4 Tips for Finishing a Basement

17 June 2019

Some homeowners are completely content to keep their basement relatively out of sight and mind. They don’t really mind that there’s an unfinished or partially finished space right underneath them, because, frankly, they don’t have much use for it.

That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. With the scarcity of great real estate in modern urban centers and the skyrocketing price of homes, you would think that a homeowner would want to squeeze some life out of every little, liveable corner of their home.

That’s why many experts recommend you consider finishing your basement, making it either liveable (in which case you could rent it to help pay the mortgage, or offer it to a family member), or recreational (in which case it functions as a rec room). To help you on your way toward a finished basement, this article will discuss four key tips to bear in mind.

Plan the Layout for Usability:

Planning the layout of a basement is often the most consequential part of the process – it creates a blueprint for everything to come. Have utility and functionality in mind when planning the layout: if it is meant to be liveable, how can you make it more liveable? If it is meant to be recreational, what would you like the basement’s centerpieces to be? In either case, plan the main areas around natural light and open space. Give thought to the flow of rooms, starting with when you walk downstairs.

Protect Your Basement from Water:

The single greatest threat to a finished basement is water. Being the lowest space in a house, a basement is also the most susceptible. Hire a professional to consult on waterproofing, and get yourself two sump pumps, including a battery backup for your existing sump pump – you’ll need a plumber to aid in installation, but it’s worth it for sheer risk management.

Budget for the Use of Professionals:

Working off that last point, here’s an important, broad tip that homeowners should keep in mind: budget for bringing in pros. So many homeowners convince themselves that DIY construction, electrical, plumbing, etc. is going to be easy, only to find that it is incredibly complicated and that incorrect execution can have big consequences for the final product. There’s no shame in calling in pros, and, in fact, it might save you money in the long run.

Don’t Discount Looks:

As discussed, functionality is a crucial part of putting together a finished basement… but so is aesthetics. Consider trim for the walls, wainscoting, good flooring, and pleasing light fixtures. Put thought into the color and brightness of the room, as well as the arrangement of its furniture and components. Install and maintain good windows and, as a final touch, add some art to the walls. Don’t be afraid to head to the internet for inspiration. This collection of 50 basements remodels in a great place to start!

Don’t leave a whole floor of your home unfinished –start thinking about your dream basement today!

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Plan Moving Houses Ahead: 7 Essential Tips

Stressing about an upcoming move? You don’t have to be. By planning for the plan moving houses ahead, you can take the majority of stress out of the picture and reduce the time you spend on the process. While you should always be ready for a couple of setbacks, the key parts of your move are bound to go smoothly. Whether your move is two months or two weeks away, there is still time to prepare. In this article, you’ll learn how to simplify the moving process, save time and money, and start enjoying your new home as soon as possible. Read on! Essential Tips For Plan Moving Houses: 1. Make a Plan Make a plan moving houses and put it down on paper/app. Your moving plan moving houses should include the timelines for the move, a packing plan, organizational reminders, important phone numbers, notes to family members, reminders where things are packed, and anything else that comes to your mind. Any move is a complex process that requires remembering numerous things. Don’t try to keep them in your head because you are bound to forget something important. You can write things down in a notebook or take advantage of one of the popular moving apps. You can consider: Move Advisor OfferUp Shortly Wunderlist Sometimes it’s easier to keep written notes in front of you rather than using an app. But it depends on your preference. You can do both! 2. Determine the Cost The most stressful part about the move is facing extra expenses. That’s why it’s vital to make accurate calculations beforehand. Don’t allow any of the costs to come as a surprise, and you’ll take the majority of the stress out of the move. Even if you decide not to hire professional movers, you could face formidable expenses. Moving costs add up quickly. When spending money on the move, don’t forget to keep your receipts. You may be eligible for income tax reductions. Costs to consider are: Hiring a moving company or renting moving trucks and storage containers Boxes, tape, padding, markers, stickers, and other packing supplies Cleaning of the residence Vehicle maintenance for long-distance moves Old residence bills “just in case” money to cover unexpected expenses and emergencies during the move Once you have all of that calculated, add 5%. It’s always possible to miss something. 3. Choose a Moving Company Perhaps the most important decision you will take during the entire process is choosing a moving company. While a simple Google search can throw up multiple results, it is best to do your own research. Premium and trustworthy moving companies like H2H Move allow for hassle-free experiences, trained and skilled professionals, and ensure that there are no damages to your goods and properties. Choosing a moving company shouldn’t take forever, but you must do it in advance. Numerous companies offer their services in your area. Selecting the right one could take some time. Your ideal mover should: Have headquarters in the city you are moving from Provide packing services if necessary Have all the necessary certifications for moves in your area and beyond Have a sufficient number of movers and trucks to accommodate the move Be free on your move date According to experts from torexmoving.ca, it’s important to contact movers a couple of weeks in advance so you can choose a convenient move date. Weekends are a busy time for movers so if you want more flexibility, consider moving on a weekday. 4. Notify Others About Your Move Notify everyone who needs to know about your upcoming address change. Make a list of organizations that you need to warn about your move. Change your address at the post office (you can do it online) and forward your mail for at least a month. Make sure all service providers for electricity, gas, water, cable TV, garbage, and internet know about your move. You don’t want to end up in a dark house without the internet. Sign all the necessary contracts for the new residence in advance. Try to avoid any cabling or hooking up the day of the move. This could add to the chaos of the process. Notify the DMV, insurance companies, banks, post offices, and any companies that send you mails or bills. Don’t forget about your family and friends. Besides this, you can visit this site for the best mail services in the US, you can check the usps hours, locations near you, and all kinds of information here. 5. Ask for Help Even if you are planning to plan to move houses to hire professional movers, you can use some help from family and friends. Before the moving day, they can assist you with packing, lifting heavy objects, patching up nail holes, painting walls, cleaning, watching your children and pets while you are busy with other matters, and much more. If you are planning to get your friends involved, consider setting the move up for a weekend. This way your assistants won’t need to take time off school and work. As soon as you set the move day, call up your friends. Make sure you ask them for help in advance so they can make plans for moving houses for yourself. Don’t forget to incentivize. Even though your friends and family are likely to be happy to help you, they’ll appreciate some care on your part. Some pizza and beer can do the trick. 6. Clean Your New Residence Cleaning your new residence may seem counterproductive. After all, you are about to bring a bunch of new stuff inside, have people walking around, dust settling everywhere, and more. However, after you’ve installed furniture, you won’t have a chance to clean out dirty corners anymore. While cleaning your new home, inspect each room. Such problems as broken tiles ripped wallpaper and the like are much easier to fix when you have full access to them. As soon as the house is cluttered with your things, the job becomes much tougher. Consider cleaning the old residence as well. You don’t have to go all out scrubbing the walls, but leaving the old house in dire straits shows a lack of respect for the new owner. 7. Label Your Boxes Labeling is vital to fast and easy unpacking. Make your labels as detailed as possible. Don’t rely on your memory. During the move you have to keep so much stuff in your head, it’s easy to forget something. Make sure to put your labels on the sides of the box rather than on top. Boxes get stacked on top of each other, making reading the top label impossible. Final Thoughts Planning your move takes a couple of hours for your plan to move houses. Meanwhile, it can save you plenty of time, nerves, and money. Take advantage of these tips to enjoy a fast and safe move. Read Also: How to Survive Your First Year of Living Independently 7 Helpful Tips During an Emergency Moving Process

Guide to Different Types of Water Flow Meters

In many industrial applications, there is a need to measure water as it passes through a pipe. To control the process, you use a water flow meters. There are different water flow meter technologies you can choose from according to the requirements of the application, the budget, as well as maintenance constraints. Each type of flow meter has a unique working principle, cost of acquisition and installation, as well as benefits. The main concern for most process engineers is distinguishing which type of water flow meter suits the application at hand. Here are the four major kinds of water flow meters and their descriptions. Mechanical water flow meters: Of the four types of water flow meters, a mechanical flow meter is considered the most economical and also the most commonly used. The device measures water flow through a rotating turbine fashioned using a paddle wheel design. As water flows through a pipe and into the flow meter, it will cause the turbine to rotate. The rotational speed is proportional to the water flow rate. Although mechanical flow meters are simple and easy to use, they are prone to clogging when the liquid consists of large contaminants. A mechanical flow meter is also only suitable for applications with strong water flow. Vortex water flow meter: Just as the name of this flow meter implies, the device works by using a sensor that sheds vortices while immersed in the fluid. Water naturally creates vortices when it passes through an obstruction. The sensor inside the meter will move from one side to the other as each vortex passes through. This movement creates a frequency output which is proportionate to the water’s volume flow rate. There are vortex flow meters which can measure multiple variables using only one connection. Some of the variables measured include volumetric flow rate, temperature, pressure, density, and mass flow. You can also find vortex flow meters which are small enough for installation inside large pipes. Ultrasonic water flow meter: An ultrasonic water flow meter measures fluid speed as it passes through pipes. This flow meter uses the principle of ultrasound for measuring volumetric flow rate. A transit-time flow meter is one example of an ultrasonic flow meter. It works by transmitting an ultrasound signal in the same direction as water flowing downstream. Another ultrasound signal is transmitted in the opposite direction. The basic calculation of flow rate is the difference in time it takes for the ultrasound signal to travel downstream and the time it takes to move upstream. Magnetic water flow meter: This type of water flow meter uses the principle of magnetic fields to measure fluid speed. Since water generates a voltage as it passes through a magnetic field, the faster the fluid flow, the more voltage produced. Hence, the amount of voltage is equal to the speed of water. Using electronic processors, the signal output in voltage gets converted into the corresponding volumetric flow rate. A magnetic flow meter is not suitable for measuring pure water with no ions because it cannot create a magnetic field. Read Also: 8 Plumbing Myths Busted Some Facts You Need To Know About Rainwater Harvesting Feature Image: unsplash.com

Best Places To Use Black Butt Timber

Are you ready to start your next home improvement project? Perhaps you’re thinking of building a new deck or maybe even replacing the flooring in the interior of your home or office. Maybe you need a new workbench for the garage? Or has a furniture project for the living room caught your eye? With so many building material options out there, what kind of wood will you use to create whatever your latest masterpiece happens to be? Consider blackbutt timber. Blackbutt timber is found in Australia and is one of the most commercially available kinds of timber within the area. Blackbutt trees are known for their resistance to heat, which makes them a popular choice of timber in areas where brushfires are common. The color of the wood ranges from yellow to a pale brown, but occasionally can appear a soft pink, allowing for a variety of unique looks. Read on to find some projects or places in your home or office to use this durable wood. Decks : Outdoor decks can be a great place to lounge during the summer months, take in the evening air during the cooler ones, and connect with your family all year. Building a deck with blackbutt timber is a great choice if you’re looking for wood that is durable, heat resistant, and has a density that is a natural deterrent to termites. Considering getting benches or patio furniture for your deck? Blackbutt wood can be used for those things, too. Interior Floors : Looking to add a bit of class to your home or office? Ready to pull out your carpet and get rid of allergens trapped by the carpet fibers?Need something that can weather the test of time in high traffic areas? Consider using blackbutt timber for hardwood flooring. Durable, hypoallergenic and requiring low-level maintenance, it accepts polish or stains well, adding the perfect touch of color to your home's interior. Furniture : With its hearty strength, blackbutt timber is an excellent choice for building furniture such as bookshelves and entertainment centers suitable for the home or office. The uniform grain creates a unique look whether you use it as a countertop in the bathroom, to create a new kitchen table, a workbench in the garage, or even an office desk. Cabinets : Freshen up the look of your kitchen cabinets. Since this wood stains well, it’s easy to keep it clean from any wayward spills or accidents that occur when preparing the daily meals. Poles And Building Framework : The strength of this timber makes it handy for building framework in houses and for poles or pillars that can be used as a feature in your home or just part of the construction. It can be sanded and cut to whatever length or height your project calls for. The versatility of the blackbutt tree is what many find so appealing and is what makes it a good choice when considering your project’s timber needs. Read Also : Hardwood Timber Flooring: Gives A Classic Look To Your Home Home Hacks: Stuff You Can Clean In One Hour Or Less What Must You Know About Wood Flooring?

4 Tips for Finishing a Basement

Plan the Layout for Usability:

Protect Your Basement from Water:

Budget for the Use of Professionals:

Don’t Discount Looks:

Best Carpet Maintenance Practices

Ideas to Give Luxury Feel to Your Condo

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Plan Moving Houses Ahead: 7 Essential Tips

Guide to Different Types of Water Flow Meters

Best Places To Use Black Butt Timber

4 Tips for Finishing a Basement

Plan the Layout for Usability:

Protect Your Basement from Water:

Budget for the Use of Professionals:

Don’t Discount Looks:

Share this Article

Best Carpet Maintenance Practices

Ideas to Give Luxury Feel to Your Condo

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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