Welcome to our latest Pro-Follow update as contractor Steve Wartman and his crew remodel an unfinished basement. If you’re just joining us, the guys have framed the walls, run duct work, and had the electric rough-in completed. You can read all about the progress so far at these links: Day 1: Framing the walls Day 2: Vapor barrier and ductwork Day 3: Electric Rough-in Today’s article will focus on insulating the walls, band-boards and ceiling. Quick Note on Plumbing I didn’t spend time with the plumber as he was only... 

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Welcome back to our latest Pro-Follow update. Last week I introduced a new basement remodel project with contractor Steve Wartman. He and his crew have finished framing the walls, and you can read all about that in the first installment of this series. Many homeowners and do-it-yourselfers have questions regarding how to address moisture in the basement, and today’s article will focus on vapor barriers. Additionally, I’ll be showing you how the guys ran air supply and return ductwork throughout the basement. Vapor Barriers Concrete... 

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Many of you have expressed how much you enjoy the Pro-Follow articles, and I’m excited to kick-off another series. If you’re a subscriber or regular reader, you know that every Pro-Follow is the product of shadowing a licensed contractor on an actual job site. Seeing the pros in action, getting expert tips and being able to ask questions is the best way to learn how to accomplish your next home improvement project, and I hope you take advantage of all of our Project Guides. I’ve partnered with contractor and carpenter... 

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We are back with professional contractor Joe Bianco as he walks us through the process of remodeling a basement. Just like our latest series for building a deck, these Pro-Follows will (eventually) wrap up with an all-encompasing guide. It’ll be a great resource for anyone looking to finish their basement. So far we’ve covered: Day 1: Framing the basement Day 2: Rough-in plumbing Day 3: Rough-in electric Today’s update focuses on hanging drywall as two separate subcontractors work to get everything ready for painting... 

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A few years after Jocie and I moved into our home, the unfinished side of the basement looked like a we still hadn’t completely unpacked. Boxes and bin and bags were piled across the floor. There was a small aisle leading to the washer / dryer, but forget making it over to the small pantry we used for dry storage. Thinking back, our basement was probably a fire hazard. If you’ve ever felt like your home could be featured on the TV show Hoarders, you know that good storage is vitally important for every home. With the right... 

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Two years ago, we waterproofed over 1000 square feet of cinder block wall in our mostly-underground basement. We applied Super Thoroseal to 500 sq. ft., and SunnyDry Foundation Waterproofer to the other 500 sq. ft. [See also: SunnyDry Foundation Waterproofer Review] When we ran that initial review, we promised a follow-on article with a review of Super Thoroseal’s performance, but like so many things, it fell off the plate. So here’s that review, two years later. What is Super Thoroseal? To bring you back up to speed, Super... 

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This guest post comes from a reader and friend of One Project Closer, Chuck Williams. Chuck is an amateur carpenter and DIY weekend warrior. During my efforts to upgrade my unfinished basement, I wanted an alternative to the typical acoustic tile drop ceiling or drywall ceiling.  Fred told me of his tentative plans to paint his open basement ceiling dark brown. After some research, I decided to go with a light color to keep a more open feeling. Airless spraying seemed the only viable option to achieve this, and Fred offered me the use... 

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