Advice about depth of cellar/basement
kery12000
6 years ago
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kery12000
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
Can really use some advice on flooded basement
Comments (4)Dug out or not, it doesn't seem reasonable that anyone would have gone to the trouble and expense of finishing any part of the basement if it was subject to frequent flooding. First, I'd check for an existing interior cellar drain. Look for a place where the water accumulates to a greater depth than the rest of the area. It would also be the place where water remains longest. Look for some kind of opening out through which the water could drain. Second, I'd see if you can find out who installed the french drain in 1998. May still be a map on file of the system. As for who to call, look online or in the Yellow Pages under "drain cleaning". Some plumbers also do this, but not all. You need someone with a TV camera equipped snake and a high pressure water jetting system. Trouble is, you, or whoever you call has got to find an opening to the system, whatever it is, first. You've also got to hope that there is a repairable system. That's why finding out all you can about what's there is so important. On a more hopeful note, if you've experienced a once-every-100-year's worth of rain this summer, the drainage system may just be temporarily overwhelmed....See MoreQuestions about (ancient) basement
Comments (9)Thanks for your interest and input, everyone. bas, it's sort of a strange situation. It's been vacant for 9 or 10 years. A great deal of restoration work was done at first, but it was almost all 'outside' stuff -- repointing the bricks, replacing rotten eaves and windows, installing a new roof and central a/c, landscaping and adding an automatic sprinkler system. In other words, the dirty work was mostly done. (And done well, I might add.) Then the new owner's honey advised him she'd die before she agreed to move to a sleepy little Southern town. He chose her instead of the house. He could afford to walk away, so he did. However, there's been a caretaker of sorts. Vacant, but not totally abandoned. It's not even on the market. It was sort of like, "If somebody is interested, I'll consider an offer." In all these years, I think I was the first fool who showed up. :) carol, that's such good advice. In fact, I'd been thinking along the same lines. I inquired this weekend, and it turns out that a very well-known architectural historian bought a house in the town several years ago and restored it. He likes the community so much that he's recently bought another one in order to save it. Sounds like someone who's become 'invested' in the town and would be happy to steer me to a knowledgeable brick mason. Maybe I can even sweet talk him into checking the house out himself. What a resource he would be! lindac, my first instinct was to think that a brick basement was a great asset. I guess I started worrying just because of fear of the unknown. Because I'm such a wuss, I handed the boots and the flashlight to one of my sons and sent him down into the nether regions yesterday. Sooo anticlimactic! lol There's an 'anteroom' at the foot of the stairs that now holds the heating and a/c equipment. Beyond that, a larger room that's empty. All seemed to be in perfect condition. Because the only entrance is inside the house, I assume this was the 'larder', used for storing canned goods, cured meat, etc. And you're right that it's too good to let it get away. I'm hoping against hope that the guy is getting bored with maintaining it and my (low-ball) offer will be accepted... Hold a good thought for me, please!...See MoreCoffered Ceiling - Basement - need advice
Comments (7)I like it recessed as shown. I think if the beams are flush, the recessed areas will just look like holes in the ceiling. As built, the beams are more likely to look like beams. How is your builder fireblocking this? In my area, regular fiberglass insulation wasn't allowed as a fireblock—I had to use mineral wool....See MoreStarting seed in basement - questions about best set-up
Comments (18)Hi Sam, " I’m so excited to be finally starting a cut flower garden for myself, and have been doing research on starting my annuals from seed (I’m doing zinnias, poppies, phlox, cosmos and some greenery fillers). I’m hoping to get some advice on my best options for setting up seed trays for best results. We have a basement that’s unheated, but is really the only space we have to start all my seed trays, besides the garage (which is even colder). " Your lights will act as a heat source, and seedling heating pads will also if you use them. I have a lighting setup in our indoors downstairs basement utility room. I started my indoor growing when we lived in Maine back in 2005. At that time Home Depot was selling two-bulb T8 fluorescent shoplights for a bargain price, and a user here, Zink (a participant here in Garden Web), told us how to overdrive those shoplights for nearly double the light output. T8 fluorescent bulbs are rated for 20,000 hours, and I am still using many of my original bulbs. Many of my T8 fixtures are overdriven, but lighting technology has advanced a lot and my T8 setup is totally obsolete. But it works fine and it is paid for, so I will continue to use it, although it was already totally obsolete when we moved here in 2010. I use chrome plated steel wire shelves as my plant stands, and they are still in "like new" condition. Most books on growing indoors under lights are now obsolete, but this one is reasonably up-to-date and I recommend it instead of trying my obsolete methods. Gardening under Lights, The Complete Guide for Indoor Growers I have some zinnia seedlings growing now. They will probably be in full bloom when I set them outdoors in late April or early May. I breed zinnias as a hobby, so some of their blooms will be unique. ZM (not associated with any product or vendor mentioned or linked)...See MoreMilly Rey
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agokery12000
6 years agokery12000
6 years agokery12000
6 years agokery12000
6 years ago
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Milly Rey