Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

By: Groogs

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

To do the basement sub-floor, I’m using a product called Delta-FL, which I picked up at Rona. It’s basically a big roll of dimpled plastic, which sits on top of the basement slab and acts as a vapour barrier, adds an air gap that helps insulate the floor, and also raises the floor up off the ground to avoid water damage in case there is a tiny amount of water. On top of this, I’m putting 5/8? OSB, and then using tap-cons to secure the OSB to the floor. Although you can put some flooring (eg, laminate) directly on top of the Delta-FL, I was a bit worried about doing that since there are a couple places that aren’t totally level – the OSB lets me even them out and get very close to perfectly level.

Once very nice thing about this flooring system is the minimal height it requires. Since my basement is a bit short (7′ 3? unfinished floor to joists, 6′ 6? unfinished floor to heating ducts), I wanted to keep as much of that as possible. The total height is just over 1?, so it really isn’t bad.

I have a 12? piece of vapour barrier plastic underneath all the exterior framed walls. I called the manufacturer of Delta-FL to check what the best way of dealing with that was, and they advised me to tape the barrier directly to the Delta-FL, forming basically a complete seal around the walls. I used tuck tape to do this, and tape all the pieces together. I had to cut a couple holes out to fit the floor drain, toilet drain, and a jack post in the middle of the basement.

I worked in sections, putting a couple strips of Delta-FL down, and then laying the OSB on top of it, and connecting the grooves up. Once I had a couple pieces of OSB down, I would take some tap-cons and secure down the first row – I found it was much harder to get the tongue and groves of the OSB to connect up, if one of the pieces was already screwed down. I left 1/8? gap between all the pieces of OSB, and the exterior framing. I was also careful to stagger all the sheets of OSB, so all of the ends are offset, forming stronger joints.

For the floor drain, I just made some careful measurements and then used my jigsaw to cut out a hole.

The toilet drain happened to line up with the edge of a piece of OSB, which made cutting the hole much easier. As you can see above, I also made sure the jack post was on an edge, so I only had to cut a U shape out of one piece – the other just butts up against the edge.

Though I don’t plan on doing anything with the crawlspace floor, I did put the sub-floor into the door opening, to make it easier to put the door on, as well as to hide the edge of the floor from the finished basement.

Today it is -10° Celsius out, and the surface temperature of the unfinished floor in the crawlspace is 9°, while the surface temperature of the OSB is 14°. The basement walls are still uninsulated, so this may not be overly conclusive, but it does show that it makes a difference.

Update: My girlfriend says “the basement floor feels much warmer now”. I guess that’s conclusive.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 7th, 2008 at 5:22 pm and is filed under Renovation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

View the original article here

By: Kris

Friday, November 5th, 2010

To do the basement sub-floor, I’m using a product called Delta-FL, which I picked up at Rona. It’s basically a big roll of dimpled plastic, which sits on top of the basement slab and acts as a vapour barrier, adds an air gap that helps insulate the floor, and also raises the floor up off the ground to avoid water damage in case there is a tiny amount of water. On top of this, I’m putting 5/8? OSB, and then using tap-cons to secure the OSB to the floor. Although you can put some flooring (eg, laminate) directly on top of the Delta-FL, I was a bit worried about doing that since there are a couple places that aren’t totally level – the OSB lets me even them out and get very close to perfectly level.

Once very nice thing about this flooring system is the minimal height it requires. Since my basement is a bit short (7′ 3? unfinished floor to joists, 6′ 6? unfinished floor to heating ducts), I wanted to keep as much of that as possible. The total height is just over 1?, so it really isn’t bad.

I have a 12? piece of vapour barrier plastic underneath all the exterior framed walls. I called the manufacturer of Delta-FL to check what the best way of dealing with that was, and they advised me to tape the barrier directly to the Delta-FL, forming basically a complete seal around the walls. I used tuck tape to do this, and tape all the pieces together. I had to cut a couple holes out to fit the floor drain, toilet drain, and a jack post in the middle of the basement.

I worked in sections, putting a couple strips of Delta-FL down, and then laying the OSB on top of it, and connecting the grooves up. Once I had a couple pieces of OSB down, I would take some tap-cons and secure down the first row – I found it was much harder to get the tongue and groves of the OSB to connect up, if one of the pieces was already screwed down. I left 1/8? gap between all the pieces of OSB, and the exterior framing. I was also careful to stagger all the sheets of OSB, so all of the ends are offset, forming stronger joints.

For the floor drain, I just made some careful measurements and then used my jigsaw to cut out a hole.

The toilet drain happened to line up with the edge of a piece of OSB, which made cutting the hole much easier. As you can see above, I also made sure the jack post was on an edge, so I only had to cut a U shape out of one piece – the other just butts up against the edge.

Though I don’t plan on doing anything with the crawlspace floor, I did put the sub-floor into the door opening, to make it easier to put the door on, as well as to hide the edge of the floor from the finished basement.

Today it is -10° Celsius out, and the surface temperature of the unfinished floor in the crawlspace is 9°, while the surface temperature of the OSB is 14°. The basement walls are still uninsulated, so this may not be overly conclusive, but it does show that it makes a difference.

Update: My girlfriend says “the basement floor feels much warmer now”. I guess that’s conclusive.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 7th, 2008 at 5:22 pm and is filed under Renovation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

View the original article here

By: Chris S

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

To do the basement sub-floor, I’m using a product called Delta-FL, which I picked up at Rona. It’s basically a big roll of dimpled plastic, which sits on top of the basement slab and acts as a vapour barrier, adds an air gap that helps insulate the floor, and also raises the floor up off the ground to avoid water damage in case there is a tiny amount of water. On top of this, I’m putting 5/8? OSB, and then using tap-cons to secure the OSB to the floor. Although you can put some flooring (eg, laminate) directly on top of the Delta-FL, I was a bit worried about doing that since there are a couple places that aren’t totally level – the OSB lets me even them out and get very close to perfectly level.

Once very nice thing about this flooring system is the minimal height it requires. Since my basement is a bit short (7′ 3? unfinished floor to joists, 6′ 6? unfinished floor to heating ducts), I wanted to keep as much of that as possible. The total height is just over 1?, so it really isn’t bad.

I have a 12? piece of vapour barrier plastic underneath all the exterior framed walls. I called the manufacturer of Delta-FL to check what the best way of dealing with that was, and they advised me to tape the barrier directly to the Delta-FL, forming basically a complete seal around the walls. I used tuck tape to do this, and tape all the pieces together. I had to cut a couple holes out to fit the floor drain, toilet drain, and a jack post in the middle of the basement.

I worked in sections, putting a couple strips of Delta-FL down, and then laying the OSB on top of it, and connecting the grooves up. Once I had a couple pieces of OSB down, I would take some tap-cons and secure down the first row – I found it was much harder to get the tongue and groves of the OSB to connect up, if one of the pieces was already screwed down. I left 1/8? gap between all the pieces of OSB, and the exterior framing. I was also careful to stagger all the sheets of OSB, so all of the ends are offset, forming stronger joints.

For the floor drain, I just made some careful measurements and then used my jigsaw to cut out a hole.

The toilet drain happened to line up with the edge of a piece of OSB, which made cutting the hole much easier. As you can see above, I also made sure the jack post was on an edge, so I only had to cut a U shape out of one piece – the other just butts up against the edge.

Though I don’t plan on doing anything with the crawlspace floor, I did put the sub-floor into the door opening, to make it easier to put the door on, as well as to hide the edge of the floor from the finished basement.

Today it is -10° Celsius out, and the surface temperature of the unfinished floor in the crawlspace is 9°, while the surface temperature of the OSB is 14°. The basement walls are still uninsulated, so this may not be overly conclusive, but it does show that it makes a difference.

Update: My girlfriend says “the basement floor feels much warmer now”. I guess that’s conclusive.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 7th, 2008 at 5:22 pm and is filed under Renovation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

View the original article here

Homemade Frozen Desserts

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

Authored by: Paul Marek of http://www.remodelingmyspace.com/

As the hot summer months take their toll, what better way to cool down than with your favorite flavor of ice cream? Or better yet, homemade ice cream? Why not try the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker with Extra Freezer Bowl available on the Williams-Sonoma website, and able to make ice cream in as little as 20 minutes.

ice cream maker

This nifty kitchen gadget is simple to use, just add the ingredients and flip the power switch. It also has extra space for your favorite add-in, like nuts or candy, and can make sorbet or frozen yogurt as well as ice cream.

The extra freezer bowl comes in useful if you want to make two consecutive batches of ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt. This ice cream maker produces 1 ½ quarts of dessert, and is exclusive to Williams-Sonoma.

A modern kitchen gadget which is perfect for the summer, this item is available in red or white at just $59.95.

View the original article here

DIY Bedroom

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Authored by: Paul Marek of http://www.remodelingmyspace.com
Link to YouTube Video: Bedroom Decorating Tips

When decorating a room, either from scratch or to change what you already have, it helps to have an idea of the big picture in mind. Another way to come up with idea about how you want the room to looks is by taking inspiration from an object already in the room, such as an area rug or the color of the sheet.

If you are still uncertain how you want the room to look, get some inspiration from decorating magazines. If you tear out the pictures you like and keep them in an idea book, you will eventually find a pattern to the pictures you have selected, and will be better able to decided how to style the room. In this video from www.upholsterystudio.com, we are given some quick tips on how to personalize a bedroom.

A girl’s bedroom design tip stems from the pink sheet already in the room. To complement these sheet, the walls can either be painted pink, green or cream. If you look at a color wheel, an essential tool for any house decoration projects, you will see that these three colors all complement the color pink.

Another bedroom design tip to made rooms more personal is to use a decorative techniqwue on pillows, or create your own artwork. In this video we are show a piece of art created from a shower curtain and a pink frame.

View the original article here

Basting With the Best

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Authored by: Paul Marek of http://www.remodelingmyspace.com The summer months are perfect for trying out new kitchen gadgets, and none more so that that sparkling BBQ you bought in winter for a great price, but haven’t had a chance to use yet.

When deciding what accessories to buy to go with your outdoor kitchen, consider this exclusive basting pot from Williams-Sonoma. It is perfect for adding flavors to steaks, chicken or other meats, and you don’t have to wonder where to put the brush when you’ve used it.

basting pot

What’s more, the Williams-Sonoma Basting Sauce Pot & Pan is heat-resistant up to 550°F, the silicone brush won’t absorb flavors or colors, and its long handle dissipates heat, so your hands won’t get burned.

This basting pot includes two brushes – one thick and one thin – for all your cooking needs. The basting pot is made of stainless steel, making it durable, rust-resistant and dishwasher safe.

So, when you are thinking of what to buy Dad for his next birthday, consider this basting brush and pot.

View the original article here

Basement Walls

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Useful Guidelines With Respect To Installation Of Basement Walls

When most homes are made construction companies will often leave basement unfinished in order to easily do any repairs to the structure of the basement a year after the home has been completely built. odds are you will have to install new basement walls as dividers between rooms inside your basement.

Since the ground is shifting beneath the house when it is newly built If your property is newly built This can save you from having to do the job twice.

you’ll have to just use the best methods and supplies to obtain the lasting structure that you desire. However it is possible to take short cuts and do the job on a smaller budget.

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It is vital that you never remove a supporting wall. This could cause the floors above the wall to collapse.

You should never tear down a wall unless you are positive that the beams in that wall aren’t part of the basic supporting structure of the property.

Basement Systems

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Basement Systems To Reduce Un-Hygienic Conditions In Your Basement


Basement Systems waterproofing and leak repair is really a network of waterproofing and water damage experts and contractors that will help you resolve your wet basement problems. Wet basement may cause a great number of health concerns and structural problems if it is not dealt with properly. By ensuring that there is a permanent solution to your wet basement, basement systems helps ensure your families health and well being.

When you hire basement systems, the very first phase of waterproofing is a free estimate. Through the use of the whole of contractors in numerous fields regarding basement renovations, it’s easy for basement systems to give accurate estimates. This estimate determines just what the problem is and tells you how much it will cost to correct the issue.

If one contractor doesn’t know just how to resolve the issue, another might be introduced who does understand how. This ensures there is no guesswork and makes certain that you don’t waste any of your precious cash. If you are planning a renovation project for the basement and you wish to make sure that your basement won’t leak later on, basement systems offers preventative waterproofing.

For those who have had any kind of leak previously, mold is often a real likelihood. If your basement is cool and has any form of moisture inside it that is when mold will form. By taking preventative measures, you are able to ensure that your property and renovations would be best protected against leaks and mold.

A typical mistake people make when having basement systems waterproofing done is that no water will ever enter your basement afterwards. If the air doesn’t easily circulate out of your basement, your mold problem may be even more severe. Mold growth is based on a series of factors, all of which must be handled in order to prevent and correct any preexisting mold issues.

This is not entirely accurate. Should a water pipe burst above your basement, water will enter the drywall in the ceiling and leak down into the basement. What basement systems prevents is outdoor moisture from seeping indoors.

However, it can be avoided by checking your pipes every few years for corrosion in the pipes. If you notice the pipes are ageing and are prone to bursting, you can have them replaced. This is a different kind of problem.


While this is costly, it is often cheaper than replacing the pipes when they have burst. While this is costly, it’s often cheaper than replacing the pipes when they have burst. Although this is costly, it’s often cheaper than replacing the pipes after they have burst.

Basement Repair

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Useful Suggestions To Create Repair And Maintenance Of Your Basement Affordable By Means Of Your Home Insurance


Basement Repair can be quite a time intensive, costly endeavor, especially when it comes to water or fire damage. Before beginning your repair project, there are a lot of various things that you should keep in mind. With so much to keep an eye on, you will need to do a list and just be sure to complete everything in your list.

If you have to do a basement Repair, the chance exists that your home owner’s insurance may cover some parts from the repair. Your initial step toward repairing your basement is to confirm whether your insurance policy covers the damages. This can remove a great deal of stress.

Unless you immediately wish to create a claim, you’ll find out from your insurance provider the specifics of the policy without them affecting your premium or monthly payments. When you have to do immediate repairs to your basement, you need to go on and possess the repairs done. This helps you to prevent additional damage from occurring for your property. It’s particularly important to note that if you do not immediately acquire basement Repair repair, you might be violating your insurance policy and can be unable to make a claim.

If you’re planning on making an insurance coverage claim together with your basement Repair, you will need to rely on someone else to accomplish the work for you. Most insurance providers will not accept home repairs. Make certain that you choose a professional to do your renovation work.

It is necessary that you have only the basic basement Repair done ahead of seeing your insurance provider. If you are planning on doing your basement Repair by yourself there are many safety rules that you should keep in mind all the time. When you’re dealing with anything electrical, you should cut the power to the area through your main panel.

Turning off all causes of electricity can prevent dangerous electric shock. If you’re working with a water supply, water ought to be turned off. If there are any power outlets nearby or water has pooled near any water, all electricity also needs to be deterred.

If there are build ups of water on the floor, you will want to wear electric shock proofed boots just to ensure your safety, as water is a superb conductor of electricity. Once your basement repair is finished, you will have to evaluate your risk of mold. Mold can have serious consequences on your health, in addition to on the health of those who live in your home.


If you think mold may become a problem, take preventative measures against it. It is much easier to prevent mold than it is to get rid of it after it’s taken a hold inside your walls.

Basement Renovations

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Economical Means Of Basement Renovations Developing A Totally New Look


Basement Renovations can be a stressful, expensive process. When you’re trying to decide how you need to finish your Basements, there are lots of things that you will need to keep in mind from the start to the finish of the project. First, before beginning any sort of design in your Basements, you need to make certain that there are no leaks or foundation issues that need to be addressed.

At this time, you will also wish to confirm that your wiring, dry wall and plumbing are in good condition. Doing this might help prevent significant repairs later. Once you have confirmed that your space is ready for Basement Renovations, you have to choose what design you want for your Basements.

Picking a design can be difficult, as you have to consider the entire space. If you are not sure what you need concerning your Basements, do not be afraid to hire an interior designer. An interior designer can see many more ideas and reasonable concepts ideal for your Basements.

In addition to this, a designer will be able to give you ideas that match your general budget. Many renovation companies may have designers available that will help you with the decision making process. It’s suggested that you never immediately go with the first concept in which you’re interested.

Spend some time and look at all of your Basement Renovations options to be able to make the most of the money that you’re investing in improving your home. There are lots of advantages to Basement Renovations. First, a finished Basements is known to increase the value of the property.

While storage space is useful, having more liveable space is considered an improved benefit. As most people view Basements as dark, cool and damp places, being presented with a comfortable Basements you can use frequently often greatly improves the overall impression of the property when being viewed by buyers. As selling a house can be difficult, you are making sure that your property is able to be sold quicker.


In addition to this, Basements can be a source of frustration for home owners. By continue together with your renovation project, you are able to remove some of the stress from your everyday life. If you are not good with tools, you need to hire a construction company to accomplish the renovations for you.