Blog

Basements are the most vulnerable places during floods due to their location below ground level. Although some homeowners leave their basements unfinished, this can increase the risk of water damage, especially in flood-prone areas such as Toronto.

Maybe you just bought a new home or didn’t have the time to finish your basement stairs; whatever the case, the state your stairs are in is no longer acceptable to you.

Don’t worry. It’s common among homeowners to leave this step to be finished later. However, putting it off ’til later can make its design and execution seem like an afterthought. Just because it’s in your basement doesn’t mean no one will ever see it. Read on below if you are in the mood to revamp your basement, starting with its stairs!

A bowed basement wall is usually curved from the outside to the inside. To identify such, look for a bulging wall that forms a convex shape. 

A basement wall that is bowing is most probably cracked too. The cracks could be horizontal or vertical. The cracks tend to open up more when it rains and contract during the hot weather.

Floor drains in a basement steer water into the sewage system, preventing flooding. But these fixtures aren’t very visually appealing. 

What to do with floor drains in the basement? Many homeowners end up covering their basement floor drains when finishing the floor because of their appearance. They either cover the drains temporarily using temporary caps or permanently using cement.

But is covering a floor drain a good idea? Before deciding on this, continue reading to see the pros and cons of having a floor drain.

An unfinished basement is prone to water damage and can quickly turn ugly and smell funky due to the presence of molds. Also, the unused space can quickly become a harboring ground for pests and rodents.

Finishing the basement is a foolproof strategy that maintains your home in excellent condition. It also provides extra space and helps homeowners monetize.

And the best of all, real estate experts have proved time and again that basements increase your home’s value! No wonder an increasing number of home buyers take a keen interest in houses that boast functional basements.

So, how much value does a finished basement add?

On average, setting up a basement gym may cost a minimum of $1500 and a maximum of $7000 or more, depending on the scope of work, materials required, and equipment added. If you apply DIY methods and pocket friendly solutions like creating custom shelving units and installing low pile carpet, the cost may be reduced. In this article, we explore the various realistic and on-budget gym ideas that you can consider to save you some coins.

Claiming home renovations on your taxes in Canada is possible, but only under specific government-approved programs like the Home Accessibility Tax Credit and the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit. To claim deductions, your renovation project must meet strict requirements (which we will discuss further in this article) and the claim must also be filed correctly with supporting documents.

Choosing the right flooring for your concrete basement floor needs to be done with so much care. There are many factors to put into consideration when you want to install laminate flooring over concrete, especially when handling it as a DIY project. The aim is to ensure that the laminate flooring lasts long. 

There is a high risk of damage by excessive moisture when laminate flooring gets installed over concrete. Basements are the most humid areas in most homes due to condensation and they’re also prone to flooding. However, if you prepare your concrete basement floor well, laminate is a very practical option.

If the question how long does it take to renovate an apartment has become relevant to you, you will find all the answers in this article.

In Toronto, the greatest determinant of time spent renovating a condo depends on the floor size. Let us look at some of the condo renovation steps and the length of time each of them takes.

The basement temperature plays a pivotal role in the whole house’s climate: it affects energy efficiency, the level of moisture, and the temperature in the first-floor rooms. Keep reading to discover the best practices and costs of winter basement heating. This material by the CSG renovation company describes the reasons for a cold basement and heat loss prevention.