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Cheap? Shims and plywood would probably work. It certainly wouldn't be permanent. Anything permanent is going to take some time and materials. Perhaps just get a chair without wheels?

Where do you live? If the plan is to use the space as living space, most code will require a minimum ceiling height. That's usually 7'. So you either have to accept that you can only use a portion of …

As long as the concrete and some time after pouring to set up, water won't hurt anything (they make swimming pools out of concrete). Granted, you'll want it all pumped out and dried out before framing …

As DMoore points out, it appears there's some structural issues--namely the vapor barrier. I'd bring in an inspector if you can after a rain period and see if they can narrow down where the leaks ma …

You likely don't. Instead, you'd tear out your deck/patio, dig a new hole, pour a new foundation, then build a new structure on top. You can retrofit houses with basements by lifting the entire house …

Musty smells are a sign of moisture. It may be simple enough to run a dehumidifier, or complex enough that you need to start tearing down the wall sto see what's behind them. A lot of basements were …

More stuff doesn't always mean better. Sometimes it means more expensive, or sometimes it means overcompensating for other weaknesses in the structure. Or sometimes it means old contractors who just d …

The main air quality issue in your basement will likely be mildew/mold. That will depend on your climate (is it humid?) and the quality and type of finishing that was done in the basement. … Having heat in the basement is good too, as the warmer air will eventually rise through the house pulling in newer air into the basement space. …

That will just bring more humid air into the basement. I'd start with a de-humidifier. Mold issues could also be a sign of water issues more than anything. …

Here's my preferred basement wall construction method: Should I use steel or wood studs for basement exterior walls? You live in NY, so I'm guessing your winters aren't the warmest. … It's recommended to use a continuous insulation model to a value of r-10: http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/irc-faqs/irc-faq-basement-insulation To get to r-10 will take a few …

You need to see if you can first remove the dirt. The depth of the footers will determine that. If you can remove dirt, you'd want to remove enough dirt so that you can put down a gravel base, compact …

Humidity levels between 40-50% are what most people prefer in a house. So, I'd say that setting is fine. If you live in a humid region, you may want to keep the dehumidifier running down there all the …

Here's how I prefer to frame and insulate basement walls: Should I use steel or wood studs for basement exterior walls? … The research comes from Building Sciences Corporation which has focused on cold climate basement insulation. …

Read this answer I provided here (this question is likely a duplicate of it): Should I use steel or wood studs for basement exterior walls? … I chose the latter after doing a lot of research (see above link) that states that vapor barriers are probably a bad thing in a basement. …

Typically, the code for a basement bedroom is that you need two exits. But since it's not a bedroom, I don't think you have even that issue. You are probably good to go. …