Tips on basement apartments
 

Hye,

Have just moved into a new renovated basement apartment. Everything is fine except that the hardwood floor gets damp and sweaty (not sure if the description is right). How do I handle that. Any tips, suggestions, advice?
Thanks.

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

hi !
ventilation !! and more of it ! before the winter sets in. one of my mates lived in a basement for a few years and he had the same prob. however, if water or condensation has seeped in underneath the floor, then there is trouble--there is no way i can think of to eradicate the moisture aside of removing the floor and letting air in. try ventilation first, i would say. :confused:

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

Dehumidifier may work, along with ventialation, I think the cold ground (basements are nice and cool in the summer for a reason) is causing the humidity in the air to condense onto the floor. Sounds like there is no insulation in the floor. I wouldnt want to live there in the winter, I've a feeling it will be pretty cold or cost a lot to heat unless they had the good sense to install in-floor heating.

Iain

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

If there is in-floor heating installed the problem will solve itself once the heating is turned on. But I guess that in-floor heating isn't an option, thus good ventilation, if possible in combination with a dehumidifier, is your only solution.

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

That.... or break your lease and for the love of Pete, go get an apartment NOT located in the basement. (They are cheaper for a damn good reason).

Damp and cold in the summer (full of silverfish...yay and those odd little colourless spiders - some sort of mutated breed, I'm sure)
And damp and cold in the winter! (This time with frost on the windows so you have NO view outside for 6 months even if your window does extend over the snow line.)

Never heard yet of someone happy with a basement apartment for long. And even if you are... not a thing wrong with it.. it's perfect in all senses of the word... it still SMELLS like a basement apartment.. even if you can't smell it (you'd be used to it...like cat owner doesn't "get" the cat smell in their house.) we CAN!

That... or a dehumidifier or electric heating ought to help.:D

Siren

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

Only if you live near an old nuclear power plant..... :)
(or near a russian naval base with nuclear subs)

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

Lived in a basement apartment now for the last 3 years.

Cheap, none of the problems you go on about, and loving it.

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

Don't forget the "huge' spiders that come through the walls - in the fall!!!!

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

How much snow would you get over there to block out the light from the windows?
:D

Re: Tips on basement apartments
 

At least 3 foot. Which is probably once every 10 years.

Last one was in 97 or 96. :D