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Found 107 results for the keyword ‘Basement’

  • Myths and misconceptions about concrete and water

    A comment from a reader:"I notice in your section on self leveling concrete that you mention about needing to let the water out before putting anything on top of the new compound. (Self Leveling Concrete) This is a common misconception about concrete, in fact the water does not leave, it becomes ...
  • Commercial "back out" toilets for basements.

    Jeff in Ottawa, Ontario wanted to put a toilet in his basement but was worried about the slope required from the toilet exit to the floor drain. He was even looking at an expensive toilet pump.One easy solution for basement toilets is often overlooked. Drilling through a concrete floor is never...
  • Laying carpet over concrete

    Many viewers ask if they can put carpet over a concrete floor. The answer is a qualified Yes.There are three different concrete floors to consider: those in upper floors of the house that are always high and dry, those in the basement that may possibly run into moisture problems and those outdoor...
  • What happens when laminated floorings get wet?

    Any wood product will expand when it gets wet, some worse than others. Today we have a wide variety of wood or wood like flooring products.Massive HardwoodFirst you should understand that even massive hardwood, if allowed to stay wet or overly humid for too long will swell up and potentially buc...
  • What is that white stuff on my basement wall?

    Judy has a pretty messy basement wall and has had several expensive estimates for fixing it.It almost looks like a mould or a fungus growing out of it, starting at a definite line quite high up on the wall.When I looked through the window I could see that the white stuff was starting about a foot...
  • Can I drill holes in the sides and the bottom of a sump pump pit?

    Ken in Winnipeg wants to know if he can modifiy his sump pump pit.There are really two kinds of sump pump pits.One is an underground container or catch basin designed to receive water from the perimeter drain tiles and any other basement spillage or back-up and pump that up and out of the house.T...
  • How do you level concrete floors?

    Tereasa and Dennis from Simcoe, Ontario asked about leveling a slightly uneven basement floor. Is it necessary to build a whole sub-floor?If a concrete floor is sturdy, just not flat enough and you want to put a rug or tile or vinyl directly over it, you can apply a topping that will smooth and l...
  • Can I move or remove support poles in the basement?

    Karen wants more open space in her basement. It is possible to move and/or remove support posts, but it is not at all simple to do.First, the size of the beam above the posts is calculated by the weight above and the distance between the supports for the beam. If you move a post, you will most ...
  • How do you get rid of the musty smell in the basement from the sewer backing up?

    When water backs up in your basement, whether it is contaminated sewer water or just a burst plumbing pipe, if it stands for more than 24 hours it is probably beginning to create mould.Just drying out the drywall may not be enough. When drywall gets wet it usually swells and retains a great deal...
  • Patching the crack between the sidewalk and the house.

    Debbie from East York, Ontario has a problem with a basement leak that apparently is caused by a crack between the sidewalk and the wall. Her contractor patched it last year, but it leaked again.If there is any movement of the sidewalk, from frost or just swelling and or shrinking clay, then no ...