Once you've ensured that your basement is water-tight, it's time to paint. Expect to spend about an hour preparing and painting a 6x8-foot wall, not counting drying time required for repairs.

Snap Lines on the Floor Snap a line on the floor 4 inches away from the foam as a guide for the bottom plate. Note: This will leave a 1/2-inch gap between the bottom of the new wall and the foam ...

Once basement walls are cleared of debris, add polystyrene foam. You’ll want to cut your insulation a quarter inch shorter than the height of the wall using a circular saw or utility knife.

—Greg, Brighton The crack you describe is not unusual. These are normally seen 2 or 3 feet below grade and are typically found on a long basement wall. Two issues may contribute to the cracks.

Dear Jerry: Our house is newly built in Webster-Penfield in 2016. The basement cinder block walls have dimple board on the outside that is somehow tied in with the French drain — whatever that is.

A leaking wall in a basement is more common than on above-grade (above-ground) levels, so musty smells will be more common in the basement. 2. Mold and Mildew ...