Steps for Turning Your Unfinished Basement Into a Living Room

Your unfinished basement represents a ton of potential. Turning it into a liveable area where you can relax and entertain might be easier than you think. Follow these steps, and you'll be lounging around down there in no time.

Conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment

First, you've got to check for any potential damage. A lot of times, there might be a crack in the foundation. Foundation repair is crucial if you want to turn your basement into a living room. Otherwise, all your hard work could be lost. Repairing the foundation doesn't take too long, and it'll make the rest of the work worthwhile. 

Properly Seal the Room

After checking for damage, it's time to think about sealing the basement properly. Most unfinished basements aren't entirely waterproof. As such, small amounts of moisture might find their way inside. Applying an industrial-grade sealant to the corners should solve the problem, though. After this important step has been completed, you can move on to other projects.

Think About Floors

Flooring would be the next project on your list. Don't fall for the wooden floors, though. Those tend to wear down a lot faster than other options. We'd suggest tile for the easiest solution. Tile doesn't need a whole lot of attention. Plus, you could always throw a rug on top of it. You can also choose to install carpet if you want something more warm and cozy. Carpets can require more cleaning, especially in a dusty basement, but it can be worth it if you want the warmth. Concrete can be another option. This is an inexpensive option, but isn’t very comfortable. However, you can add rugs to make it more cozy and warm. Concrete flooring is becoming more popular, so it can be a good option if you want your basement to look trendy and modern. 

Get Creative With the Walls

Have you thought about what you're going to do with the walls? For a truly sublime experience, start by hanging up some drywall. Make sure there is a little space between the basement's walls and the drywall. Once the drywall is in place, the space will start feeling livable instead of feeling like a dingy basement. After drywall is installed, you can start decorating. Wallpaper tends to be pretty easy to work with, especially if it is peel and stick. So, you might want to use some of that. Nevertheless, there's always something appealing about good old-fashioned paint. You might want to purchase some wall decor too. Unique paintings can start to give your living room character. Don’t underestimate the importance of focusing on designing and decorating your walls. 

Choose Lighting

Next, it's time to think about how you'd like the lighting to look. Most basements don't have a ton of windows, and some of them don't have any at all. So, how you plan your lighting will make a huge impact. Blue lights might not feel super relaxing. So, if you want it to feel like a living room, you might want to use something with a reddish hue. You might also want to purchase a few lamps if you don’t want the lighting to be too harsh at night. It will lighten up the room, without being too bright while you are relaxing. 

Purchase Furniture

The last thing you will want to do is purchase furniture for your new living space. Think about how much space you have to work with. If you have a large living room, a large sectional sofa can be a great option. If you don’t have enough space for a sectional, a loveseat and some chairs will work great too. Choose a furniture style that you know you will love for years to come. Don’t go with anything too trendy, but also don’t be afraid to show off your personality and taste through furniture. Furniture will tie the whole room together and can create a focal point for the room. Make sure you take enough time to make a decision before purchasing the furniture. 

Turning your unfinished basement into a living room is pretty straightforward. Follow the tips in this guide, and you'll be done soon. Then, you can focus on enjoying it.

How to Upgrade Your Toilet with a Bidet

It wasn’t all that long ago that bidets were found almost exclusively in European bathrooms or the homes of the extremely wealthy. However, more and more Americans have been turning towards bidets in recent years, and for good reason. Using a bidet is generally considered to be far more hygienic than using toilet paper alone. Moreover, bidets tend to clean things better and more thoroughly. These reasons make upgrading your bathroom with a bidet something everyone should consider, and here is everything you need to know to get it done.

Traditional Bidets vs Toilet-Mounted Bidets

If you plan on renovating your bathroom, a traditional bidet is definitely an option. However, you can also enjoy the benefits a bidet can provide without the need for major construction work. There are now a large number of toilet-mounted bidets and bidet sprayers on the market that can be installed easily on your existing toilet.

Choosing the Right Bidet

You typically have two options for adding a bidet to your toilet: a bidet toilet seat or a handheld bidet sprayer. Handheld bidet sprayers resemble a showerhead and are mounted next to the toilet, whereas a bidet toilet seat is mounted directly on your toilet in place of the old toilet seat. Both bidet types can be a good option, but the majority of people opt for a bidet toilet seat for ease of use and added convenience. Bidet sprayers require you to hold the sprayer head in your hand and lean to the side while attempting to aim the stream of water where it needs to go. This often results in spraying water all over the bathroom and still not getting fully clean. However, these issues aren’t something you need to worry about with a bidet toilet seat. All you have to do is turn the bidet on and it automatically directs the stream of water directly where it needs to go.

Installing the Bidet

No matter which option you choose, the process for installing it is mostly the same. Primarily, it involves connecting the bidet into your existing water line and then mounting the unit. Depending on your skills, this could be a job that you can do by yourself fairly easily in just a few hours. However, not doing the job properly could result in damage to your toilet or water line. Improperly installed bidets also tend to leak, which could lead to more serious water damage. For these reasons, it is usually best to enlist the help of professional plumbers to ensure the job is done correctly.

Most people that upgrade to a bidet soon swear that they’ll never go back to just using toilet paper again. This means that it could be one of the better decisions you ever make. Nonetheless, it is important that you take the time to ensure the bidet is installed properly to prevent damaging your bathroom.

5 Types of Fencing for Your Backyard

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Your backyard is your sanctuary. It's a place where your family gathers for parties and outdoor recreation and where your kids play. Whether your backyard is large or small, the fence that surrounds it will serve many purposes. Choosing the best type of fencing for your backyard is crucial to meeting your needs. If you love your privacy or have outdoor pets, you need a fence that will keep your pets secure, offers privacy and security, and enhance your home's exterior design and decor. While it may be challenging, choosing the best fence for your backyard doesn't have to be difficult. Here are five types of fencing to consider for your backyard.

Wooden Fencing

Wooden fences are one of the most popular types of fencing in the country. Wooden fences offer privacy and security and are very attractive. Keep in mind that the height, style, and size of the fence will impact the price. Wooden fences also don't last as long as aluminum or rock wall fences and require regular maintenance.

Chain link Fencing

Chain link fences are one of the most affordable and durable types of fencing. However, chain link fences don't offer much privacy. However, many people opt to add weaves to their fences to get the privacy they want. For example, you can add Pexco brand silver fence weave to chain link fencing. Weaves are a great way to convert any chain link fence into a privacy fence. Another benefit of using a fence weave is that you can do it yourself to save money.

PVC Fencing

PVC fencing is a very affordable type of fencing, but it's not as sturdy as other types of fencing. PVC fences are very attractive and can enhance the look of your home without a high price tag.

Aluminum Fencing

Aluminum fences are attractive, durable, and long-lasting. However, aluminum fences don't offer a lot of privacy. Also, aluminum fences are among the most expensive, but they require little maintenance and offer good security.

Rock Wall Fencing

Rock wall fences are an excellent choice for almost any backyard. Rock wall fences offer security, privacy, and durability. If you're considering a rock wall fence, be prepared to pay a hefty price tag, but if it's in your budget, a rock wall fence is a great choice for backyards.

Keeping your backyard secure and private should be the primary function of your home's fencing. While decor and design are important, the functionality of your fence should be your priority.

Should You Get Your Home’s AC Repaired in the Fall or Spring?

Air conditioning is a must-have in most parts of the country. Making sure your air conditioner is functioning properly can mean the difference between sweating in the sweltering summer heat or remaining cool and comfortable. Proper maintenance and servicing can help to prevent many common AC problems. Nonetheless, most homeowners will eventually find themselves in a situation where their cooling system no longer functions as well as it should. In this situation, you’ll generally be left with two choices, either get the system repaired or suffer through the heat. Therefore, here is everything you need to know about getting your AC repaired and when is the best time to do it.

Why Spring is the Best Time for AC Repairs

Spring is usually the best time to have your AC repaired, and the reason for this is fairly obvious. By getting your air conditioning repair taken care of in spring, you can be assured that your cooling system is ready to go and working properly before the worst of the summer heat hits. This is also precisely why most experts recommend having your cooling system inspected in the spring.

Avoiding the Summer Rush

Scheduling your inspection in the spring and getting any repairs taken care of early also ensures you won’t be without cooling during the hotter months. Most HVAC companies are extremely busy during the summer months. In some cases, it could take days or even weeks to even get someone out to your house to diagnose your cooling issues. Should this happen, you might find yourself forced to sweat it out for much longer than you want.

The Importance of Getting Repairs Done Quickly

If you do notice in the middle of summer that your cooling system isn’t working as well as normally, you might be tempted to wait until the fall or even next spring to have it repaired. However, by doing so, you might end up costing yourself a whole lot of money. When your AC unit isn’t functionally properly, it can’t cool your house and efficiently and effectively. This means that it will also have to run much more frequently to keep the home at your desired temperature. The result of this is that you’ll end up paying much more in energy costs to cool your home than you normally would. Therefore, it is always a good idea to get any problems professionally repaired as soon as possible.

Keeping your home cool during the summer is vital for both your comfort and overall quality of life. The last thing you really want to do is suddenly find yourself unable to cool your home when the temperature starts to rise. For this reason, it is always a good idea to have your air conditioner and entire HVAC system inspected during the spring. In this way, you can ensure that any necessary repairs are completed before you start sweating.