Basement Remodel: Phase 1 Finished, Phase 2 Begun
We finished phase 1 of our basement remodel a year ago, but I never showed you how the guest suite turned out. So here's a video tour of it, along with a bit about how the beginning of phase 2…
remodeling
Energy Vanguard’s 2024 Retrospective
It's been a big year here at Energy Vanguard. In previous year-end articles, I've focused mainly on what happened here in the blog. This year, however, I'm expanding the retrospective to include other stuff. I'll start with the blog, then…
Soundproofing a Wall – The Basics
You know how the sound from that TV in your den comes right through the wall and you can hear every word? Or the annoyance of your neighbors when their lawn maintenance crew comes every Saturday afternoon right when you…
InSoFast Makes Basement Insulation Easy
If you've seen any of the articles or videos about my basement renovation, you probably know I'm using a product called InSoFast to insulate the floors and walls. You can see it on part of the basement in the photo…
The One Reason NOT to Do It Yourself
I've taken on a whole lot of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects over the years. I built furniture (end table, bookcase, coffee table...) in high school and college. Thanks to owning a couple of old Volkswagens ('61 Beetle and '65 bus), I've…
Radon Reduction From Basement Sealing – Preliminary
Shortly after my wife and I bought our 1961 home in 2019, I discovered a serious problem in the basement. Where I could see it, the slab was cracked all along the edge of the exterior walls (photo above). I…
Basement Renovation in a 1961 Home
My wife and I bought our 1961 house in 2019, and it came with a basement in pretty rough shape. It smelled musty. There was evidence of moisture damage. The slab was cracked along the perimeter of the exterior walls. …
Uncovering the Secrets of an Old House
I've been in a lot of old houses and seen a lot of interesting things. One of the things I love about that is trying to figure out the mysteries I find. Lately, the mysteries I've been encountering are in…