Things to Consider When Finishing Your Basement

If you’ve decided to finish your basement, you probably already know that this project will require a considerable amount of time and effort, and that you’ll need professional assistance to make sure that your basement looks its best. However, there are a few things you can do yourself to finish your basement and make it a space that your family can enjoy. Remember these tips when you want to turn your basement into a livable space.

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Make sure there are no water issues in the basement before you start building. Drips coming through the walls or small pools of water in various areas of the basement are a sign that there is leakage somewhere. Look outside to ensure that the ground and foundation are not wet or contain openings that could lead to water damage. Ask a plumber and contractor to help you get rid of these issues before you add anything else to the basement space.

You should also be aware of building codes before you begin the basement renovation process. Check with your city and county to see if you need permits to do any construction projects in your basement. This is essential if you’re doing electrical or plumbing work in this area of your home, so you’ll need to have an inspector come out and make sure everything is up to code.

Once you’ve decided to finish your basement, you’ll need to think about the fasteners in the floors and walls of the space. In most cases, these parts of the basement are created from block, masonry, cement or brick, which means that you’ll need more than a hammer and nails when you’re attaching the framing for the walls and/or windows. It may be best to rent a fastener that is power-actuated, or to hire a contractor who is experienced in this area of work to complete this part of the project for you.

Making sure the air is clear and clean in your basement should also be a priority. After you take care of any water issues, there’s still the possibility that your basement could be significantly more damp than the rest of your home. Add a vapor barrier between the floors and walls before you start framing and finishes these areas to make sure that moisture doesn’t get trapped and cause mold, mildew and damage.

Finally, ensure that you have an offset space even after you create the vapor barrier. This is because moisture could still be a problem, especially if you live in areas that rain a lot. Make an offset from the outside wall of your basement by adding metal or wood slats that can make the wall more level. It’s also best to keep out the cold air and welcome the warmth in so that the basement space will be comfortable for you and your loved ones to spend time in. Insulation is required for this, so check your local codes to ensure that you’re in keeping with the regulations in your area.

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10 Quick Tips to Paint Walls Like a Pro

Painting is the easiest (and the cheapest) way through which you can give your home a makeover. A few layers of the choicest shades can transform the look and feel of your room. So if you have been nurturing the idea to transform the tone and setting of your room then consider changing the hues of the walls first! If you are a DIY enthusiast, this task becomes all the more affordable for you. However, painting is a daunting task and your pet project can turn into your worst nightmare when it is not done right.

So here are 10 quick tips that will help you paint your walls like a professional:

1.   Rain Check!

If you wish to commence painting then checking out the weather report would be a wise idea. Painting the walls on a dry day is ideal since humidity can affect the rate at which the pain dries. In fact, humidity in the air could also contribute to your paint dripping. So avoid starting your project on a rainy day. However, if you live in a region where it’s more raindrops than sunshine, invest in slow drying paint to rectify any painting mistakes that you have made. It may slow down your work greatly, especially since you need to do this coat by coat, but the end effect will be pleasing to the eye.

2.   Foundation Matters

Slathering on a layer of paint on your walls is not enough. You need to conduct a thorough visual inspection of the surface that you are about to paint. Prepare it so that your paint has a better adhesive surface. If the walls are flaking or portions of it are peeling, then lightly scrape it all off. Similarly, if you notice any cracks or chippings, make use of a spackle to fill out these uneven surfaces. Prepping your walls saves you a lot of time and money. The disastrous mistake of not doing this would result in watching new layers of paint weighing down the old layers and collectively coming off. All the scraping should be followed by a quick rinse of the walls to get rid of any grime, dust, and grease, thereby giving a fresh new surface for the paint to sit on.

3.   Enough is Enough

To avoid any wastage, you could purchase paint one gallon at a time but most times it so happens that there may be a difference in the shade or the pigment. This situation becomes even more critical if you are mixing two colors to get a particular shade. Therefore, it is important to have a prior idea before you set out on your painting project. Generally, you need one gallon of paint per 400 square feet of area. But you can seek the assistance of online paint calculators for a more accurate estimate. When you have a better idea, you can purchase the paint collectively and mix it all in proper proportions for a more uniform look. This is known as boxing the paint.

4.   Invest in Good Quality Equipment and Paint

Let’s face it, everyone wants to get the task done without burning a hole in their pocket. But pinching pennies on the equipment will do more harm than good. Buy superior quality brushes and rollers, which will give good coverage on the walls. If you are an amateur painter, another obstacle would be deciding on the thickness of the layer of paint. Purchasing good quality brushes ensures that the paint is put not too lightly, neither too thick. This way, you will be saving on the excess paint that you would have needed for multi-layered application. The same goes for paint too. While the premium quality paint may not differ from the cheaper quality paint in terms of price, the final appearance of the wall can vary drastically.

5.   Cover up!

Drop cloths, plastic coverings, and painter’s tape may make your shopping list longer but you will definitely not regret this purchase. All the time that you would spend on covering up the floors, doorknobs, and furniture, would still pale in comparison to how much you would have actually spent had you been scrubbing the pain off from all these items.

6.   Polish your end game

These days you would often find paints containing a blend of primers. This may make you feel that purchasing a primer separately may be futile exercise. However, if you haven’t painted your walls for the past 8 years or your wall has developed some issues since the last paint, then you will have to loosen your purse strings and get your hands on a dedicated primer. Apply a coat of primer that gives a finishing quite similar to the ones given by professional painters. Tint your primers with the topcoat coat paint as it will enhance the final coat and make it look refreshingly appealing.

7.   Rollers versus Paint Brushes

You may be confused whether you should make use of a roller or a regular paint brushes. As a rule of thumb, for large surfaces, making use of a roller brush is much more convenient. If you have a good quality paint then you may have noticed that they are easy to apply and can flow easily. So get your roller brush to slap on the paint without breaking your back. Use an extension pole to reach those inaccessible regions and you will have to apply minimal pressure. You can use the brush for fine areas like the edges.

8.   Top to Bottom Approach

The direction in which you paint determines the texture. Paint in the top to bottom direction, that is, from the ceiling to the floor. That way, if your paint drips or you make any mistake while painting, you can easily mask it in the following layer of paint.

9.   Well begun, half done

Painting may not necessarily be a single day job and you might have to take breaks that could last overnight. Quite naturally, you may think of cleaning the sleeves of your paint rollers and your paintbrushes whenever you call it a day. Instead of following the rigorous routine, you can simply roll off the excess paint and wrap the brushes in plastic food wrap. If need arises, give it multiple layers of plastic so that the brushes are sealed off and there is no entry for air. Store the equipment in your refrigerator. This little hack can actually keep your brushes from drying!

10.         The Clean Coat Around Outlets

An amateur painter would directly paint over the outlet covers and the electrical outlets. If you really wish to paint like a professional, you would have to spend the time required to take the outlet covers off. If you really do not have it in you to spend the extra few minutes, then make use of a fine paint brush to get around the switches and plugs. As much as you are tempted to do the latter, we would strongly suggest that you follow the first technique of taking off the covers and later putting them on if you really hope for a professional quality painting job.

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Why We Love Bands (And You Should Too!)

Music and music styles have changed over the years but one thing has stayed common all through time – music bands. We all remember that one band that left us moist eyed after they declared that they were splitting up. As much as we hate our favorite bands going their separate ways, some of our best memories are associated with a (or some) song(s) sung by such bands. Music bands have left teenagers and adults all starry-eyed and they have had them screaming themselves hoarse. So if you are one of those who do not understand the hype, we have devised a list of why we love bands and you should too!

Read on to know why bands enjoy such great popularity.

Bands mark an era

Whether you have listened to The Beatles, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin or are into Backstreet Boys, ‘N SYNC, and Destiny’s Child, or you could be a newbie who is still exploring Fifth Harmony, Lady Antebellum, and One Direction; everyone has that one band they can listen to endlessly. Every generation produces at least one band that has everyone swooning. The kind of music that is produced by these bands is also a reflection of the times when such bands were active. From ‘God Save The Queen’ by Sex Pistols to ‘American Idiot’ of Green Day, songs become a narrative of the time period and the social, political, or economic status. Similarly, the type of music is also a characteristic trait of the era.

They unite us

No matter what time, style, or era, bands have had one thing common: they become the common link that unites people from various countries having different backgrounds. Imagine finding out that the new kid in your neighborhood likes the same band as you do! The bands have become ice breakers. Joining or becoming a part of fan clubs will assist you in socializing and at the same time you can easily get in touch with other followers of the band and strike up friendships with like-minded people. With social media and internet acting as a platform for young fans to connect, the fan bases have become a force to reckon. Fan fervor is possibly at its peak with followers getting the opportunity to directly contact their favorite idols. Furthermore, a single hate comment against the band is enough to spark an outrage against the guilty party. Thus, in just one stroke, you can have the cluster of people united.

Everyone gets something

Whether you like a performer who makes an intellectual statement or an artist that has a sense of humor along with their talent, bands are a cocktail of all kinds of people. This gives you a variety that strikes the perfect balance that even the best-rounded individual artist cannot achieve. You could have the cute one and the awkward one all in the same band and they would both have a chemistry and hence they fit in the same band. Naturally, some members outshine the others but you have at least one person you can relate with in all your various moods. So no matter what you feel or what you are going through, there will be one person in the entire band who you could call your own.

Band wars

In every generation, a bunch of bands grab the limelight for their music, thereby setting off the band wars. The followers of the band enjoy pitting one band against the other. Whether it is Destiny’s Child versus Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys versus Boyz II Men, every band enjoyed a cult status with fan base claiming that their band is the best. And who can forget Metallica and Megadeth trying to form a supergroup? In fact, some of the greatest music of all times was made with the collaboration of bands with various artists (Psst! David Bowie and Queen) and other bands!

Bands serve a slice nostalgia

Like we said before, each band is symbolic of a certain era signifying a particular portion of our life. Whether it is music as an outlet for our teenage angst or the romantic song playing in the background during the very first date, every music and band can help you relive those moments. Some classic songs act as time machines that can transport you back in those days. Imagine the blast of nostalgia when your favorite band plays their song 10 years after the song was released!

The all-in-one complete package

Every band member holds a special place in the band and contributes a distinct factor. Whether it is by touching the high notes that nobody else does or the slick dance moves that has everyone’s eyes glued to the performance, when their individual talents are combined, they produce something that is extraordinarily spectacular. Not just in the aesthetic sense, even when it comes to producing music there is a great amount of talent from the bass player to the lead vocalist. There is diversity in the musical instruments that come together to create a melody. Bands have that variety that you would find lacking in a solo artist.

Bands smell like team spirit

Band members spend a great amount of time together, making them almost like family. The tours, jam sessions, and rehearsals result in the band members spending a chunk of their time together. Gradually, they end up forming a brotherhood or a sisterhood that makes them a well-oiled machine capable of titillating the fans. Hence, every album or single is like a peek into this ‘oneness’ that the bands possess. The same feeling of togetherness seeps into the band followers who are tied together by the thread of the team spirit.

Bands are more open to evolving

The evolution of a band could be due to various reasons. It could be because of an altercation that has led to a band member leaving and being replaced by another. New members to the band add a new flavor. We have often seen band members moving from one band to the other and this, in one way or the other, changes the band’s style of music. On the other hand, this evolution could be because of experimentation that goes right. Bands are always trying out something new to please their fans and this grand effort could lead them to exploring completely new genres of music. Compared to individual performers, bands have a greater range and scope with trying out new genres and kinds of music. If you are a Linkin Park fan, you may have noticed the gradual change that took place within the band with the passage of time. The band transitioned from nu metal music to hip hop, rap rock, and electronica music almost seamlessly.

Flawless Chemistry and Coordination in Live Concerts

Hitting the right notes at the right time when there are a bunch of people involved requires a great amount of coordination. Plus, choreographed moves are hard to pull off without the chemistry that band members have with each other. We love the chemistry that the band members have with each other. Furthermore, watching all the magic happening during a concert is even more awe-inspiring and exciting!

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