If youve thought about remodeling or finishing your basement, you may already have an idea of how you and your loved ones will utilize your new living space. Maybe you want to turn it into a home theater, a playroom for the kids, or even a man cave. While you may already know how youll make use of your finished basement, you may not know how youll go about completing your basement renovation. For a basement remodeling product that has been designed specifically for this area of the home and that offers a wealth of impressive features, turn to the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System. Below are a few of our unique features:

Take a look at the reviews of the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System to see what our past customers have to say about us! To begin the exciting process of remodeling your basement, click here to find a local franchisee installer in your area or call us today at 1-800-Basement.

*While the materials and design of the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System resist mold and mildew, the system cannot prevent or mitigate mold if the conditions necessary for mold growth otherwise exist in your basement.

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Basement Remodeling | Basement Finishing | Owens Corning

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Do you feel like your home is shrinking? Are the kids growing up and accumulating more stuff? Is your teenager demanding a room of his own? Has the college grad come back to the nest? Are you looking to provide room for an elderly parent or rent out space to help makes ends meet? Regardless of the reason, the space solution may actually be right under your feet.

Basements are typically about one third of the entire homes available space, 600 to 800 sq. ft. in the average home. And while some basements have been finished to create more living area, the majority of these spaces are used as makeshift laundry rooms, home offices, and storage repositories for everything from spare freezers to pantries, paints, and paperwork. In other words, most basements are underused.

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There are definitely benefits to considering a basement remodel: Unlike a room addition, there is no need to excavate for new footings or worry about structural loads. Utilities (including water, electricity, gas and sewer lines) are typically close at hand, further reducing costs. Heating and cooling loads are relatively light for basements. Basements almost always have stairs leading to them, unlike many attics (another popular house expansion candidate).

Converting a basement, however, is not without its challenges. Below-grade spaces are subject to water and moisture, two common enemies of home construction. Mold and mildew are also common, and natural light is limited. Overhead pipes and ductwork can add further challenges, and if you didnt anticipate a bathroom when the house was built, the basement toilet may have to flush up.

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Basement Remodeling Ideas - Bob Vila - BobVila.com

By Katie Aberbach October 26 at 8:15 AM

In his 15 years of working as a home contractor, Michael Holmes has heard it all including the tale of a homeowner who was blindsided when a basement renovation she had submitted an $8,000 down payment for turned out to be a scam.

The contractor dropped off his tools and never came back, says Holmes, the owner of Northeast Washington-based Holmes Handyman. In his toolbox were a brick and a rusty hammer.

Theres always risk involved when you hire a stranger to work in your home. Residential contractors individuals who do repairs and renovations to properties, often with a special focus such as electrical work or plumbing are hired on a job-by-job basis, so its sometimes difficult to predict what the experience might be like. When selecting someone new, a few key considerations will help you choose the right person for the right purpose.

Research and plan

Unless its a simple repair or appliance fix, figure out exactly what type of work you want and need, before you contact any professional, says Joe Normandy, executive director of the Metro D.C. chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. A plan in your head wont cut it (nor will a collection of Pinterest photos). You have to sit down and sculpt out the project on paper, Normandy says.

Be as specific in writing down your plan (or even sketching it) as you can. Get answers ready for the questions youll inevitably be asked, says John Biechman, an Alexandria homeowner who is currently in the middle of a home addition.

The size of your windows, the size of your doors, which wall you want the shower head on, Biechman says. The contractors not going to make it up. Hes going to ask you.

Having everything written down on paper and agreed-upon in advance is also crucial when putting together a contract the more details you have outlined, the less chance of disappointment (and the better protected youll be if things dont go as planned).

You can use online resources to estimate the amount of materials that will be needed and their cost; itll be helpful as you compare bids.

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Confidently pick home contractors with these tips

Helenans dont just like to admire art, they like to make it.

The second annual This is Helena multimedia, community art show has drawn more than 100 entries -- from 20-year-old emerging artists to veteran artists in their 70s.

The opening reception is from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at The Studio Art Center, 650 Logan St., with music by John Dendy and Greg Hayes.

The art show is the brainstorm of Emily Free Wilson and her husband, Matt Wilson, and they were just putting the finishing touches on it Friday morning.

The front gallery space of their new Studio Art Center was bursting with all sorts of colorful and fun sculptures, paintings, pastels and more.

Its been a really great reminder to me of how important art is in our lives, said Emily. Artists have been coming through the front door to drop off their work and sharing stories of how important art is in their life.

Im really happy; were at 100 or 101 pieces, she said.

Its a great opportunity for new artists, or ones new to Helena to show their work, she said. But well-established artists like Richard and Penny Swanson and Robert Harrison wanted to be part of it, too.

One fun example by one of Helenas newer artists is Adam Riggs Sheep Go to Heaven, Goats Go to Hell. His painting, an oversized and ornate playing card, shows a well-dressed and imperial-looking mountain sheep at the top of the card and an equally imperial mountain goat at the bottom -- until you spin the card.

Adam works at a taxidermy on the edge of town, she said. Between his job and his kids, he doesnt have much time to paint.

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Multimedia art show This is Helena opens Saturday

Published: Friday, 10/24/2014 - Updated: 41 seconds ago

BY MARK REITER BLADE STAFF WRITER

Editor's note: This version of the article corrects the operating hours of the West Toledo Library.

A steady stream of patrons with young children and others, many toting books and DVDs, have been in and out of the West Toledo Library this week as the branch reopened after being closed for more than a year.

With its original multicolored slate roof, tudor-style architecture, and exposed wood support beams, the branch in the Five Points-Library Village neighborhood is among the oldest in the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library system

The library at 1320 Sylvania Ave. now ranks among the most technologically advanced branches in the county system and offers patrons renovated, enhanced gathering space and a 2,500-square-foot addition for the new childrens section.

Julie Bursten, branch manager, said parents and children lined up outside the door, eagerly waiting to get through the new back entrance on the first day Monday.

After we changed the sign on the door on Monday to open, there were maybe 10 kids and their parents in here, she said.

Once inside, they got to play, read, and learn among the enchanted forest of one-of-kind sculptured trees, adorned with tiny gnome doors, dragon tail, snails, and birds in the childrens area.

Everyone who comes in wants to know if the doors open. Its very cool, Ms. Bursten said about the eight-foot tall pieces.

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West Toledo Library retains charm

Basement Remodel Renovation South Shore MA - Plymouth
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Cost estimates for high-ticket downtown building and parking structure could approach $14.6 million

By Tristan Scott // Oct 21, 2014 // News & Features

As the city of Whitefish moves forward with its final design plans for a new downtown city hall and parking structure, officials continue to grapple with cost estimates and a final design schematic.

One estimate recently presented to the Whitefish City Council puts the buildings price tag at $14.6 million, but the total cost could be considerably less depending on the size and design of the building.

Mosaic Architecture submitted several cost estimates for the construction of the city hall and parking structure, with the highest projected budget estimate of $14.6 million accounting for a 30,000-square-foot building and full basement.

A two-story city hall with a half-floor basement and parking structure would cost approximately $12 million, according to Mosaics estimates, while a full basement would cost an additional $500,0000, while a third floor would add roughly $950,000.

If the building includes retail space at the corner of East First Street and Baker Avenue, another $687,000 would be required in the budget.

Ben Tintinger, of Mosaic, met with the citys building steering committee on Oct. 15, and said mixing and matching design concepts from two final schematics is possible.

The council will now move into the second phase of design work while the steering committee hashes out design details for the final schematic.

Mosaic Architecture was awarded the design contract for the city hall and parking garage complex earlier this year, and Tintinger met with the steering committee again to settle the differences between the two design schemes.

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Whitefish Moves Forward with City Hall Design Plans

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) October 22, 2014

Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, a leader in the glass block industry for over 75 years, is pleased to announce their contribution to the Universal Design Living Laboratory (UDLL). UDLL is the highest-rated universal design home in North America, dedicated to accommodating people of all sizes, ages, and abilities. The home will be open to public tours starting Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 23.

UDLL is an impressive undertaking designed to utilize quality and innovative green building elements that should be included in all new homes and remodeling projects. Pittsburgh Corning and the team at UDLL worked together to find a secure and energy efficient window that also provides optimal natural light. The UDLL team selected the pre-assembled LightWise Aluminum Clad Wood Frame Windows for the lower level of the project and a combination of DECORA and IceScapes patterns for the master bathroom.

The windows are a very big element of the southern wall and provide remarkable light virtually eliminating the need for any artificial light in the daytime, says UDLL project leader, Rosemarie Rossetti Ph.D. While some think glass block is a more classic look, we think its a contemporary product that fits seamlessly into the design adding both interior beauty and the efficiency necessary to inspire builders.

The pre-assembled LightWise Aluminum Clad Wood Frame Windows provide unsurpassed privacy, strength, and beauty with less installation hassle. LightWise windows allow natural light and passive solar heat to flow into the basement corridor and office at UDLL, reducing electric costs.

UDLL installed DECORA and IceScapes pattern glass blocks in a beautiful aquarium-themed mural to add a touch of color to the master bathroom. The IceScapes pattern created a bold border around the mural which used DECORA pattern blocks fused with bits of colored glass. Both patterns are scratch-resistant and low maintenance that provide maximum light transmission and privacy.

UDLL will be open to public tours from Saturday, October 25 to Sunday November 23 from noon until 6:00 pm. Admission is $10 per person and all net proceeds will go to spinal cord injury research.

About Universal Design Living Laboratory Located in Columbus, OH, the UDLL is the highest-rated universal design home in North America, earning three national certifications from Livable Design, ZeroStep and Life-Flex Home. Universal design is a framework for the design of living and working spaces and products benefiting the widest possible range of people in the widest range of situations without special or separate design. It is human-centered design, accommodating people of all sizes, ages, and abilities.

About Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Located in suburban Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Corning is the leading glass block manufacturer of applied glass technology and systems for construction materials. Since 1937, Pittsburgh Corning has been on the forefront of innovative architectural glass block systems designing products that stand the test of time. As a leader in glass technology, Pittsburgh Corning provides glass blocks, high performance systems, cellular glass insulation, high performance windows, and designer shower kits for commercial, institutional, government and residential building applications. For more information visit PittsburghCorning.com

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National Glass Block Leader Contributes to Green Building and Universal Design Home

Basement Remodeling Testimonial- Silver Spring MD
A full basement remodel was needed for this couple. Now having teenagers, space was limited and needed more of a recreation area for friends and play. Full d...

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