Permanently removing below grade basement windows
mharon
last year
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kevin9408
last yearRelated Discussions
Curbless shower on below grade slab
Comments (9)First..do a moisture test on your existing slab. You want to see if moisture vapor is coming up into the basement from under the slab. Tape a 2' square sheet of poly on the floor and see if there is any moisture under it after 48 hours. If the moisture is significant, it might play into what type of membrane you use on the floor. Memebranes like Hydroban and Kerdi have similar properties when it comes to liquid moisture, yet differing properties when it comes to moisture vapor transmission. Significant moisture drive could actually lift and delaminate a topical membrane from the slab. If you have under-slab drainage or radon ventilation pipes, and foundation perimeter footing drains, you should be in fine shape. I'd make it a wet room, pretty much follow Bill's advice; -slope the entire floor to the drain. -topical membrane on the entire floor and up about 6" on all the walls, or just fully membrane all the walls. Fully membrane the shower walls. -ventilation. Don't skimp. This room will be cool and the basement itself is typically humid, so latent drying action will be less than in an upstairs bathroom. Do what you can to eliminate moisture vapor as it is generated. -I'd not insulate or heat the floor. You might have to balance relative humidity in the basement as a whole with a heat source in the bathroom. If you do have vapor drive into your basement, it might help to have something as simple as an IR bulb on a timer to help with the initial drying of the room. For a humid, slow-to-dry shower environment; A non-porous porcelain tile might be better than a porous natural stone tile. An epoxy type of grout might be better than a portland-based grout....See MoreHelp me figure out flooring for my mom's below-grade condo?
Comments (9)I am confused with below grade slab and daylight, sounds more on grade than anything else. I would not use a tarkett fiber floor. I am sure you want to float the vinyl and the only way to go is Congoleum's Air Step Plus or Air step evolution. It is not your typical fiberglass floor, can float entirely or be just perimeter fastened and is guaranteed by Congo not to buckle. There is no other floor like it and Air step plus is relatively inexpensive. Armstrong also makes one `kind of similar but not the same. No one else...period.I am sitting here racking my brain and this would be the choice for the specifications you indicate. I have a ton of info on why no other ones comes close. Scotchguard..silver treated for anti microbial properties..12 mil..decent cushion to it..20 year warranty..the real deal and its the only floater that the manufacturer does not give itself a ton of sniffle clauses on why it should be glued. And USA made entirely which is another good thing and very green product....See MoreFlooring for a below-grade family room
Comments (14)Here in NOVA, EWV, WMD, we looked at a lot of houses (15+) for sale last year and I don't recall seeing a walk-out or below-grade family room that wasn't carpeted. One might have been vinyl, can't remember for sure. Maybe I'm outside the norm, but I never looked at one and thought about it flooding. If that was a realistic concern, I wouldn't consider buying the house regardless of the flooring. Since you are selling, carpet seems like the best ROI; not sure someone will pay extra for wood down there. What do the comps in your area have?...See MoreBelow Grade House Appraisal
Comments (19)Thank you, everyone, for the comments. I've been looking through Google trying to find a more definitive answer (to tell the truth though, I didn't realize this configuration was called a split-level.) Most of my findings have been inconclusive. It seems like there are areas of the country where walkout basements are likely to be included in the GLA, but not in others. I understand that while it is possible that the basement may not be included in the GLA, but that actual square footage could still add value at equal or partial value as above grade. It also looks like many/most articles and threads that I've seen talk about this issue tend to be from 7-10 years ago, so I was wondering if things have changed at all in the last few years. I know that many homes in the area have walkout basements, it is very common. I'm not sure how they are assessed though. I will have obviously have to do some follow up, but I wanted to see what people's take on this might today or see if any Northern Michigan folk might find this thread and have some insight. Anyway, thank you again and please feel free to post new comments or continue with previous. It's good seeing that the discussion is happening today and not 10 years ago....See More3onthetree
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