Scripps Howard News Service Dear Dwight: My house was built in 1926 and has cinder-block walls in the basement. I would like to finish the walls with two-by-fours, insulate with a vapor barrier and ...

A dirt floor in a basement or crawl space can be a major source of moisture problems. Lingering excess moisture can cause unpleasant odors, affect indoor air quality, and put the space at risk of mold ...

Q: We are finishing off part of the basement into a utility room. The washer, dryer, and laundry tub are already there, with the plumbing anchored to the cement walls. We have framed in the walls with ...

My daughter and son-in-law have a home that sits on sandy soil and has a very deep, full basement. They are planning on finishing the basement to include a bedroom. There is a large escape window, so ...

Q. I’m going to be remodeling my basement and want it to be toasty warm. How would you do insulation for a basement remodel like this? Would you use foam insulation or just the old standby fiberglass?

An insulated basement or crawl space provides many benefits year-round, and the rim joist (or band joist) is often a focal point in energy-saving initiatives. Installing insulation at the rim joists ...

Q. You’ve written about putting up a foam vapor barrier on the basement wall when remodeling. You suggested building a frame wall X-amount of distance from the basement wall itself and then insulate ...

Q: I’m going to be remodeling my basement and want it to be toasty warm. Would you use foam insulation or just the old standby fiberglass? What’s the worst thing that can happen if you do the job ...