18 TIMES • JULY 16, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com at home 5 projects to recreate your basement Have you ever wished you had more space in your home? Maybe you’d use the space to pursue a hobby, host out-oftown guests or just spread out and get some quiet time to yourself. The space you desire could already be in your home in your basement. If your cellar is nothing but a series of unfi nished areas used for storage, you’re not getting all the benefi ts you could be from the space. Making the most of your basement doesn’t have to mean costly contractors and expensive remodeling scenarios. Several easy DIY projects that you can take on alone, with the aid of the right tools, can help you gain that extra space you wish for. Ready to get started? Give these projects a try: Build walls. Adding drywall to your basement has a big impact on the space immediately. Use 2-by-4s to mark where the walls will stand and place studs 16 inches apart. Then nail the panels to the wall where the edges meet the studs and cover the seams with drywall tape. Once the walls are up, mud the seams and areas where nail pops appear. A drywall saw or power saw will help you shape your drywall perfectly, but if you don’t own one, you don’t have to buy one. It’s more cost effi cient to simply rent it instead for this one-time project. Your local American Rental Association member rental store will have what you need. Don’t forget to add drywall stands to your rental list. A touch of paint. A fresh coat of paint means you won’t have to stare at those drab walls in your new space. You can paint the space by hand, but if you have a large basement and you want to give every room that professional look, rent a paint sprayer instead. The cost is worth the time saved. Freshen up your fl oor. If your basement is completely unfi nished, you probably have cold, concrete fl oors. How you improve them is up to you. If you want the polished, marbled look, consider renting concrete fl oor fi nishing equipment for a look that’s sure to amaze. And if the appearance of hardwood is more your style, laminate fl ooring panels are inexpensive and easy to install. Lastly, if you want the feel of carpet beneath your feet, don’t forget to add the pad fi rst to make those future steps a pleasure. Eliminate the stink. Your new basement is coming together, now what can you do about that musty basement smell? A dehumidifi er can help. You can purchase one at your local home goods store and when you get it home, try to place it near the washtub sink if your basement has one. This will allow you to drain right into the sink and save you from having to empty the dehumidifi er regularly. Install a sump pump. Now that you’ve refi nished your basement, don’t let water damage ruin all your hard work. A sump pump can protect against fl ooding issues and installing one is easy. Most new homes have a location marked for a sump pump; it will look like a small well. Follow the water pipes in your home and you can fi nd it. Once you do, purchase a sump pump from your local home goods store and follow the easy instructions to install in less than an hour. The extra space you have dreamed of has been with you all along. Transform your basement from barren to beautiful and you’ll be creating a space you can enjoy for years to come. To learn more about renting the tools you need for your home improvement projects, visit RentalHQ.com. Courtesy BPT Put A Property Makeover On Your Wish List With The Brand That’s Earned Your Trust! THE LOOK OF NATURAL STONE WITH CAMBRIDGE 718.478.2700 60-44 MAURICE AVE • MASPETH WWW.MAURICESUPPLIES.COM STOP IN FOR YOUR FREE 108 PAGE CAMBRIDGE OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM GUIDE COMPARE OUR ADDED VALUES: • Color-Coordinated, Fully-Featured Outdoor Rooms • Pati os • Poolsides • Driveways • Walls • Walkways With Armortec Without Armortec Both Cambridge pavingstones shown above were installed in residenti al driveways in 2006 (Photos taken in January 2010) ‘‘ ‘‘ Fully-Transferable Lifeti me Warranty. - Charles H. Gamarekian (Founder/Chairman/CEO) www.CambridgePavers.com
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