Comments on: Tackling The Basement: Chapter Four

By: YoungHouseLove

YoungHouseLove — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:28:39 +0000

Our basement held up really well but we were lucky that our moisture issue was pretty simple (sweating cinder blocks that needed to be sealed) and not an actual drainage issue (which usually calls for the installation of french drains). Maybe try googling around for a french drain installation video on YouTube? Good luck!

xo,
s

By: Kelsey Kleiman

Kelsey Kleiman — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:17:44 +0000

Hi. Thanks for your wonderful blog. I was wondering how your basement was holding up a year later. We have a similar such problem with moisture after heavy storms (but no mildew so far). From our research it seems quite difficult to remedy, something that just Dry Lock wouldn’t really cure for the long term. Were there other measure you took, like grading the earth by the source or redirecting drains?

Thanks.
Kelsey Kleiman

By: AlaskanAndi

AlaskanAndi — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:11:06 +0000

I am so sad we don’t have an IKEA in Alaska… :-(

By: Kerry

Kerry — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:31:07 +0000

We’re doing our basement too… last step of a 4 year remodel process.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seahills/sets/72157603881096769/detail/

By: YoungHouseLove

YoungHouseLove — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:47:47 +0000

Thanks Amanda! That’s pretty much the plan, but we really look forward to a tankless option someday…

xo,
s

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:11:24 +0000

I think you’re wise to keep the old water heater until it dies. It is less “green” and more wasteful to throw out something that works just to buy something new. Although when it does die, it might be smart to look at tankless options.

By: Tricia

Tricia — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:07:26 +0000

I can’t wait to see the finished project! I’ve been checking in everyday to see how the progress has been going. I, too, covet Ikea! I’m compiling my shopping list so I can go to the new Charlotte location next week. Now it is 45 minutes away instead of 2 hours!!! Thanks so much for all the neat ideas such as floor planning and how to weed out what does and does not fit the budget. And I’m seriously thinking twice about those Kassett boxes. As for how I hide the inevitable ugliness we all must face when it comes to storage, clutter, the hideous fuse box that stares us in the face, etc….here are some photos I thought I would share with you guys.

Conquering toy clutter:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44022801@N04/4100920956/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44022801@N04/4100919990/in/set-72157622671118533/

Covering the fuse box:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44022801@N04/4100923318/

Hiding all the clutter in the pantry/ laundry room (Very similar to your laundry area cover-up!):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44022801@N04/4100170047/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44022801@N04/4100929222/?addedcomment=1#comment72157622671245003

By: jbhat

jbhat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:38:33 +0000

It’s AMAZING! I love it, you guys. Please come to Seattle and work your magic on my gargage. I’ll fly you!

By: YoungHouseLove

YoungHouseLove — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:30:57 +0000

Hey Chrissy,

How interesting to hear that about tankless water heaters! It’s definitely something to think about and research a little further before we make a decision either way. And in the meantime we’re kind of excited to make our screen to hide the water heater so stay tuned. Oh and it’s true that showing the before, progress and after shots is just 1% of actually doing the job so we always love when readers truly understand the blood (sometimes), sweat (always), and tears (not usually) that go into our makeovers. And we’re nowhere close to done down here so stick around for lots more projects and potential divorces…

Ok, I was kidding about that last part. John’s actually a great little partner in crime.

xo,
s

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:21:39 +0000

After compulsively decorating/fixing/painting my first home only 4 weeks into moving in, let me tell you that I have a LOT more respect for the amount of work you guys (and everyone else you have featured as DIYers) have done. You show pretty pictures and amazing transformations, but I think it’s hard to really understand the amount of sweat and frustration that goes into these projects without actually having to do it.

That being said, how do you feel to have such an improvement over your old, unusable space? That Dryloking sounds like lesser couples would have divorced under such conditions! (I kid, I kid.)

Oh, and note on the tankless waterheater- I was gung ho about getting one in our new place, too, and mentioned it to our initial home inspector, and he surprised me by saying to save my money and for multiple reasons, the high price they are currently just don’t make up for it, especially if you just do the standard practice of keeping the temp low.