The Basement Project Trina6:54 PM 0 comments

If you don't remember, on September 21, 2009, our basement flooded.

Fallon, trying her best to help us rid the house of the water. 

In November, we were finally able to have the place scrubbed for all the mold.  That was an adventure in itself, as it took 6 weeks for the company (Mold-Be-Gone) to finally respond to us.  I do know that if we ever encounter mold again...they will be the last we ever call.  And in case anyone is looking to remediate mold, they also go by the name "Prosource."  Do NOT hire these guys for your job.

The following April, we had the place waterproofed by Trotter with their patented waterproofing system.  Despite some resistance from our neighbors, I do recommend Trotter to anyone who might be needing some basement waterproofing or foundation repair.  It's rained several times since their job, and we've had no leaks.  Not even a wet "odor."


What you can't see...the carpeting had to be removed from the bottom step.  The guys from Mold-Be-Gone were so kind to leave the tack strips though.  Nothing like nails pointing up from a stair to really make a toddler feel at home!

 

The pseudo-kitchenette, complete with faulty plumbing, questionable electrical wiring, and peeling lineoleum flooring.

One view of the soon-to-be media room.

Other view of the soon-to-be media room.

Soon-to-be Fallon's playroom. 

Soon-to-be guest room.  We didn't keep the studs.

This bathroom...was awful.  The toilet wasn't actually secured to the floor.  The shower drain was roughly half an inch above the shower floor.  This also happens to be where the empty box of condoms and the bag of cocaine was found in the drop ceiling.  And it smelled funny.

Finally, in May, we completed the construction of our basement thanks to Michael Roper and his company, Remodeling Group, Inc.  I whole-heartedly recommend these guys to anyone considering any remodeling/construction project.  Michael already had to prove his legitimacy to me because we were using federal disaster loan funds to pay for this project, but what really impressed me was that he provided it all before I even asked.  In fact, he insisted.  I had his personal cell phone number (still do) throughout the project and he was available 24/7.  His guys...spoke English.  And at the end of the project, he showed up with two gigantic boxes of clothing for Fallon that his daughter had grown out of.  He's definitely my go-to guy.




Their tools.  Well, some of them.



No longer a kitchenette.  While Michael did suggest putting in legit plumbing for a wet bar...we didn't.  Now that I look back, we probably should have.  Oh well.

No more door in the media room!  And no more drop ceiling!

Second view of media room.

We kicked out the useless closet to add more space to what was becoming Fallon's playroom.

See?  Told you we didn't keep the studs in the guest bedroom.  And no, we didn't reuse them either.  They're gone.

Well, at least the shower is gone!

I suppose I should show you how that all has turned out so far?

The new stairs!  Truth is, they need to be redone.  The builder had disguised an uneven stair job with the carpeting, but at this point we were too low on funds to correct this issue.  No one's fallen yet due to the unevenness though.

A little easier to breathe here, no?  Our new entryway...still needs coat rack, maybe a cheval mirror, and maybe an entryway storage thingy?

Ah yes, the mancave.  And for the record, Emmanuel picked out everything in this room except for the game table (we already had that...and it was a gift from my dad).  We do still plan to put some more things on the walls.  Like shelves.  They just have to be man-approved first.

Other view of the mancave (to show off the tv).  There are four outlets behind that puppy...to accommodate each of Emmanuel's game systems, the cable box, and of course, the television.  We're thinking a gallery of family photos on the wall to the left.  Eventually.  Still, they have to be man-approved.

The playroom with an unreasonably expensive rug that I just had to have.  Expect to see it in photos for the next 20 years.



The guest bedroom.  More comfy than our own.



My pride and joy of the whole project.  The vanity lights turn on everytime I flip the switch.  The toilet doesn't wobble.  The shower is friggin huge.  And...it doesn't smell funny!