's user avatar
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2k views

Are bends allowed in a toilet drain above the 4x3 reducer?

I am finishing my basement, which was roughed in by the builder, but I need to move the toilet, since I lost 8" of wall framing in front of the main sewer line, the vanity would be stupidly narrow, to ...
d3vd's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
155 views

Transitioning between foam insulation and foam board in basement

In our unfinished basement we had floor to ceiling blanket/roll insulation from the builder. Now that we are finishing it, in order to meet R20, we are removing the bulky blanket insulation and going ...
nspace's user avatar
  • 55
2 votes
0 answers
253 views

Suggestions For Waterproofing a Basement with Infrequent Seepage

After a particularly strong rainfall (every ~3 years), water seeps into my partially finished basement from small gaps in the intersection between the wall and floor. The amount of water is ...
Ben Osborne's user avatar
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0 answers
480 views

Has anyone painted a basement floor with an epoxy during winter with success?

I am getting ready to beane doo some black mastic off my floors. Next I plan on filling any holes (patching), after patching and muriatic acid, epoxy will come next. I have never used an epoxy paint ...
User Smith's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
4k views

What is required to enclose and finish my basement stairs?

I am finishing my basement, including enclosing the stairs: new treads, adding risers, drywalling in the sides. My question concerns structural requirements for the stairs. Photos below for ...
An Ex Parrot's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
270 views

Cracks in basement and garage floors

I'm I home owner and hope someone can help me because I've read so much conflicting information and don't know who else to turn to. I've called General Contractors who can't seem to fit me into a ...
Kim Bolton's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
847 views

Installing a sump pump to reduce relative air humidity

I have a damp basement. There are really no big water issues because the house sits on sloped terrain, it's just damp and musty. I've been running a de-humidifier, but that doesn't seem to be taking ...
Tyler's user avatar
  • 560
2 votes
0 answers
4k views

How to better seal and/or adjust a metal cellar door / bulkhead?

First of all, I am not exactly sure what the door is called. I have a metal outside door leading to steps into my basement. I have always just called it the basement/cellar door but it seems like ...
user1086516's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
2k views

Don't know where lever is to open top latch on steel cellar door

I recently took over my recently passed Grandmother's house and she has a furnace in the cellar. Of course, the furnace went out, so I need access to the cellar in order to fix it. I moved from out of ...
David's user avatar
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how do i plumb this rough-in?

The future bathroom in my basement has been roughed-in by the builder. Spot where the tub / shower goes was covered over by a square plastic tub (a "dap-out", if the spelling I see online is correct). ...
alt's user avatar
  • 1,817
2 votes
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Lowering the basement, water table 2 metre deep

My house is constructed on the side of a slope where the top of the slope is built the road. I'd like to dig out the basement which is not high enough to stand in mostly, and is just clay. As part ...
Graham Chiu's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
81 views

Insulating basement foundation walls with dryer vent?

I have a basement wall that was framed but never finished by the previous owner. I would like to complete it but want to be sure I’m doing things correctly. From what I can piece together I should be ...
NeedHelp's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
98 views

Basement moisture on foundation issues

After taking all sheet-rock down I noticed that all walls (cement block) siting under ground are moist. Some of them even ate through footers. After farther look at the house I found out that their is ...
Lukas718's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
27 views

Finished basement ceiling insulation advice/questions

Location: Chicago-land area Situation: Finished basement about 1500 sq ft Basement has a bathroom, washer/dryer, HVAC system, and water heater, and has heating registers down there to stabilize temp ...
David Capretto's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
55 views

Running NM cable in basement

I am finishing my basement. Is it alright to run cables across 2x4’s as shown in the picture. The top plate of the wall will run parallel to the joist and perpendicular to the cleats. The top plate ...
Gary's user avatar
  • 41
1 vote
0 answers
55 views

Found red brick powder near the floor in the basement after a few months -- is this dangerous?

https://imgur.com/a/Dyiorst See album link above for pictures. Seems like my basement bricks are disintegrating. I see red powder near the walls and the bricks of the basement seem flaky. When I ...
user3133806's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
33 views

Do I need an ejector pump or sump pump?

I currently have two different pits in my basement. One is a true sump pump that pumps out ground water. I just replaced this one and it works fine. The other pit has a sealed cover and is vented up ...
Nick's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
1 answer
116 views

Framing lally column inside partition wall

I'm finishing a room in my basement and want to frame a partition wall underneath the support beam. I've looked at the threads below to confirm that it is OK to frame a partition wall underneath the ...
JackOTrade's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
52 views

Why is there a hole to nowhere bored in my foundation? Better to seal it or leave it be?

Continuation of Air exchanger stale exhaust too restrictive? Some other issue? where I had incorrectly identified this bizarre vent as my passive air exchanger's stale air outlet: I finally opened ...
msanford's user avatar
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1 vote
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Kitchen floor is sloping

I am a first time home owner, hoping maybe people can give some advice. I have a 120+ year old home. I noticed a slope in my kitchen floor. I got an inspection done (from a generalist not a structural ...
AlexNeedsHelp's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
174 views

How to properly finish basement walls with an indoor waterproofing membrane?

The house I moved into has an ~1800 sq. ft. unfinished basement which has been waterproofed on the inside, halfway up the walls all around it, taped to insulation put on the upper half like this: I ...
ACanadianCoder's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
81 views

Refinishing old cement basement floor: Is cement skim coat an option?

our basement floor is very old and in poor condition. What are good options to refinish the floor? Is it possible to skim coat with cement and then paint or is the condition of the current floor not ...
user2503795's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
120 views

Questions on structural eng drawing for egress window

I am installing an egress window in my basement to make it a legal bedroom. I am going to be doing most of the work myself (outside of cutting the concrete) but doing it by the book (permits, ...
Timmy Beatty's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
360 views

Waterproofing between foundation and basement walkout door stairs

We have a below-grade basement with a walkout door. In between the concrete stairs and the foundation floor there is a tiny gap (see 1st picture below). During extended heavy rain, ground water would ...
P. B.'s user avatar
  • 268
1 vote
0 answers
69 views

Can I move electrical wires in this chase?

I am opening up this stairway wall and trying to minimize the width of the boxed post at the end. Can I drill a hole in the stud that the electrical box is mounted to and run the wires through and up ...
crichavin's user avatar
  • 243
1 vote
0 answers
82 views

How to waterproof walk out basement

My mother's house is built on top of a hill that drops off at the rear. The front half of house is over a tall crawl space, the back half is an 8' high finished walk out basement with drywall and has ...
EmmaSurf's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
119 views

Can you glue rigid foam board to sill plate?

I was looking for rigid foam to cover my entire 9 ft basement foundation wall and noticed that only 8 foot rigid foam boards were in stock locally. It is 9 feet from the bottom of my ceiling joist to ...
JustDoIt's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
95 views

Should I insulate the basement ceiling in a multi family dwelling?

I have a three-unit apartment building in Illinois. It has one upstairs apartment and two downstairs apartments. They're all heated with baseboard heating. The two downstairs tenants are complaining ...
Brock Neill's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
196 views

Can rockwool batting be used in termite heavy area under interior face of foundation wall in ground contact?

I have a gap in my below-grade cellar ceiling and the interior face of my exterior foundation brick wall that I want to seal up. I'm thinking of stuffing it with some Rockwool batting. It was an ...
MonkeyBonkey's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
250 views

Red and orange streaks leaking down my concrete basement wall, and is this a major concern?

I discovered a large number of streaks running down the interior of my basement foundation wall in a storage closet. It looks like mildew or perhaps iron ochre. The wall abuts a patio with paver ...
Todd's user avatar
  • 305
1 vote
0 answers
75 views

Is this roughed in basement sewer pipe in the right location?

My basement is unfinished but the sewer drains were roughed-in and I have some blueprints of possible layouts when I bought the house (from the previous homeowner not the builder). The roughed-in ...
Lithium's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
0 answers
441 views

can use 1 5/8 25ga metal studs to hang 5/8 drywall

I came across free 1 5/8 metal studs 25ga. Can I frame out my basement using them and attach 5/8 inch lightweight drywall to them. The ceiling height is from 7-9 feet and some of the walls will end ...
pehaada's user avatar
  • 55
1 vote
0 answers
262 views

Protect or re-route electric cabling crossing main beam in unfinished basement?

I am doing some work in the basement of my 100 year old house to improve usability and reduce heating bills. In the process, I'm going to remove some abandoned wiring, and clean up some of the work ...
LShaver's user avatar
  • 1,306
1 vote
0 answers
388 views

Wiring a circuit that goes from a switch to a light to a split dual receptacle to a light to an outlet

I'm pretty new to DIY stuff, and while I've changed light fixtures and switches a few times, my electrical knowledge is a little more limited when it comes to the more complicated stuff. A friend was ...
utopologist's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
169 views

Does this basement HVAC register/vent plan make sense?

Located in Ontario Canada, so winter tend to be cold and summer mild. We are finishing basement, the finished area is about 900 square feet. We have came up with the following locations and numbers ...
user1943292's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
128 views

Basement humidity 80-90% with unsealed concrete foundation, how can wood moisture be OK?

In summer our home in west Massachusetts has a humidity level of 80--90% for months, which according to what I read can be a serious problem. However, my pinless moisture meter measures the wood beams ...
P. B.'s user avatar
  • 268
1 vote
0 answers
73 views

Newbie questions on framing exterior basement walls

I'm looking into doing some finishing work on my basement, which is entirely unfinished at this time with the exception of some shelving. House is circa 2008 built in Western NY (Zone 5). Foundation ...
Andy Hall's user avatar
  • 237
1 vote
0 answers
92 views

Bathroom removal?

We are selling our home and just received our municipal inspection results. They are asking us to remove our full bathroom in the basement because it "no longer" meets minimum height ...
Jason B's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
78 views

Two metal I Beams are not spliced

We viewed a home that had steel I Beams. 2 of them were end to end over a support beam but were not spliced, they were only attached to the top of the pillar via 2 bolts per beam. Very similar to this ...
bgura's user avatar
  • 171

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