Remodeling the basement - The aftermath of the flood. Part 1

Of course C and I had to return to Pitt.  We had to go back to work so we couldn't devote time to redoing the basement right away.  That, and with the wedding in November, as much as we wanted, this was just not a "now" thing we could handle.

What we did start doing was brainstorming.  How could we make the basement waterproof.  And we came up with this fantastic idea... tile!  Tile floors and tile walls up to a chair rail.  Tile is waterproof, just think of your shower.  We can make the basement just like a big shower.  We didn't like the idea to put tile all the way up the wall because its pricey, and its not very easy to hang stuff on tile.  At least not as easy as drywall.
We also planned to elevate the electronics, dvd's, books, basically anything that we want to hang on the walls will be higher than 1 ft off the ground.  Sofas, coffee tables, all that can just be thrown out if it gets wet.  We were tired of sorting through our possessions and having to choose, keep or toss.

In the months since the flood, I even built an elevated Rubbermaid rack.  Notice the bottom shelf is elevated.  See, originally I thought I was smart.  Cardboard is porous, but Rubbermaid containers are not.  So if we ever did get water, all our "stuff" would be safe!  WRONG.  When you get 11 inches of water Rubbermaid containers get buoyant and float and then turn to a side.  Then water gets in the containers because the top is not waterproof.  I knew the top wasn't waterproof, but I didn't think about the fact that the container would get buoyant and then flip on its side.  Live and learn...



Anyway, we thought our plan - tile - was golden.  Until we talked to a contractor.  It was too expensive.  Like WAY too expensive. Like we could add a gigantic addition onto our house for the price of the tile in the basement.  Our contractor said we might as well build a pool into our basement.

He said, get the insurance (which we have) and do drywall.  Yes it sucks, if you get water, but its cheap and easy to replace.  So, unfortunately, we are currently installing drywall, framing and carpet.  Maybe our second house will have overhead sewers....