Foundation Stone: Go Rough or Go Clean?
Kind of scary right now…
My exterminator was marveling at how nice — comparatively, I can only assume — my finished basement is, despite my current problems evicting some four-legged squatters. He said that instead of putting up new drywall to replace some damaged walls, I should have the foundation stone repointed and sealed “like in the Park Slope basements I do.” It sounds nice in theory but it might look rather dark, despite the windows. Thoughts?
April 21st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I don’t know if this is an apartment or not, but in ours we converted the whole basement to our master suite and we did repoint the stone. I’m not sure if the stone had ever really been pointed to begin with. The foundations just kind of look like they built the houses on piles of rocks!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I like the stone look. But it would probably be too dark if you do all walls like that. Perhaps leave one of the walls stone, and drywall the rest so it doesn’t get too dark and “feel like the basement”, but one wall (per room, I don’t know how your basement is laid out) does give a nice focal point.
My basement in Ridgewood was red brick, but unfortunately the nice bricks were under countless layers of paint and whitewash. If I still lived there, I probably would have tried to remove the paint to expose the natural brick again. I started doing it on one wall, but then decided it would be easier just to paint them again….but I am sorry I didn’t continue taking the paint off, even if just some of the walls.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 am
Good to at least reseal the stone, then drywall.
I like institutional white, personally.
It makes art look better.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
My Central Avenue building’s basement is entirely stone but was paved with cement and the rest (rooms, etc) is built with cinderblock. We purchased out building this way. Its definitely clean and waterproofed. Stone and dirt is a bit messy. Adding cement to stones will only make the foundation stronger. Its what holds up the building. Luckily, absolutely NO mice or rats in our basement. The basement is really comfortable. We’ve got a gym, kitchenette, full bathroom, 1 storage room, a living room, 2 bedrooms, brand new cemented floors and sheetrock ceiling. No windows though. You can come by to check it out this summer. - Nick
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
i’d get that wall repointed so you don’t have to worry about it for another hundred years, then wall it over, assuming the basement never floods. i think you said your cellar ceilings are very high so you should be able to treat it like a ‘real’ floor. i don’t mind exposed brick/stone, but Jeannie claims i’m ’stuck in the 80s.’