The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
Through-the-wall fans often require a special BX cable set into the wall. This requires the services of an electrician, unless the home owner is quite skilled in installation of electrical circuits. Local building and fire codes may prevent such installation by the owner. Insurance policies may be voided by unauthorized installation of permanent fans or electrical wiring.
Ceiling There are three advantages in ceiling a basement: (1) the looks of the basement will be improved and the value of the house increased; (2) the ceiling will prevent dust and drafts from passing upstairs; (3) a ceiling will protect the beams and woodwork above from damage by a basement fire for a sufficient time to organize a fight against it. The best ceiling is metal lath and portland-cement plaster. The next choice, and usually the easiest ceiling to build, is plasterboard nailed to the under side of the beams, preferably in double thickness. Another choice is metal or wood lath and gypsum or lime plaster. Insulating board or wallboard can be used but will char through more quickly. Acoustical tile has many advantages as material for a "rumpus room" ceiling
One of the problems that frequently arises in converting the basement of an older house is that there is insufficient headroom. The finished ceiling should not be less than feet from the floor. Any lower ceiling will give a cramped an uncomfortable feeling to the room. The desirable space is feet.
If the floor joists are 7 feet or higher from the floor, but piping and ductwork make the headroom lower, one solution is to relocate the pipes and ducts. Frankly, this is a job for a professional. New lengths of pipe must be cut, threaded and strapped into place. Ducts may require rerouting order to fit into the channels formed by the joists. In mar places, the joists will have to be cut or notched to perrr passing a pipe through. This will weaken a joist. A two-byten joist which has been notched 2 inches is only as strong as a two-by-eight. Where such notches or cuts are made, reinforcing will be necessary. In many cases, a two-by-four on each side of the notched joist will be sufficient. This is true where the notch is less than 3 inches deep. Such additional braces should be at least 8 feet long, and if possible, the length of the joist. Where the notch or cut is more than 3 inches deep, it may be necessary to install an additional joist running parallel to the first one and firmly supported on the foundation sills. It is highly recommended that you "make do" with the present dimensions!
