Article
Energy Saving Basement Finishing Ideas
In Ontario, all new homes built after 1975 had to have basement foundation wall insulation with an R12 rating just two feet down from the sill plate. This was designed to prevent condensation from forming on the top half of the foundation wall that was exposed above ground level. This code provision is a standard component of all Canadian and United States building codes today. For older homes built before 1975, there was typically no basement insulation. Recently, the …
Article
Ventilating Basement Radon Gas in the Home
Radon is a natural gas derived from uranium found in the soil that is odorless, tasteless and invisible. It seeps out of the ground and enters the home usually through cracks and crevices in the basement and can affect other areas of the home. In the open air, the amount of radon gas is very small and it does not pose a health risk. However, in some confined spaces like basements and underground mines, radon gas can accumulate to relatively high levels and can become a …
