My own basement stories. - Basement Workbench and Basement Floods

As I mentioned in my previous post I’m looking for your own Basement Stories. Things that you might remember, or currently use the basement for now, that have had an impact on your life.

For me, some of my best memories take place at my Grandfather’s workbench in the basement. That’s where we spend time building birdhouses, spice-racks, and fixing broken house hold items such as cabinet doors and broken bookcases. I spent a great deal of my childhood learning to use tools to fix things from that bench and still have fond memories.

Sadly, there’s always a twist to any basement story, and that’s normally when it floods. Both my grandparents and my mother’s basement flooded quite often. Many projects kept in the workbench room at my Grandfather’s house would be thrown away due to the water and lack of drainage. My Mother’s house (build in the 1940s) leaked from several windows in the foundation which led to countless hours mopping and bailing. Those leaks also caused a great deal of our belongings to be thrown away in the trash (including a leather sofa - that was a poor choice on my part to keep that down there).

I’ve already heard from a few followers on Blogged.com and Facebook. What’s your Basement Story? Leave comments - Best story I get will be publicly published on Safe and Dry Basement Blog :-)
Image thanks to The Model Citizen

Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement A question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

Basement Stories - We Want to hear from you!

Over the past few years I've heard some pretty remarkable stories about home imporvement. The time, energy, and money that many people put into their homes is amazing, and some of the stories that come out of the experience are priceless.

The Basement is one of the parts of the home where many stories are hidden. I'm interested in hearing a story you have about your basement. Good or Bad, scary or happy, I want to hear from readers about their basement stories. 

Tomorrow I'll share one of my favorite basement memories as well as a story about why I started working in the Basement Waterproofing Industry.

Feel free to leave your story in a comment, or email it to me directly! I can't wait to hear what you have to share!

(I'm not going to close comments, so that way people can continue to add to the stories).

Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

Flooding - Summer tragically brings too much water

This summer has started off with a bang. Heavy floods caused serious problems in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. A few weeks latter parts of Tennessee are hit hard causing problems for thousands. And now, even though it's seasonal, China is getting hit with what many are calling the worst flooding they've seen in the past 10 years.

In pictures - China's Incredible Flooding  - Weather Channel.


State side isn't going to having it any easier, or so says some of the coverage and forecasts provided by the National Weather Service. Top 5 Hurricane Vulnerable & Overdue Cities As per usual the East Coast of the USA is a prime target for any activity coming off of the Atlantic ocean. The Weather Channel provides up to date information on formations and patterns so that you can stay on top of the weather that might just cause your basement to flood.

One of the negatives about living near the water is that even if you're not in the direct impact path of a storm, surges can carry the water inland or increase the water levels around your home. This raises the level of moisture and water in the soil around your home and can put your foundation under more pressure. Storms of any size can be a problem, but as the logic goes, the larger the storm the bigger the chance of flooding.

Stay prepared this summer and get ahead of Hurricane Season!



Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

7 Links you must see on Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog

I was challenged, as where many other people, by the writer of ProBlogger.net to come up with 7 links to other posts on my blog. Following his format, I’ve put together this post to help guide you through other parts of my blog, hopefully to things you haven’t read already.

1.) My first Post: When I first started blogging for Pioneer Basement and Grate Products, I did what any normal person might do when meeting someone for the first time: I Introduced myself in First things First! Looking at it now, wasn't the best thing I ever hit "publish" for, but at least I can laugh at it.

2.) A post I enjoyed writing the most: A post series (2 parts) that I really enjoyed doing was a review of a friend’s basement. He was in the process of buying his first home and decided to send me pictures. I reviewed what I could see and sent him the results but also shared them with you: Friends Basement Inspection. My take on the Images pt1.


3.) A post with a great discussion: As most readers simply are looking for information pertaining to basement waterproofing or foundation repair, I sadly don’t generate a ton of comments (unless they’re other companies spamming my comment section). However the post with the most comments so far was Water Coming in through Foundation of House which, after writing, I found out that many people have similar issues with water coming over the foundation.

4.) A post on someone else’s blog I wish I had written: In the time that I’ve been blogging about the basement health industry there has been one person who’s stood out in my eyes. Not only is he my boss, he’s the owner of Pioneer Basement, founder and inventor of the Grate Drain, and Pioneer of the basement waterproofing industry’s code of ethics. He wrote a post back in 2009 that I wish I had the guts to write. Entitled Basement Healthcare it brought about stark realizations to me about how I look at my health and what part my home plays in it.

5.) My most helpful post: So to take a non-biased look, I cracked open Google Analytics and took a peak at June 2010. Without a doubt my post Basement Dehumidifiers, Getting the jump on Humid Summer Weather was a hit. So looking at that I’d say it was my most helpful post for what many homeowners are dealing with now that summer is here.

6.) A post with a title I’m most proud of: Childproof Sump Pump Lids can save lives! - Difficult to open is a GOOD thing. After a tragic accident in Indiana, I needed to explain why our Grate Sumps were different and at the same time explain one of the benefits of their tricky lids.

7.) A post I wish more people read: Basement Mistakes pt 5 – Finishing a Basement with Organic Construction Materials was a post that I felt everyone needed to read. All too often homeowners let contractors install materials in their homes without a second thought. I wanted to shine light onto the topic and educate homeowners. This should be a Must Read on my site!

Hopefully you've found other posts on my blog that you had not seen/read before. Sharing information about basement waterproofing and foundation repair is something that I really enjoy doing and I hope that in the future you'll come back and recommend my blog, and my company, to your family members and friends.

Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

Paints that are good for the final part of a basement remodel.

Painting the walls in the basement after you've finished it should really be considered the last step in any finishing or remodeling project (next to hanging shelves or nick-knacks)

The healthiest choice for painting the walls is a paint that has Zero Lead, and Zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Typically, as many of us remember, paint has a smell to it. This odor is caused by the chemicals in the paint and can, in places with no ventilation, be hazardous to your health in large amounts.

Avoiding any VOCs in paint, today, is rather easy. All major home improvement stores carry paint without these VOCs and they come in thousands of custom colors for your walls. You can get what you want at a great price and without any risks to the indoor air quality of your home.

Why are VOCs bad in the Basement?
Like any smell or odor, the basement can trap them in and let them build up. Basements or crawl spaces aren't normally very well ventilated, nor do they have proper air circulation. This allows any air bound chemical to build up (in parts per million) and become stronger and more potent.

If you have mold or odors in the basement anyway, adding to them with a stench of VOCs filled paints isn't going to help you to breath any easier.

What if I'm looking to finish and have odors in the basement already?
Most likely there is something causing these odors in the first place.

Mold and dry rot are the two most common causes for odors in the basement. If ether one of these exist, finishing or remodeling the basement shouldn't be your top priority. Getting control of the smell through air circulation and filtration are a good first step.

Moisture plays a key roll in the formation of mold and dry rot and should be taken seriously. Controlling the moisture or possible leaks and flooding can protect the finished space from damage and from future mold and dry rot. Installing a waterproofing system can help control moisture while helping to correct the conditions of the basement that are causing the odors and smells.


Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

The Grate Sump - more about the Grate Products Sump Liner 2

Other features of the Grate Sump, that aren’t talked about nearly as often as some aspects of the GrateSump, are, in my opinion, some of the most interesting about this sump basin. When doing research about other basins and sump liners I’ll challenge you to find anything of this equivalent.

The first major innovation that I’ll be talking about in this blog post is the build int Pump Stand Ridge Lip. The stand is something that is built into the bottom of the pump basin, which is one less thing to buy. The raised ridge around this stand is designed to keep the pump from shifting dramatically when installed. As the pump runs the motion of it’s engine and the vibrations caused can force the pump to vibrate off platforms. This shift can cause damage to the pump, clog the impeller, and snap or disconnect the discharge lines which makes your pump useless. The Grate Sump’s design not only houses the pumps but is designed to keep them safe and functional.

Next to the built in pump stand is what is called the Vortex Pit. Simply put, it’s a troth that soil and sediment can be collected in as the pump’s suction causes a vortex under it. Once the sump pump stops pumping, soil and sand that have collected in the water gather around the pump. When the pump kicks back on the soil is kicked up and can cause the pump to clog. The Vortex Pit removes the soil from the suction point and keeps it safely away from the pumps impellers, thus keeping the pump cleaner and safer.

The most unique feature of the GrateSump is the height of the unit. It sits at 19inches high and the pump will rest safely inside of it at 17 inches. Most sump basins on the market come in at a height of 24 inches or deeper. Depth isn’t a safe answer for your foundation. A basin going further than 20 inches below your floor encourages the sump pump to pull dirt and soil out from underneath the foundation’s footing when operating. This can cause collapse of the foundation wall. This is something that typically happens in corners with round, deep sump basins installed in the basement. Grate Products specifically designed the depth to discourage this from happening, thus making it a safer product for your basement.

Feel free to read more about the Grate Sump in previous posts. If you have any questions about the product, or how to have one installed, contact Grate Products: Basement Health directly through their website.

Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

Grate Drain vs. Floor Seepage - protecting against wet basements

One of the popular advantages of GrateDrain over other french drains is that it is specifically designed and installed to protect against floor seepage.

Floor seepage is when water pushes its way up through the floor of the basement. Cracks and separations can often make problems worse than they would be normally. However the problem that is causing the basement to become wet is the fact that water mass builds up under the floor of the basement.

As water builds, pressure is put on the underside of the concrete floor. As water seeks the path of least resistance, holes and separations are the first choice - but they're not always available - so water finds other ways in. The most common area that sees seepage is the perimeter around the basement; the gap between the wall and the basement floor.

Pressure can cause puddling in the middle of the floor, flooding, and wet spots around the perimeter of the basement.

How GrateDrain targets both, and Fixes them

GrateDrain, the french drain in question, has a bigger advantage of having holes on both sides of it. The holes are large and can accommodate large volumes of water. This is key to keep the volume of water under control under the basement floor. This is most importantly during a series of rain storms. The Grate Drain is installed so that the water drains into it inches before coming in contact with the bottom of the floor. This keeps the volume from building and building to the level of the footing and the floor.

This is important for a few reasons
1.) Moisture and water aren't touching the floor. This keeps puddling and floor crack seepage under control.
2.) It keeps water under the floor from jumping up on the footer and through the floor/wall gap.
3.) Volume is less shocking because it's under control most of the time - this is important for your drainage to be affective and also to increase the life of your sump pump.

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Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

The Grate Sump - more about the Grate Products Sump Liner

The Grate Sump is much more than a normal sump basin to place a sump pump in. It's a total connection system that ends up being the command center for the GrateDrain system.

It helps the Grate Drain Work.
The entire run of the french drain, known as Grate Drain, is pitched to outlet ports that dump any moisture and water directly into the sump. This connection point can also pivot which makes fitting a drain with the proper pitch easy in any basement. If the floors are thicker than normal than the outlet ports can connect lower on the body of the Grate Sump to keep that perfect pitch throughout the system.

Cord Management
Every GrateSump has built in pipe and cord management. The most dangerous thing about submersible pumps are open cords with live electricity. These formed openings are smooth and keep the cords from moving and getting caught in the pull of the pump. This helps to keep any technician safe while performing maintenance on your system.

Child-Proof Lid
The lid is also extremely difficult to remove. This is perfect for households with children. Open sumps can cause injury or death, so this tight lid that never has to be removed (except for during service) will stay tightly put, keeping children out.

Large openings open to the center of the floor.
One of the biggest problems with store bought sump basins are that their holes are small. This is bad for a few reasons. The Grate Sump's openings are large, smooth and punched so there is no rough surface. They're small enough to keep stones out with filter fabric and large enough to keep iron bacteria colonies from forming and causing clogs. These openings are extremely important - your sump pump now has direct access to the water underneath the home. This helps to keep this level under control so as to not cause seepage elsewhere in the basement.



Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!