A Rec Room Remodel Makes for the Perfect Pre-Winter Project

As the weather turns colder, now is a great time to think about giving the kids some play space to help them explore their imaginations without turning your house upside down. Plus, who doesn’t want a designated zone to kick back and enjoy Sunday football or a place to get the whole family together for a winter movie marathon? So this week, let’s talk about how to turn that unused basement into a recreation area that can keep the family occupied while keeping the rest of your home intact.

One of the greatest outcomes of a basement remodel is that it gives you the opportunity to go through all your old belongings and get rid of anything that’s past its use by date. As we get closer to winter, our shelters will be in need of extra warm clothes and furniture banks like Bristol’s For Goodness Sake can use additional inventory to make a family feel at home this holiday season. Decluttering is a great start for any remodeling project and the additional room and space will make the project much easier to tackle.

Once your space is clear, you can start to develop your floor plan. You want to think about what it will be used for today, but you’ll also want to consider future plans. As the kids grow, will it be easy to transform that arts and crafts nook into a movie room? If it’s a large space, are there ways that you can divide it to create different areas of enjoyment for everyone in the family? Be practical and be sure to take measurements. There’s no use buying a regulation pool table or having a custom bar made if you can’t fit it through the door!

Once you have an idea of your layout, my next step would be to evaluate the moisture situation. Because basements are underground and most have cement walls, they are generally damp, dark places that can attract mold. If you get water in your basement after a big rain storm, you’ll want to have that taken care of before any remodeling work starts. You don’t want to be dealing with flooding after a new carpet has just been installed and you definitely don’t want your kids spending their snow days in a place that’s festering with mildew.

Another thing to think about is your mechanical systems. It’s expensive to rewire and move around furnaces and hot water systems, so try to design around them. If it’s not possible, be prepared to factor the plumbing and wiring work into your overall budget.

If you’re starting from scratch and need to build walls and ceilings, it’s important to note that the materials you use may be different than the ones on the floors above. Assuming the basement is dry, you’ll want to make sure to insulate it before installing any drywall. You’ll also want to inspect any pipes for leaks or condensation before covering them up. Sealing gaps, insulating pipes, and waterproofing any potential problem areas before you start your framing will make your life a whole lot easier than having to deal with an issue once your walls are up.

That’s all for this week, but check back in next Friday when we’ll talk about insider tips and pitfalls to avoid when creating the rec room of your dreams.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Don’t Ignore Those Rain Causing Roof Leaks

Earlier in the week, my phone was ringing off the hook with people calling for me to fix their leaky roofs. We’ve had a dry summer and autumn thus far but sure enough, as soon as the skies opened up, the rain found its way right into people’s homes, causing dark, damp spots on their ceilings and down their walls. With more rain in the forecast for this coming week, I wanted to address this common problem for homeowners and give you some tips to follow before the real wet and wild winter weather arrives.

If you find a leak, have it checked right away. Leaks show themselves in the walls and ceilings but it’s not always easy to find the source of the problem. Most leaks that are caused by a roof problem generally only surface during bad weather and won’t cause issues when the sun is out, unlike pipe leaks which appear anytime.

To know for sure, grab a flashlight and head up into the attic. You can remove the insulation around the spot where the leak is staining the ceiling. Then look up at the pitch and see if you can see any holes or light shining through. Popular roof leak sources include valley flashing, gaskets around vents, or cracks and crevices around your chimney or utility entrances, but it’s tough to know without jumping up on the roof for an inspection which I’d leave to a professional.

If you call a contractor, he or she will want to thoroughly inspect the roof and the ceiling to find the cause of the problem. Often times they will find corrosion or lifted shingles but in these conditions where we had a lot of leaves fall in a very short period of time, the problem could simply be coming from rainwater that can’t drain due to clogged gutters. Once the water path into the house is detected, a repair can be relatively simple, inexpensive, and might even be able to be fixed on the spot.

While many repairs are minor, it’s very important not to ignore the issue. Water traveling from the roof to the inside of your home has a lot to get through to finally appear in your ceiling, including layers of shingles, wood, and insulation. If the water sits stagnant, it becomes a breeding ground for mold growth which can deteriorate the materials that help your house stay strong. Mold can also be dangerous for your family to breathe in every day, and having it circulating through your home as you begin using your heating system can cause both short and long-term health issues, especially for young children and people with asthma.

Simply put, a roof leak isn’t something to mess with and even if it is a major issue, getting someone to give you options for dealing with it will help you plan for the work that may be inevitable. With more rain forecast this coming week and winter on the way, it’s a problem that’s better for you to deal with now before it has the opportunity to get worse.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Bob’s Five Favorite Halloween Home Decorating Ideas

Halloween decorating can stressful and expensive, especially if left until the last minute. So, if you’re one of the busy moms, dads, or grandparents wondering what to do to “spookify” your home while enjoying some crafty time with the kids this weekend, I’ve got you covered. Here are my five favorite decorating ideas to give your house a Halloween makeover without breaking the bank. Read on:

Short on Time Jack O’ Lantern

If you’re short on time but love the idea of carving up a jack o’ lantern, try this alternative. Pick up a few pairs of Dracula teeth and some flameless LED votive candles from your local Halloween supply store. Cut the top off a small pumpkin and clean out the pulp and seeds. Then use a drill to carefully cut two small holes for eyes and a knife to cut one large oval for the mouth. Insert the votives into the small holes with the flame facing out and wedge the Dracula teeth into the larger hole.  You can even add an additional votive inside the bottom of the pumpkin so the whole thing glows. If you’re really short on time, forget the carving entirely and just cut a piece out of the pumpkin to insert the teeth. Then insert red pins or tacks for the eyes.

Gourd Totem Pole

Give some of those not so perfect and neglected gourds and pumpkins a new lease on life by creating a simple totem pole. All you’ll need is a fence post or heavy-duty garden stake, a drill with a two inch bit, and an assortment of pumpkins and gourds. Start with the biggest piece and drill a clean hole from the top to the base. Then stack by color and size to achieve your desired look. If you have some extra time and want to carve the pumpkins or gourds, you can string some white holiday lights through to give them an eery glow.

Ghostly Mirror

An entryway mirror can become positively spooky when a ghost crosses its path. To give your mirror a Halloween twist, pick up some frosted glass cling film from your local craft store. Then draw out a simple ghost shape, including two holes for the eyes and one for the mouth. Using an X-Acto knife, cut out the shape, the eyes and the mouth and affix it to your mirror, smoothing as you go. Add a few more ghosts to make it a family affair, or keep it simple with one spine-tingling silhouette.

Tin Can(dles)

Raid the recycling bin for some clean cans and give them a simple coat of black paint. While the cans are drying, use some construction paper to draw a pattern or some words, such as “Trick” and “Treat”. Once the cans are dry, tape the paper to the cans and use a drill to create the words or pattern that you’re going for. Then add a flameless LED candle to complete the look.

Paper Bats

If you have kids that love making paper snowflakes, this is even easier. All you’ll need is some black construction paper and scissors, plus you can print an online template, or draw your own. If you’re not the artistic type, I found one at MadeEveryday.com to help you out. Once you have your template, use it to draw an outline of your bat. If you’re planning on making a bunch, I recommend layering a few pieces of black construction paper at a time and folding them in half to save on time. Then once all your bats are cut out, you can use them to decorate your front door, entryway, or even place a few on your pumpkins. At night, you can illuminate them by candlelight for an extra spooky effect.

These five ideas are some of my favorites but I know there are tons more to have fun with. What are your favorite holiday decorating ideas that can keep the little ones occupied while taking it easy on the wallet? I’d love to hear from you, so send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros. Happy Halloween!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.