A Basement Game Room: Making the Most of Your Space TAGS: basement | basement remodel ideas | Egress windows | finishing a basement | Refinishing your basement | Sunlight into a basement

A basement game room is a popular use of your additional lower-level space. Here are some pointers: For President Truman’s birthday in 1947, a bowling alley was installed in the basement of the White House, under the North Portico. That started the American tradition of basement game rooms – which continues to this day. In many ways, a game room is one of the best uses of finished basement space. Because basements tend to have large areas of open space, it allows for easy installation of a pool table (or even a bowling alley) that wouldn’t fit upstairs. You can …Continue reading →

Smart Moves to Keep Your Basement Dry TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement remodel ideas | Basement Windows | bringing fresh air in a basement | damp basement | Egress windows | finishing a basement | prevent mold in basements | Refinishing your basement | Sunlight into a basement

Basements get damp. It’s one of the natural laws of the universe – like how when you drop a piece of toast, it always lands butter-side down. But there are things you can do to keep your finished basement dry, fresh and welcoming. For many homeowners, adding egress windows helped eliminate their damp problem – as it gave a free-flowing source of fresh air that helped expel lingering moisture. But if you’re deciding to finish your basement, there are some other tips and techniques you can use to minimize or eliminate the risk of dampness. The first is to consider …Continue reading →

If You Like It, Put a Lid On It TAGS: bringing fresh air in a basement | building codes | Egress windows | safe basement exit | Sunlight into a basement

An egress well cover or grate is a smart investment for your basement window well. Egress window wells are an essential for your basement. Not only are they legally required by building code; but they’re a vital safety feature that could help people escape from the basement in the event of an emergency. But adding basement windows requires a few adjustments around the rest of the house, too – especially in the yard or garden. John Symon, a customer from Bethlahem, Pa., explained a couple of issues he ran into: “I finished my basement last year,” he emailed to tell …Continue reading →

Let the Sunshine In with an Egress Basement Window TAGS: basement | basement egress windows | large basement windows | Sunlight into a basement

Adding an egress basement window to your remodeled basement makes a lot of financial sense – but there’s another advantage you might not have thought of. As 60s pop icons The 5th Dimension sang, egress windows “let the sun shine in.” “Let the sunshine in! Oh, open up your heart and let it shine on in!” Scot Krauser has been singing that a lot recently. A 41-year-old music teacher from Easy Brunswick, NJ, he literally “let the sun shine in” when he added egress windows to the basement of his three bedroom ranch. “I love that song,” Scot beams. “Hair! has …Continue reading →