The Dry Harp Spokeswomen; Thankful Letter to Pioneer Basement

June 6th, 2008

Dear Steve,

I would've emailed you, but I don't have your personal email address.

Anyway, I'm getting lots of amusing calls. Apparently "our" commercial is on again. One of my adult beginning harp students said, "I heard your voice on the radio, and I fully expected you to say, 'Keep your thumbs up,' but instead you were selling basements!"

A former friend from over 25 years ago heard the ad and through the grapevine got my phone number; so we've reconnected.

One of my orchestra managers called to let me know I could leave my harp at the concert hall overnight. He asked, "And is this the harp that never gets wet?"

I've enjoyed all the funny reactions. I hope you got some business out of it. I keep singing your praises to everyone.

So Again, I would be happy to do another ad with you. I would even bring my harp to the WBZ studio and play a few bars of "Singin' in the Rain” (your theme song when we call you and are put on-hold). Then I could say, "This is the famous harp that never got wet!" and/or whatever else you'd like me to say.

I still am thrilled about my dry basement. You did the work more than 2 years ago, and I haven't had a single drop of water down there - ever - during heavy rain downpours or snowstorms with the snow melting. I used to be afraid to go down there because I didn't know what I would see - puddles, a flood, all my books ruined, whatever - but now I skip down the cellar stairs with confidence, knowing my basement will be dry as a bone.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Best Wishes,
Judy R.

Mold and Mildew in Basements

What is mold?
Mold, or mildew, is a type of fungus that can cause a stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing or skin irritation in those sensitive to them. These annoying growths affect people with asthma, allergies and other breathing challenges. It’s easy to detect both mold and mildew. The decomposition of organic material caused by the growth of mold creates a ‘musty’ smell. The only effective way to control mold is to control moisture. A dry basement is free of mold and mildew.

Effects of Mold
Excessive exposure to some types of mold can cause, or worsen, conditions such as asthma, hay fever, and or other allergies. Depending on the amount of exposure, more serious health effects such as fevers and breathing problems can occur.

Prevent Mold Growth
The only effective way to control mold is to control moisture. Mold resistant material is effective only when use in conjunction with proper moisture control.
What you can’t see….

Basements with any degree (typically 50% Realitive Humidity or higher) of humidity or water are responsible for an unpleasant odor that sometimes proves to be a health hazard for anyone with allergies or a sensitive respiratory system. Undetected moisture and water, perhaps behind a basement finished wall, can create an environment for mold and mildew to grow.

You don’t need a flood to have major problems in your basement.
Undetected leaks can create an environment for mold to grow. Moisture and water, perhaps behind a basement finished wall, can create an environment for mold and mildew to grow. The best and most cost effective strategy to managing the growth of mold and mildew is to prevent the intrusion of water.

Whatever the amount of use your basement gets, it should not be a place that makes you sick. Air quality problems exist in homes of any age and can be caused by flooding or a simple excess of moisture or water entering through the foundation.

Basement finishing is a fun idea that many of us today wish that we could do. Don't neglect your basement preparation step before you finish. Take care of your moisture, mold and air quality before you finish. Otherwise you'll be sitting in your mistake. The last thing that I'd ever want to see would be someone who was in love with their space having to watch it come down due to "jumping the gun" early on in the project.

www.homebasementfinishing.com for more information on preparation, finishing and other healthy pre-finishing ideas for your basement space.

Iron Bacteria: Exploring food source.

http://www.pioneerbasement.com/forum/blog.php?b=17


I posted on Pioneer Basement's Forums in my work blog about Iron Bacteria as a Health Risk.

As far as the research says (currently) Iron Bacteria isn't a health risk. Having Iron Bacteria can only clog well pumps, basement waterproofing systems, or exterior drain systems that have direct access to water where the Iron Bacteria is present.

To the Basement Waterproofing Industry Iron Bacteria is more of a "pain in the rump" than anything dreadfully serious.

However, because it exists, clogs basement waterproofing systems, and helps to disrupt the dry basement that you love, I feel compelled to write about it.

This blog post on the Pioneer Basement Forums that I posted deals with Iron Bacteria's food source: Iron and Manganese.



For more formal research and understanding:
Wilkes University Center for Environmental Quality Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences: Iron and Manganese in Drinking Water


Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion Testing
By Jeffrey R. Kearns, Brenda J. Little (p.266)

Info on FHA 203K for Home Improvement needs

Everyone I've met in the past few months have asked about financing, do I do it, can I do it, who do I use and etc. That's all well and good but even financing can't cover everything.

I give all the resources that I can and now I've been looking into government backings.

This lady Jane Anne (I admit I just started reading) posted throughly about the FHA203K home improvement Loans.

It's very informative, non-biased look at this loan is a very important additive to your Arsenal. It covers basement waterproofing and other home improvement needs.

here's a sample of what it could help you cover!:

1. New freestanding appliances
2. Bathroom remodels
3. Master bedroom remodel
4. Upgrading HVAC
5. Adding energy efficient improvements
6. Wells and septic repair and upgrades
7. New siding
8. Interior painting
9. Exterior painting
10. Attic build-outs
11. Waterproofing the basement
12. Creating a media room
13. Adding a 2nd floor

Some of these improvements can of course be built into the basement, after the basement was waterproofed. So theoretically you can use this loan to totally finish your basement off. Hope!

Give it a read, take it into consideration.

Organic Vs. Non-Organic Construction in Basements Remodeling

Recycling, green building and renewable forms of energy are all amazing steps in America today. It has been a long time coming. There is a new appreciation for Organic farming and produce, helping people to eat better, eat locally, and support their farms and farmers. But there seems to be confusion when discussing construction material for home improvements. People are so use to seeing “organic” and associating it with “good”. When building below grade in a basement different construction practices need to start happening rather than “traditional” space construction. In this case Non-Organic can be associated with Good, and help to protect and support the green building on top of it.

Non-Organic construction simply means that the things that are used in the construction are man-made and can’t be broken down by natural bacteria or fungi, such as mold. Typically, they are items that can’t be food sources for mold such as wood or standard Dry Wall. These products can however be made from recycled items, such as car tires, plastics and other materials. They are all designed specifically for applications in the basement so as not to contribute to the existence of molds or mildews in your basement space.

If you plan to use a renewable resource such as Bamboo for a flooring option, good for you! You’re helping the environment by buying into a resource that doesn’t strip away eco-systems. However, to be on the safe side, because it’s an Organic product, simply putting a FloorSheild™ can help to separate that brand new bamboo flooring from coming into contact with moisture on your basement floor. Typical vapor diffusers work, for the most part, but they aren’t designed to allow for air flow below the floor needed by the dehumidifiers to do their jobs properly.

I whole heartedly support Organic and renewable resources. When designing in the basement, always be aware of matching Non-Organic with Organic to create a protective layer that can defend the interior space from moisture damage.

More Links

Find out more about the need to Prepare Properly in your Basement

More Options for Non-Organic Flooring

Prevent Damage to your Organic Materials in your Basement

I'm continuing the discussion both:
DIYNetwork Message Boards
and on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums