Most homeowners who have an unfinished basement in their homes usually have a desire to finish that basement and transform it into a more usable area. Remodeling a finished or unfinished basement is a great way to add value, space and comfort to your home. Basements are ideal for casual social activities for the whole family, just for the kids, or just for the guys.

A few weeks back, we featured a blog post on 7 tips for Creating the Perfect Finished Basement or Basement Remodel and today we are going to talk about 6 of the most common mistakes made when remodeling a basement. All of these pitfalls revolve around some degree of water damage, which can easily turn your dream remodel into a nightmare, but each one is unique in-and-of itself.

Below are the six most common mistakes homeowners make in basement remodeling projects:

#1 ? Finishing a Wet, Damp or Flood-Prone Basement
Because of the way they are built, basements are more prone to moisture and flooding, especially in low-lying areas that are below sea level. Basements are essentially a box of porous concrete, buried in the ground. When that ground gets saturated with water, the resulting hydrostatic pressure pushes the water against the foundation walls and will eventually find its way into your basement ? whether through cracks, joints between walls and floors, or infiltrating the concrete through capillary action. In addition, floods caused by plumbing leaks or broken hot water heaters are an ever present risk. Without proper drainage, a reliable sump pump system, and proper dehumidification, no basement is dry enough to be finished.

#2 ? Using wooden studs, fiberglass insulation and drywall.
While these materials are stables of construction for finishing rooms above ground, in a basement they usually spell disaster. Basements are naturally humid, and all these materials ? wood, paper and fiberglass ? have the tendency to absorb moisture. When you combine moisture with organic matter, you create ideal conditions for mold to develop. Basement walls should be finished with 100% inorganic and waterproof materials that will survive a basement flood or water accident.

#3 ? Using wooden subfloors, hardwood or cork floors.
As we mentioned above, anything that is made with organic materials is a bad idea for basements. Manufacturers might tell you that these products are chemically treated to be mold resistant or may contain something called a vapor barrier (more on that below), but read the fine print before committing to anything. Look for basement flooring solutions that are specifically engineered to wit'stand all sorts of basement moisture conditions.

#4 ? Improper use of vapor barriers.
?If you attach poly sheets over the studs and the fiberglass, and then attach the drywall, you can pretty much use any type of finish you want, because the ?vapor barrier? will protect the materials.? This statement is a complete fabrication and will only lead to compounded problems down the road. According to the US Department of Energy?s Building America Best Practices recommendations, moisture from basement walls and floors should be allowed to evaporate and dry to the interior. This kind of ?vapor barrier? will only do one thing: trap the water vapor between the concrete and the barrier, where it can condensate, and can cause mold to grow.

#5 ? Not having a backup sump pump.
Every year, millions of dollars are spent on basement flood cleanup, restoration and replacement of flood-damaged property. To make matters worse, the damage is never covered under homeowners insurance, and even special flood insurance establishes coverage limits when it comes to basements. Even if your basement is properly waterproofed and has a good working sump pump, without a battery operated backup sump pump, you are at risk for a basement flood. Keep in mind that the same storms that have the potential to flood your basement can also cause power outages. No power means no pump. Battery backups are also useful in case of a primary pump failure or other electrical malfunction.

#6 ? Disregarding moisture control.
Although proper waterproofing and good basement finishing choices can greatly improve conditions in the basement, in some cases they will not suffice to control the moisture in the basement. Basement moisture levels tend to be higher because of temperature differences between the basement and the areas above ground. When basement moisture levels go above 60% mold will start to develop, especially in organic surfaces. Even if you Don't see it, if the basement smells musty, mold is most likely present. Basement moisture levels should be closely monitored and a dehumidifier should be used to keep RH levels at or below 55%.

Although these pitfalls all fall under one large umbrella, they are commonly overlooked and can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to your home. By taking the necessary precautions in dealing with water and its potential damage, you will save yourself time, money and frustration later on. MDV Remodeling can take a look at your basement and let you know where to begin. We will also let you know what potential pitfalls you could incur during the creation of your dream basement. Contact us today for a free estimate.

Environmentalism, which is commonly known as the Green Movement, has been around for nearly a century and encompasses everything from efficiency to recycling. With the current energy crisis, sustainability is becoming a priority for many home owners. In today's blog post we wanted to highlight five sustainable building materials that are available as part of the many exciting innovations in the construction industry.

Here are five sustainable building materials you should consider for your next construction project:

1. Wool Bricks: Developed by Spanish and Scottish researchers these sustainable, non-toxic bricks combine wool along with a natural polymer found in seaweed to the clay of the brick to produce a product that is 37% stronger than ordinary bricks. They are more resistant to the cold, wet climates and also dry hard, reducing the need to be fired like traditional bricks.

2. Solar Tiles: Traditional roofing tiles are typically mined from the ground or set from concrete or clay using energy-intensive methods. Once installed, they exist to simply protect a building from the elements despite the fact that they spend a large portion of the day absorbing energy from the sun. With this in mind, many companies are now developing solar tiles. Unlike most solar panel units, which are usually fixed on top of existing roofing, solar tiles are fully integrated into the building?s decor, protecting it from the weather while generating power for its inhabitants.

3. Sustainable Concrete: According to WorldChanging.com, concrete is responsible for nearly 10% of global CO2 emissions. But that being, more sustainable forms of concrete exist that use recycled materials in the mix. Crushed glass can be added, as can wood chips or slag ? a byproduct of steel manufacturing. Although these changes aren?t radically transforming concrete, by simply using a material that would have otherwise gone to waste, the CO2 emissions associated with concrete are reduced.

4. Paper Insulation: Made from recycled newspapers, cardboard and other waste paper, paper-based insulation is a superior alternative to chemical foams or fiberglass insulation. Both insect resistant and fire-retardant due to the inclusion of borax, boric acid, and calcium carbonate ? all completely natural materials that have no associations with health problems ? paper insulation can be blown directly into walls, filling every crack and crevice to create a nearly draft-free environment.

5. Triple-Glazed Windows: These super-efficient windows, which feature three layers of glass and fully insulated window frames, do a better job of stopping heat from escaping. In most double-glazed windows, argon gas is injected between each layer of glass to aid with insulation, but in these triple-glazed windows, krypton ? a better, but more expensive insulator ? is substituted for argon. In addition to this, low-emissivity coatings are applied to the glass, further preventing heat from escaping.

If you are considering a remodel in the near future and sustainability is something that?s important to you, any and all of these materials will help to create a more eco-friendly, sustainable building. Contact us today to set up a free estimate. During this initial appointment we can discuss all the options available to you and determine the best fit for you for next project!

Converting an unfinished or finished basement into a basement bar is a great way to entertain guests while adding some real value to your home. Whether it's a sports-themed man cave or a modern, upscale hangout, your new basement bar will require some advanced planning and some design choices. While we can help you with the planning and building, the design is solely up to you.

Most importantly, you'll want to partner with an experienced contractor who specializes in remodeling, like the folks at MDV Remodeling. With more than 5 decades of experience, MDV will help you to ensure the lifelong enjoyment of your new basement bar.

Basement Bar Pre-Planning ? Think About the Sink

Before the real bar layout begins, you need to decide on whether you want to include plumbing. A wet bar will afford you much more convenience than a bar without a sink, and including a bathroom in your basement remodel will help you with making that possible.

If your basement already has a bathroom, try to locate the sink as close to the basement bathroom as possible because the sink will likely need to drain into the same holding tank that serves the bathroom. Bar sinks can be installed in a basement wall, or it can be incorporated right into the design of your bar, placed out of view below the bar top level.

Bar Floor Plans

Drawing up floor plans for your basement bar is essential to the planning stages of your remodel. Fitting everything you would want into your bar is not an easy thing ? especially if your wish list includes a pool table, a large sofa, a dart board, etc.

Begin with making a list of the must-have items that you want included. Measure out these items and make paper cutouts in scale of each of them. With a sheet of graph paper with the dimensions of the room drawn to the scale, you can easily move each cutout around to find the best layout. On this floor plan, you'll also be able to establish placement for lighting, doorways, and walls, as well as laying out the plumbing and electrical, which you contractor can help you with.

Designing Your Bar Itself

Once you know where your bar will placed on your floor plan, you can start to think about the design of the actually bar itself. For all intents and purposes, a bar is just a large cabinet with some special hardware and a distinctive top. If you keep that in mind, deciding what will best fit your needs becomes a little simpler.

Most cabinet shops sell brass foot rails and hardware, bar top edge molding, ornate detail moldings and even high-gloss bar top varnishes. If you're building your bar from scratch or having your contractor handle the construction, determine what type of wood and finish you?d like. Since you've already decided on the size and shape, and whether or not you want the bar to include a small sink, then next thing to think about is if your want to include a refrigerator or kegerator.

Finally, it's time to decide on the material you want to use for the bar top. Although varnished wood is most popular bar top material, some people prefer plastic laminate, solid surface countertop material, or solid marble. The inclusion of a sink or bar taps may impact they cost of the material your chose, so do a little research before you decide.

If constructing a custom bar seems a little daunting, prefab bars are also available from some home furnishing suppliers and table gaming stores. However, if you decide to work with MDV, you will not feel the stress of getting the bar you want. We can turn your dreams into a reality while you go about your day-to-day life, not stressing about your basement remodel at all.

Manipulate the Mood with Light

it's easy get wrapped up in the layout and design of your bar and to overlook the lighting. But, like we mentioned above, you definitely want to include it in your floor plan. Taking the time in advance to plan for proper lighting makes a huge different in the end.

Start by identifying the area that will need ?task lighting? ? areas like behind the bar, over a pool table or in the bathroom. it's also a good idea to set up this task lighting with dedicated switched so that the focused light can be turned on or off as needed. The ambient or overall light in your bar can come from recesses ceiling lights and from ceiling-mounted lamps. If possible, put as many of your ambient lights on dimmer controls that enable you to control the mood in your bar.

Now that the planning, layout and construction of your bar is complete, you can get started on decorating your new basement bar and really making it your own.

Reclaimed wood became a popular material for flooring in the 70?s and has been on the upswing ever since. It is salvaged from the remains of old buildings, factories, warehouses, boxcars, water towers, and other pieces of our past then carefully restored by masters of the trade. it's upcycled nature also makes it a great option for those looking to keep their project as green as possible. Reclaimed wood adds a lot of character to a space and is ideal for achieving an antique or vintage feel.

Sourcing reclaimed wood from the ever changing architectural and technological landscape around them; these urban lumberjacks scour demolition and renovation sit's, boat yards, rail yards, decommissioned factories and anywhere else they can for quality material in need of a new life. Purchasing reclaimed wood can add to your LEED credits, as the upcycling of the wood eliminates the need to harvest fresh material for the project. It takes exponentially less time and resources to produce reclaimed wood flooring than it does to produce brand new flooring. Giving these materials a second life is a great middle ground between style and ecoconciousness.

One of the biggest trends in hardwood flooring is vintage handscraped wood. Prefinished flooring manufacturers have been milling product to mimic the rustic or antique look of reclaimed wood and charging a premium for it. While these floors look nice in their own right, they simply can?t match the character of restored wood from a retired boat or barn. Artificial distressing on prefinished flooring is a nice touch for a rustic look, but its not the same as the history embedded into reclaimed wood. Every ding and dent left after expert craftsmen refurbish the material was made in its former life.

If you're aiming for a modern rustic look, a floor to complement your vintage design, or an eco friendly solution for hardwood flooring, reclaimed wood is an amazing option. Everyday men and women are saving these materials from structures in disrepair and preventing them from ending up in overcrowded landfills. All in an effort to preserve and provide a little bit of history for your home or business.

For more information visit our homepage: www.FinishlineFlooring.com

-Kenneth Pepper