1
00:00:00,700 --> 00:00:05,033
♪♪

2
00:00:05,100 --> 00:00:06,466
Kevin: On "Ask This Old House,"

3
00:00:06,533 --> 00:00:09,033
Our experts travel
across the country

4
00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:11,466
to answer questions
about your house.

5
00:00:11,533 --> 00:00:17,733
♪♪

6
00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,066
Today, Mauro shows how playing
with shades of color

7
00:00:21,133 --> 00:00:23,033
can brighten a dark space.

8
00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:26,866
Mauro: I know this is going to
look very nice here.

9
00:00:26,933 --> 00:00:29,633
Kevin: And do you struggle
with water in your basement?

10
00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:31,400
Richard and Mark answer
some common questions

11
00:00:31,466 --> 00:00:33,933
about this problem.

12
00:00:34,033 --> 00:00:36,533
Plus on "Build It,"
Tom makes a bat house

13
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,300
that can support the ecosystem
of these beneficial creatures.

14
00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,600
All that next on
"Ask This Old House."

15
00:00:46,766 --> 00:00:50,600
♪♪

16
00:00:50,666 --> 00:00:51,866
Kevin: Hey, Jenn. Hey, Tommy.

17
00:00:51,933 --> 00:00:53,033
Tom: Hey, Kevin.
Jenn: Hey.

18
00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:54,533
Kevin:
What are you guys working on?

19
00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:55,866
Tom: Well, I'm looking at
a website from the state.

20
00:00:55,933 --> 00:00:58,366
Talks about bats
and bat houses.

21
00:00:58,433 --> 00:01:00,966
Kevin: Running out of projects,
Pops? Bat houses?

22
00:01:01,033 --> 00:01:03,333
Tom: I'm thinking about it.
Jenn: They're very important

23
00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:04,666
to the ecosystem.
Right?

24
00:01:04,733 --> 00:01:06,800
So they are a natural
pest control

25
00:01:06,866 --> 00:01:08,400
right here in Massachusetts.

26
00:01:08,466 --> 00:01:12,066
They do an amazing job culling
down the mosquito population.

27
00:01:12,133 --> 00:01:13,533
Kevin: You do see them
sort of zinging around.

28
00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,733
Jenn: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And at night there's certain,

29
00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,533
like, beetles and moths
that eat crops.

30
00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,100
So they also help out with
that -- natural pest control.

31
00:01:20,166 --> 00:01:22,366
Kevin: So pest control.
They're hungry buggers, huh?

32
00:01:22,433 --> 00:01:24,066
Jenn: Yes. And they're also
great pollinators.

33
00:01:24,133 --> 00:01:27,033
They go for -- In the desert
and tropical areas,

34
00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:29,033
they love to feed
off of fruit trees.

35
00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:31,700
So the blooms that open
at night, they go in,

36
00:01:31,766 --> 00:01:34,066
they pollinate,
and they move on to the next.

37
00:01:34,133 --> 00:01:35,733
So very important.
Kevin: Wow.

38
00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,500
Jenn: And another important
fact -- the agave plant.

39
00:01:38,566 --> 00:01:40,900
They depend on bats
for their pollination.

40
00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,800
Kevin: Ooh. And from the agave
plant, we get tequila.

41
00:01:43,866 --> 00:01:45,400
Jenn: Tequila.
Kevin: Nectar of the gods.

42
00:01:45,466 --> 00:01:47,633
Jenn: Yep.
So they help out financially

43
00:01:47,700 --> 00:01:50,000
across the board
with crops and everything, so...

44
00:01:50,066 --> 00:01:52,066
Kevin: I'm completely
coming around the bats, Pops.

45
00:01:52,133 --> 00:01:53,200
Tom: They're party animals.

46
00:01:53,266 --> 00:01:54,833
Kevin: Bat shots.

47
00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:56,033
So you're thinking
a bat house.

48
00:01:56,100 --> 00:01:57,366
Tom:
So I'm thinking of a bat house.

49
00:01:57,433 --> 00:01:58,966
It looks like
a pretty simple project.

50
00:01:59,033 --> 00:02:00,666
I can get some different ideas
and work on it.

51
00:02:00,733 --> 00:02:02,500
And I think eventually
we can sit around

52
00:02:02,566 --> 00:02:03,866
and build a bat house.
Kevin: Alright.

53
00:02:03,933 --> 00:02:05,433
Well, maybe if you
work on a plan,

54
00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:06,866
I'll check back later
and we'll see how we can do.

55
00:02:06,933 --> 00:02:08,100
Jenn:
Maybe you can build me one.

56
00:02:08,166 --> 00:02:09,366
Tom: No, I'm only building one,
Jenn.

57
00:02:09,433 --> 00:02:10,600
Don't be pushy.
Jenn: Come on.

58
00:02:10,666 --> 00:02:14,100
♪♪

59
00:02:14,166 --> 00:02:16,666
Mauro: I'm on my way to help
a homeowner

60
00:02:16,733 --> 00:02:19,366
to brighten up a dark room
in the house.

61
00:02:19,433 --> 00:02:22,433
But in this case,
if you don't have any

62
00:02:22,500 --> 00:02:24,100
or much of a natural light,

63
00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:29,833
the first thing I will suggest
is I paint the ceilings, trim,

64
00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:31,900
and doors with a brighter color,

65
00:02:31,966 --> 00:02:34,766
maybe like a white
or one of those off-whites.

66
00:02:34,833 --> 00:02:36,233
And then the walls,

67
00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:39,766
you can use a little bit
of color, but not too dark.

68
00:02:39,833 --> 00:02:42,100
When you bring a light color
into a room,

69
00:02:42,166 --> 00:02:45,266
you're going to make a lot
of more enjoyable space

70
00:02:45,333 --> 00:02:47,333
and a much more comfortable room

71
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,933
that you can enjoy anytime
during the day or the evening.

72
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:57,633
♪♪

73
00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:04,300
♪♪

74
00:03:04,366 --> 00:03:05,900
Hi, Molly.
Molly: Hi.

75
00:03:05,966 --> 00:03:06,933
Mauro: Nice to meet you.
Molly: Nice to meet you.

76
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,300
Come on in.
Mauro: Alright.

77
00:03:08,366 --> 00:03:10,933
I know you want to do some paint
around your place here.

78
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:12,733
Molly: Yes, and I need help
choosing a color.

79
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:14,033
Mauro: Alright. Cool.

80
00:03:14,100 --> 00:03:15,533
Molly: So, I moved in here
about a year ago,

81
00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,800
and I don't get
a lot of natural light.

82
00:03:17,866 --> 00:03:19,666
Mauro: Okay. Oh, it's that?
Look at that.

83
00:03:19,733 --> 00:03:21,833
Molly: Yeah. And so I want to
brighten up the space,

84
00:03:21,900 --> 00:03:24,366
and I don't really like
neutral colors.

85
00:03:24,433 --> 00:03:26,433
And I really like to have color.
Mauro: Okay.

86
00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:27,833
Beautiful.

87
00:03:27,900 --> 00:03:30,000
I noticed that you have
three different colors there.

88
00:03:30,066 --> 00:03:32,700
And which one do you
like the best?

89
00:03:32,766 --> 00:03:34,533
Molly: My favorite is this blue.
Mauro: Okay.

90
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:35,700
This is gonna look fantastic.

91
00:03:35,766 --> 00:03:37,833
I like that blue
throughout the space.

92
00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:40,933
But I also notice the ceiling
is not bright white.

93
00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:42,966
Are you planning to do any work
with the ceiling

94
00:03:43,033 --> 00:03:45,100
and the walls at the same time?
How is that going to work?

95
00:03:45,166 --> 00:03:47,366
Molly: I'm planning to paint
the ceiling white eventually.

96
00:03:47,433 --> 00:03:49,200
Mauro: Okay, but first you want
to do the walls?

97
00:03:49,266 --> 00:03:50,566
Molly: Right. For right now,
just the walls.

98
00:03:50,633 --> 00:03:52,166
Mauro: Alright.
I also notice the wall

99
00:03:52,233 --> 00:03:54,766
there in that corner doesn't
have much light breaking it.

100
00:03:54,833 --> 00:03:57,100
Molly: Yes. So that's part of
what I've been struggling with,

101
00:03:57,166 --> 00:03:58,933
that the color looks so
different on

102
00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,133
each side of the room.
Mauro: Okay.

103
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:01,833
Got it.
So here's what I propose

104
00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:04,400
that I'm going to do for you.
It's got this color.

105
00:04:04,466 --> 00:04:07,366
And we're going to make
four different samples

106
00:04:07,433 --> 00:04:10,266
from the same color --
same color, different shades.

107
00:04:10,333 --> 00:04:14,300
And maybe one of them
will work perfect for that

108
00:04:14,366 --> 00:04:15,666
compared to this area here.

109
00:04:15,733 --> 00:04:17,333
Molly:
And will that have it look

110
00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,833
the same color
all around the room?

111
00:04:19,900 --> 00:04:21,966
Mauro: It's going to
look slight different.

112
00:04:22,033 --> 00:04:23,633
That's going to be
a slight lighter there

113
00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:25,766
because not enough light
in there.

114
00:04:25,833 --> 00:04:27,400
Okay? So we can try them.

115
00:04:27,466 --> 00:04:30,033
And once you be happy with the
one you like, we'll go to work,

116
00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:31,366
you and I.
Molly: Okay.

117
00:04:31,433 --> 00:04:32,833
Mauro: Alright.
I'm going to get the samples.

118
00:04:32,900 --> 00:04:35,333
Be right back. You and I,
we have a lot of work to do.

119
00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:36,566
Molly: Okay. Sounds good.

120
00:04:36,633 --> 00:04:40,700
♪♪

121
00:04:40,766 --> 00:04:42,500
Mauro: Molly, here we go.
We have four

122
00:04:42,566 --> 00:04:48,066
different shades of blue --
100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%.

123
00:04:48,133 --> 00:04:52,333
I'll hold this up. I know this
is going to look very nice here.

124
00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:53,766
It's going to do
the work for us,

125
00:04:53,833 --> 00:04:56,000
but the other walls
is the trickier one.

126
00:04:56,066 --> 00:04:57,766
Let's check that one out.

127
00:04:57,833 --> 00:05:00,300
Okay. Let's try these colors
here, Molly.

128
00:05:00,366 --> 00:05:03,833
Here we have the 100% formula.
What do you think?

129
00:05:03,900 --> 00:05:05,033
Molly: I think it's too dark
on this side.

130
00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:06,066
Mauro: Too dark with that.
I agree.

131
00:05:06,133 --> 00:05:08,033
So okay, that's too dark.

132
00:05:08,100 --> 00:05:12,133
Now we have the 75% formula.

133
00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:13,333
Molly:
That's much better over here.

134
00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,333
Mauro: Much better.
But not there yet?

135
00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:16,700
Molly: No.
Mauro: Alright. Cool.

136
00:05:16,766 --> 00:05:21,933
Alright.
Now we have the 50% formula.

137
00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:23,433
Molly: That's even better.

138
00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:24,666
Mauro: That's even better.
We're getting there.

139
00:05:24,733 --> 00:05:26,833
Okay, now we have one more.
Molly: Yeah.

140
00:05:26,900 --> 00:05:30,300
Mauro: This is the lightest
one, is the 25%.

141
00:05:30,366 --> 00:05:31,733
Molly: Yeah, I think
that's too light.

142
00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,066
Mauro: Too light, okay.

143
00:05:33,133 --> 00:05:35,033
That doesn't work for us
with the wall here.

144
00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:36,666
Molly:
So it's either 50% or 75%.

145
00:05:36,733 --> 00:05:39,166
Mauro: 50% or 75%.
Alright, okay.

146
00:05:39,233 --> 00:05:42,466
We have the 75% formula
on my right.

147
00:05:42,533 --> 00:05:46,233
And then we have the 50%
on my left. Alright?

148
00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:49,466
So which one do you feel like is
going to do better for us here?

149
00:05:49,533 --> 00:05:50,866
Molly:
I think the 50% is better.

150
00:05:50,933 --> 00:05:53,366
Mauro: The 50%? 75% won't do it?
Molly: No.

151
00:05:53,433 --> 00:05:56,833
Mauro: Alright. I agree with
you. Let's do it this way now.

152
00:05:56,900 --> 00:05:58,300
Molly: Yeah. That looks great.

153
00:05:58,366 --> 00:05:59,700
Mauro: Right there?
Molly: Yeah.

154
00:05:59,766 --> 00:06:00,933
Mauro: I think that's going
to look fantastic.

155
00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:02,233
I think we got our color.
Molly: Okay.

156
00:06:02,300 --> 00:06:03,766
Mauro: Alright.

157
00:06:03,833 --> 00:06:06,600
Well, before we paint,
we do some prep work to do.

158
00:06:06,666 --> 00:06:09,300
Here we go.

159
00:06:09,366 --> 00:06:10,766
We're going to move
the furniture,

160
00:06:10,833 --> 00:06:13,100
outlet covers
we're going to remove.

161
00:06:15,300 --> 00:06:17,666
Going to go all the way
to the bottom here.

162
00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:21,933
Alright.

163
00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,300
We're going to tape
the baseboards

164
00:06:23,366 --> 00:06:24,700
and we'll drop-cloth the floors,

165
00:06:24,766 --> 00:06:26,600
protect the floors,
and we're ready to paint.

166
00:06:26,666 --> 00:06:31,700
♪♪

167
00:06:31,766 --> 00:06:34,833
Well, now you notice you and I,
we protect everything.

168
00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:36,366
Now it's time to paint.
Molly: Okay.

169
00:06:36,433 --> 00:06:38,466
Mauro: Okay? We're going to
start with the 100 first.

170
00:06:38,533 --> 00:06:40,100
Molly: Okay.
Mauro: And then we go to the 50.

171
00:06:40,166 --> 00:06:41,733
Molly: Okay.
Do we need to prime the walls?

172
00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,066
Mauro: We don't need to prime

173
00:06:43,133 --> 00:06:45,933
really because the walls
is a very good shape.

174
00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,266
It has been painted before.

175
00:06:47,333 --> 00:06:48,966
So we can go
straight with paint.

176
00:06:49,033 --> 00:06:50,300
Molly: Okay.
Mauro: Ready to go?

177
00:06:50,366 --> 00:06:52,566
Molly: Let's go.
Mauro: Let's have some fun.

178
00:06:52,633 --> 00:06:55,066
Just give it a longer stroke.
Okay?

179
00:06:55,133 --> 00:06:57,266
There we go. Nice.

180
00:06:57,333 --> 00:07:06,633
♪♪

181
00:07:06,700 --> 00:07:09,500
Go all the way down
in one stroke.

182
00:07:09,566 --> 00:07:11,433
Here we go. Perfect.

183
00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:19,766
♪♪

184
00:07:19,833 --> 00:07:28,066
♪♪

185
00:07:28,133 --> 00:07:29,033
Ah.

186
00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:36,366
♪♪

187
00:07:36,433 --> 00:07:43,700
♪♪

188
00:07:43,766 --> 00:07:45,466
Molly: Hey, it looks like
we're done with the 100.

189
00:07:45,533 --> 00:07:47,600
Mauro: This looks perfect.
Looks nice.

190
00:07:47,666 --> 00:07:49,900
We're wrapping with the 100.
Let's start the 50.

191
00:07:49,966 --> 00:07:51,300
Molly: Okay, let's do it.

192
00:07:51,366 --> 00:07:57,433
♪♪

193
00:07:57,500 --> 00:08:03,533
♪♪

194
00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,933
Mauro: Well, both colors, first
coat is done. Let's let it dry.

195
00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,166
We'll come back for the second
and final coat of it.

196
00:08:10,233 --> 00:08:12,166
Alright?
Molly: Okay. Sounds good.

197
00:08:12,233 --> 00:08:13,666
Mauro:
Alright. First coat is dry.

198
00:08:13,733 --> 00:08:15,633
Let's get on
with the second coat.

199
00:08:15,700 --> 00:08:17,300
Molly: Okay.
Mauro: We're gonna do the same

200
00:08:17,366 --> 00:08:18,700
way as we did the first coat.

201
00:08:18,766 --> 00:08:20,166
We're going to cut.
We're going to roll.

202
00:08:20,233 --> 00:08:22,500
And we keep going. Alright?
Molly: Okay.

203
00:08:26,766 --> 00:08:28,566
Mauro:
Well, Molly, look at this.

204
00:08:28,633 --> 00:08:30,333
Molly: It looks good.
Mauro: Amazing.

205
00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,233
Second coat is dry to the touch.
You know what time it is?

206
00:08:34,300 --> 00:08:35,500
Molly: It's time to clean up?

207
00:08:35,566 --> 00:08:37,133
Mauro:
Remove the tape. Let's go.

208
00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,066
I'll show you how to do it, and
then you get to take it over.

209
00:08:39,133 --> 00:08:41,966
Okay?
So just lift the bottom.

210
00:08:42,033 --> 00:08:45,366
Give the tape like
a 45-degree angle.

211
00:08:45,433 --> 00:08:47,533
Go just like this.
Molly: Okay.

212
00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,200
Mauro: Nice and easy.

213
00:08:49,266 --> 00:08:53,466
Alright? Just like that.
Alright, take it over.

214
00:08:53,533 --> 00:08:55,633
And I will start
this end over here.

215
00:08:55,700 --> 00:08:57,633
Molly: How long should you
leave the tape on?

216
00:08:57,700 --> 00:09:00,400
Mauro:
Second coat is dry to touch it,

217
00:09:00,466 --> 00:09:01,866
time to remove the tape.

218
00:09:01,933 --> 00:09:05,066
What happens is,
if you wait too long,

219
00:09:05,133 --> 00:09:08,766
some paint might come with it
when you remove the tape.

220
00:09:08,833 --> 00:09:12,600
And we don't want that, right?
Molly: Right.

221
00:09:15,566 --> 00:09:19,366
Mauro: There we go. Perfect.
Wow, Molly, look at this room.

222
00:09:19,433 --> 00:09:20,766
What do you think?
Molly: It looks great.

223
00:09:20,833 --> 00:09:23,000
Mauro: Remember that dark side
of the walls there?

224
00:09:23,066 --> 00:09:24,100
Molly: Yeah. It's so much
brighter now.

225
00:09:24,166 --> 00:09:25,500
Mauro: It looks beautiful.

226
00:09:25,566 --> 00:09:27,700
Well, any more projects,
let me know.

227
00:09:27,766 --> 00:09:29,900
I'll be happy to come here
and help you again.

228
00:09:29,966 --> 00:09:31,300
Molly: Thank you.
Mauro: Thank you. Molly.

229
00:09:31,366 --> 00:09:37,100
♪♪

230
00:09:37,166 --> 00:09:38,466
Kevin: Hey, Mark. Hey, Richard.
Richard: Hey, there.

231
00:09:38,533 --> 00:09:39,666
Mark: Hey, Kevin.
Kevin: Just the two gentlemen

232
00:09:39,733 --> 00:09:41,233
we need to talk to.
Richard: Hope so.

233
00:09:41,300 --> 00:09:43,366
Kevin: Wet basements --
probably the most frequent

234
00:09:43,433 --> 00:09:44,833
question we get from viewers.

235
00:09:44,900 --> 00:09:46,933
And it seems like you two
are those guys that help us out,

236
00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:48,466
figure out how to keep
our basements dry.

237
00:09:48,533 --> 00:09:49,900
Mark: Right. Alright, well,
two different ways

238
00:09:49,966 --> 00:09:52,066
the water can come in
from the outside.

239
00:09:52,133 --> 00:09:55,533
No gutter, downspout is
in the wrong position, come in.

240
00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:56,766
go right through the foundation.

241
00:09:56,833 --> 00:09:58,166
The second way is water

242
00:09:58,233 --> 00:10:00,000
rises through that concrete
floor in the basement.

243
00:10:00,066 --> 00:10:01,466
Kevin: Only two ways?
Richard: It makes me think

244
00:10:01,533 --> 00:10:04,033
of what an old-time
sailing captain taught me.

245
00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:06,733
He said a house is nothing
but a poorly built boat

246
00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,033
so firmly run aground,
you wouldn't dare pull her off.

247
00:10:09,100 --> 00:10:12,600
And it's a question of can you
keep the water out of this boat,

248
00:10:12,666 --> 00:10:14,500
which is our house?
And that's the challenge.

249
00:10:14,566 --> 00:10:15,633
Kevin:
So let's talk about keeping --

250
00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:17,133
If it's that surface water,

251
00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:18,800
if it's sort of coming down
from you say gutters,

252
00:10:18,866 --> 00:10:20,200
roofs and stuff like that...
Mark: Right.

253
00:10:20,266 --> 00:10:21,533
Kevin:
Thoughts on how we manage that?

254
00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,833
Mark: So, if we have new
construction, easy enough.

255
00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:25,900
All we do is run
a perforated pipe

256
00:10:25,966 --> 00:10:27,866
all the way
around the foundation.

257
00:10:27,933 --> 00:10:31,033
That cuts out to a dry well.
The water gets collected

258
00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:33,200
and ends up in the dry well
and dissipates.

259
00:10:33,266 --> 00:10:35,800
Kevin: Right. Harder to do
if it's not new construction.

260
00:10:35,866 --> 00:10:37,400
Mark: Exactly.
You have trees, bushes,

261
00:10:37,466 --> 00:10:39,366
the whole nine yards right
in front of the foundation.

262
00:10:39,433 --> 00:10:42,766
So expensive to dig
and really not cost-effective.

263
00:10:42,833 --> 00:10:44,400
Kevin: So if it's not
new construction

264
00:10:44,466 --> 00:10:45,700
and we don't want to go
through the expense

265
00:10:45,766 --> 00:10:48,033
and cost of digging a trench
on the outside,

266
00:10:48,100 --> 00:10:49,400
what are we doing
to keep the basement dry?

267
00:10:49,466 --> 00:10:51,866
Mark: So take the French drain
and put it inside.

268
00:10:51,933 --> 00:10:54,400
What we do at that point
is we dig

269
00:10:54,466 --> 00:10:56,066
around the perimeter
of the foundations.

270
00:10:56,133 --> 00:10:58,733
We cut the concrete at
12 inches out,

271
00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,433
we break that up,
we dig down about 12 inches.

272
00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:04,600
We replace that
with 12 inches of gravel.

273
00:11:04,666 --> 00:11:06,100
But in the middle
of that gravel,

274
00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:08,533
we put this perforated pipe,
and you can see those holes.

275
00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:10,200
That's going to take
in the water.

276
00:11:10,266 --> 00:11:12,233
This water comes out
of one corner,

277
00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:14,166
goes all the way
around the foundation

278
00:11:14,233 --> 00:11:16,900
ends up in the same corner,
and...

279
00:11:16,966 --> 00:11:19,500
Richard: That all goes to what
they call a sump,

280
00:11:19,566 --> 00:11:22,000
which is fundamentally the same
as a bilge on a boat.

281
00:11:22,066 --> 00:11:23,966
So once you have
a sump or a bilge,

282
00:11:24,033 --> 00:11:26,300
you're going to need some
mechanical pump to get it out.

283
00:11:26,366 --> 00:11:27,966
The original sump pumps
that we always have used,

284
00:11:28,033 --> 00:11:31,100
used to have a motor
that sat up in the air space,

285
00:11:31,166 --> 00:11:34,466
and then a tube down
to a volute and a long float.

286
00:11:34,533 --> 00:11:37,366
Nowadays we see more and more
of these submersible ones.

287
00:11:37,433 --> 00:11:39,833
Submersible has a float switch
right here

288
00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:42,366
that will activate at
about 9 1/2 inches,

289
00:11:42,433 --> 00:11:44,533
and it'll shut off
at about 4 inches,

290
00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,533
thereby leaving water
in the bottom of the sump,

291
00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,033
which seems counterintuitive,

292
00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:51,333
but this is actually a cast-iron
volute with an impeller inside,

293
00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,733
and they want to keep
this moist or wet

294
00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:55,333
so that it doesn't
dry out and rust.

295
00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,566
And so it's with intention.

296
00:11:57,633 --> 00:11:59,166
The other thing is this
is a submersible.

297
00:11:59,233 --> 00:12:02,933
So it's underwater, so it'll
run cooler and quieter.

298
00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,600
But once you live and die
by this sump pump, you know,

299
00:12:06,666 --> 00:12:08,366
and you need it,
you got to worry about

300
00:12:08,433 --> 00:12:10,100
what happens
if the power goes away.

301
00:12:10,166 --> 00:12:12,000
Kevin: Yeah, sure.
Richard: This is a 12-volt

302
00:12:12,066 --> 00:12:13,900
backup and has a different
type of sensor.

303
00:12:13,966 --> 00:12:16,500
The operating float switch
for this backup pump

304
00:12:16,566 --> 00:12:17,933
would be mounted
in such a position

305
00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,866
that it would be higher
than the float activation point

306
00:12:20,933 --> 00:12:24,433
for the regular 110-volt sump,
so if this ever failed,

307
00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:25,833
the water
would continue to rise,

308
00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:29,100
make this switch and bring this
on through the battery,

309
00:12:29,166 --> 00:12:33,333
and that means you might get 10
to 20 hours of pump,

310
00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,433
just enough to get you through
that power interruption.

311
00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:36,666
Kevin: Right.
Richard: Another important

312
00:12:36,733 --> 00:12:38,133
detail about installations --

313
00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,533
we see this all the time --
This is your best friend.

314
00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,366
This is an important device
called a check valve.

315
00:12:43,433 --> 00:12:47,666
Now, a check valve has a little
flapper inside of it right here.

316
00:12:47,733 --> 00:12:51,366
Okay? And what happens is,
if it didn't --

317
00:12:51,433 --> 00:12:52,866
if it wasn't installed,

318
00:12:52,933 --> 00:12:55,733
that pump and/or that pump
would come on and it would pump

319
00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,400
and it would go out
30, 40, 50 feet to outside.

320
00:12:58,466 --> 00:13:01,266
And when it's shut off,
what would happen?

321
00:13:01,333 --> 00:13:03,833
All the water in that pipe
would fall back to the pits,

322
00:13:03,900 --> 00:13:06,333
fill the sump again,
activate the thing.

323
00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,200
So literally it would be
a perpetual motion machine

324
00:13:08,266 --> 00:13:09,433
on and off all the time.

325
00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:11,400
So this check valve
is critically important

326
00:13:11,466 --> 00:13:12,866
to make sure
you don't burn out the pipe.

327
00:13:12,933 --> 00:13:14,900
Kevin: Gotcha.
So if I walk into a basement

328
00:13:14,966 --> 00:13:16,466
and I see a sump pump,
I'm thinking,

329
00:13:16,533 --> 00:13:18,633
"Ah, I got a wet basement."
You know, avoid at all costs.

330
00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:21,033
Is this a bad sign to have it
down there in the basement?

331
00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:23,533
Mark: So, I think that's
the misconception of the day.

332
00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,533
Back when I was a young guy,

333
00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,533
people would come in
and buy a house.

334
00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,066
If they saw a sump pump,
they were gone.

335
00:13:30,133 --> 00:13:32,400
Today, I look at a sump pump
and I say, "Okay,

336
00:13:32,466 --> 00:13:33,800
water table is the water table,

337
00:13:33,866 --> 00:13:35,433
but you're handling
the situation."

338
00:13:35,500 --> 00:13:37,400
Sometimes you can't build
these houses high enough,

339
00:13:37,466 --> 00:13:39,266
so they have to be
where they have to be.

340
00:13:39,333 --> 00:13:40,566
You have a sump pump.

341
00:13:40,633 --> 00:13:42,000
Again, you've taken care
of the problem.

342
00:13:42,066 --> 00:13:43,300
Kevin: This tells you at least
you thought it through

343
00:13:43,366 --> 00:13:44,433
and you've got a way
to deal with it.

344
00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:45,666
Mark: Exactly.
Richard: Some people are

345
00:13:45,733 --> 00:13:46,900
so desperate
to have a finished basement

346
00:13:46,966 --> 00:13:48,266
that they'll actually
use this too,

347
00:13:48,333 --> 00:13:51,400
which is this rubberized
or plasticized material

348
00:13:51,466 --> 00:13:53,300
on this side
of some strand board.

349
00:13:53,366 --> 00:13:55,266
And so now at least
you've got a place

350
00:13:55,333 --> 00:13:56,833
you can have a dry floor
to build off.

351
00:13:56,900 --> 00:13:59,200
Mark: Right. And I'm also going
to add that this system

352
00:13:59,266 --> 00:14:01,466
that I'm talking about
is a cure-all.

353
00:14:01,533 --> 00:14:03,166
It actually --
This perforated pipe

354
00:14:03,233 --> 00:14:04,566
is actually going to grab
that water

355
00:14:04,633 --> 00:14:07,066
before it hits the bottom
of your concrete floor

356
00:14:07,133 --> 00:14:08,600
and then again shift
it to that point.

357
00:14:08,666 --> 00:14:09,900
Richard: No water underneath it.
Mark: That's right.

358
00:14:09,966 --> 00:14:11,333
Richard: Right.
Kevin: I knew you guys were

359
00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:12,633
the right guys to talk to.
Richard: That's right.

360
00:14:12,700 --> 00:14:13,600
Kevin: Absolutely.
Richard: We'll be here

361
00:14:13,666 --> 00:14:15,033
in the basement.
Mark: Yeah.

362
00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:16,933
Kevin: Or on a boat.
Everything's a boat to you.

363
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:22,566
♪♪

364
00:14:22,633 --> 00:14:25,100
So, bat houses, huh, Tommy?

365
00:14:25,166 --> 00:14:26,766
Tom: Yeah.
I thought we'd make a bat house

366
00:14:26,833 --> 00:14:29,433
for those little critters
that fly around the backyard.

367
00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:31,133
But it's important
the material we use.

368
00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:32,866
First of all, we're going
to use a 2x4.

369
00:14:32,933 --> 00:14:34,433
But we want to make sure
that it's not

370
00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:36,133
a pressure-treated 2x4

371
00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,133
because you don't want the bats
to ingest that chemical.

372
00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,733
Kevin: So you picked up
some what, some cedar?

373
00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,333
Tom: This is a cedar.
It's a little pricey.

374
00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,433
I mean, you could use
a conventional 2x4,

375
00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:48,000
but that 2x4 will rot over time
a lot faster than that will.

376
00:14:48,066 --> 00:14:49,266
Kevin:
Nothing's too good for the bats.

377
00:14:49,333 --> 00:14:50,466
Tom: Exactly.

378
00:14:50,533 --> 00:14:52,600
And we're going
to use a rough plywood

379
00:14:52,666 --> 00:14:54,666
because you want something
that they can cling to.

380
00:14:54,733 --> 00:14:59,133
So this is an exterior-grade
CDX, 3/4 inch thick.

381
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,566
Alright?
So that should last long.

382
00:15:00,633 --> 00:15:04,333
And it's also important
that we use a water-based paint

383
00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,300
because we don't want
any of those oil chemicals

384
00:15:06,366 --> 00:15:08,666
getting to the bats.
And we want to paint it black.

385
00:15:08,733 --> 00:15:11,166
The reason we want black is
because the sun will heat it up,

386
00:15:11,233 --> 00:15:12,900
keeping the bats warm
during the day.

387
00:15:12,966 --> 00:15:15,100
Kevin: Oh, that's nice.
Tom: Isn't that nice?

388
00:15:15,166 --> 00:15:19,166
And we use exterior screws
and a little bit of caulking.

389
00:15:19,233 --> 00:15:21,366
That's actually also an adhesive

390
00:15:21,433 --> 00:15:23,466
for where the roof
meets the back.

391
00:15:23,533 --> 00:15:25,766
We want to fill that crack
so the water

392
00:15:25,833 --> 00:15:27,666
doesn't leak
and get the bats wet.

393
00:15:27,733 --> 00:15:29,400
Kevin: Got the materials.
Looks like you got a plan.

394
00:15:29,466 --> 00:15:32,100
I guess we're good to go.
Tom: Ready to start cutting.

395
00:15:32,166 --> 00:15:34,866
Alright, I want to cut the 2x4
for the sides.

396
00:15:34,933 --> 00:15:36,900
I'm going to cut
a rough length first.

397
00:15:36,966 --> 00:15:40,233
I set my saw at 20 degrees,
and now I'm ready to cut.

398
00:15:42,266 --> 00:15:44,800
[ Saw whirring ]

399
00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:51,266
Alright, so now if I take
my two pieces

400
00:15:51,333 --> 00:15:54,700
that both have a 20-degree
angle on them,

401
00:15:54,766 --> 00:15:58,466
line them up,
take my tape measure,

402
00:15:58,533 --> 00:16:04,033
and I bring it to the shot point
of the angle, run it out,

403
00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:10,433
and I mark 21 for my length
and make a cut.

404
00:16:10,500 --> 00:16:12,733
[ Saw whirring ]

405
00:16:19,333 --> 00:16:22,266
Now both pieces
are the same length.

406
00:16:22,333 --> 00:16:24,733
Okay, so we cut a 4x8 sheet
in half.

407
00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,033
So it's 4x4.
The first thing I want to do

408
00:16:27,100 --> 00:16:31,066
is cut two pieces,
15x24, out of it.

409
00:16:31,133 --> 00:16:35,800
So we'll make it the 15 first...

410
00:16:35,866 --> 00:16:37,633
here...

411
00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:39,333
and here.

412
00:16:41,166 --> 00:16:43,033
[ Saw whirring ]

413
00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:45,366
These pieces will serve
as the front, back,

414
00:16:45,433 --> 00:16:47,933
and partitions of the bat house.

415
00:16:58,733 --> 00:17:00,833
[ Saw whirring ]

416
00:17:06,166 --> 00:17:09,066
Now we got to cut the back
and the front.

417
00:17:09,133 --> 00:17:10,833
[ Saw whirring ]

418
00:17:22,066 --> 00:17:26,566
Now I'll have to
cut those to 11 1/2.

419
00:17:26,633 --> 00:17:28,966
So we've marked the angle
for the pitch of the roof

420
00:17:29,033 --> 00:17:31,566
for our two interior baffles.

421
00:17:31,633 --> 00:17:33,866
Kevin: So sitting inside the
frame of this house, Tommy,

422
00:17:33,933 --> 00:17:36,500
there's basically
two vertical pieces

423
00:17:36,566 --> 00:17:38,700
that sort of create partitions?
Tom: Two dividers.

424
00:17:38,766 --> 00:17:41,700
And the spacing is a little
over 5/8 inch.

425
00:17:41,766 --> 00:17:42,866
Kevin: Yeah.

426
00:17:42,933 --> 00:17:45,200
[ Saw whirring ]

427
00:17:49,900 --> 00:17:52,100
Tom: Next thing I want to do
is cut the front.

428
00:17:52,166 --> 00:17:54,466
Now this piece will be
a little bit wider,

429
00:17:54,533 --> 00:17:56,800
but the angle is still the same.

430
00:17:56,866 --> 00:17:58,633
[ Saw whirring ]

431
00:18:03,633 --> 00:18:06,200
Now we're almost ready
to put our pieces together.

432
00:18:06,266 --> 00:18:08,533
But before we do that,
we want to make a place

433
00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,566
for the bats
to grab on to when they land.

434
00:18:11,633 --> 00:18:15,366
So I'm going to put a series of
grooves right across the bottom.

435
00:18:15,433 --> 00:18:17,900
So when they hit it,
basically they can grab on

436
00:18:17,966 --> 00:18:20,166
as they walk up inside.

437
00:18:20,233 --> 00:18:22,200
[ Saw whirring ]

438
00:18:28,533 --> 00:18:29,766
That should do it.

439
00:18:29,833 --> 00:18:31,866
Kevin: It's like a bat ladder.
Tom: Yeah.

440
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,000
Alright, we're almost ready
to assemble it,

441
00:18:35,066 --> 00:18:37,833
but let's dry-fit
all of our pieces first.

442
00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:38,966
This will be the bottom.

443
00:18:39,033 --> 00:18:40,333
This is where
the bats will land.

444
00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,166
And they'll crawl up
inside. You like that?

445
00:18:42,233 --> 00:18:44,000
Crawl up inside.
Kevin: [ Laughs ]

446
00:18:44,066 --> 00:18:47,433
Tom: Alright, so we put one of
our sides together right here.

447
00:18:47,500 --> 00:18:51,933
That's the roof pitch like that.

448
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,633
We'll take a filler
or just a scrap piece of wood

449
00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:58,300
and put it there.
One on the bottom.

450
00:18:58,366 --> 00:19:01,233
That's the space
that the bats will crawl in.

451
00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:04,466
Place one here.

452
00:19:04,533 --> 00:19:06,033
And make it even on the bottom.

453
00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:09,233
A couple more scraps.

454
00:19:09,300 --> 00:19:12,300
One more baffle goes in.

455
00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:15,866
Just like that.

456
00:19:15,933 --> 00:19:18,500
Kevin: So you can see how they
come up through the bottom.

457
00:19:18,566 --> 00:19:20,133
Tom: They come up
through the bottom.

458
00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,500
Now, if you notice
that we've kept the baffles

459
00:19:22,566 --> 00:19:25,433
down from the top edge
of the 2x4,

460
00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:28,166
and that's to create a space,
so if the bats want to,

461
00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:31,900
they can climb up
in any one of these spaces,

462
00:19:31,966 --> 00:19:33,566
climb up and go back down.

463
00:19:33,633 --> 00:19:36,500
Climb up and go back down,
whatever they want to.

464
00:19:36,566 --> 00:19:38,433
They can climb up here
and then go down.

465
00:19:38,500 --> 00:19:39,466
Kevin:
Hang out with their friends.

466
00:19:39,533 --> 00:19:40,766
Tom: Yeah, exactly.

467
00:19:40,833 --> 00:19:42,466
So when we put the front on,

468
00:19:42,533 --> 00:19:47,933
you'll see that there's three
spaces and the front goes even

469
00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:53,333
with the top of the 2x4s
when we put our roof on.

470
00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:54,800
And once we place the roof on,

471
00:19:54,866 --> 00:19:58,533
you can actually see that space
also created a nice space

472
00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,200
for the bats
to wander around inside.

473
00:20:02,266 --> 00:20:05,833
And that'll keep the water out
and keep them nice and dry.

474
00:20:05,900 --> 00:20:07,566
Second piece for the front.

475
00:20:07,633 --> 00:20:09,800
We keep it down with about
1/4 inch space

476
00:20:09,866 --> 00:20:12,633
that lets the air circulate
when it gets really hot.

477
00:20:12,700 --> 00:20:14,566
We'll keep
the interior partitions

478
00:20:14,633 --> 00:20:18,300
down about 1/4 inch
from the top to create a space

479
00:20:18,366 --> 00:20:21,533
so that the warm air
can exit through the top

480
00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,066
and the cool air
can come in through the bottom.

481
00:20:24,133 --> 00:20:31,700
♪♪

482
00:20:31,766 --> 00:20:39,366
♪♪

483
00:20:39,433 --> 00:20:47,000
♪♪

484
00:20:47,066 --> 00:20:54,633
♪♪

485
00:20:54,700 --> 00:20:57,033
Before we put the front
and back on,

486
00:20:57,100 --> 00:20:59,966
I want to put a bead
of caulking around the exterior

487
00:21:00,033 --> 00:21:02,966
to make sure the inside
of the house stays watertight.

488
00:21:03,033 --> 00:21:08,033
♪♪

489
00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:09,566
Kevin: Want a bead there?

490
00:21:09,633 --> 00:21:12,766
Tom: I'm going to try to
pre-drill some holes first

491
00:21:12,833 --> 00:21:16,433
because I know this might split
if we don't.

492
00:21:16,500 --> 00:21:23,200
♪♪

493
00:21:23,266 --> 00:21:25,433
Now you're going to put that
on there. We'll center it.

494
00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:30,266
♪♪

495
00:21:30,333 --> 00:21:34,500
Two vent holes on each side
just to let the air circulate.

496
00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:40,966
The bat house is now ventilated.

497
00:21:41,033 --> 00:21:46,466
♪♪

498
00:21:46,533 --> 00:21:51,933
♪♪

499
00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,633
There you go.
Kevin: That is a pretty

500
00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:55,066
good-looking bat house, Tommy.

501
00:21:55,133 --> 00:21:56,266
Tom: And it's a good size.
Kevin: It's huge.

502
00:21:56,333 --> 00:21:57,866
It's for like three
bat families.

503
00:21:57,933 --> 00:21:59,100
Tom: Yeah, well,
how big are the families?

504
00:21:59,166 --> 00:22:00,500
Kevin: I have no idea.

505
00:22:00,566 --> 00:22:02,633
Alright, well, when I put this
in my yard -- thank you,

506
00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:05,666
by the way -- any suggestions
on where I put it?

507
00:22:05,733 --> 00:22:07,366
Tom: Well, I guess you can
put it almost anywhere,

508
00:22:07,433 --> 00:22:09,600
but they recommend that you
put it up relatively high

509
00:22:09,666 --> 00:22:11,033
to keep it away
from predators.

510
00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:13,033
And also, the bats
could use that space

511
00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:14,766
when they swoop down
to get flight.

512
00:22:14,833 --> 00:22:16,033
Kevin: Very nice.

513
00:22:16,100 --> 00:22:17,166
Okay, well, the kids
are going to be psyched.

514
00:22:17,233 --> 00:22:18,066
There are going to be
fewer mosquitoes

515
00:22:18,133 --> 00:22:19,166
in the backyard this summer.

516
00:22:19,233 --> 00:22:20,500
Alright.
Thank you, Tommy. Nice job.

517
00:22:20,566 --> 00:22:21,966
Tom: My pleasure.
Thanks for all your help.

518
00:22:22,033 --> 00:22:23,600
Kevin: Alright.
Plenty more coming up,

519
00:22:23,666 --> 00:22:26,100
so be sure to join us next time.
Until then, I'm Kevin O'Connor.

520
00:22:26,166 --> 00:22:29,166
Tom: And I'm Tom Silva.
Kevin: For "Ask This Old House."

521
00:22:29,233 --> 00:22:30,466
I guano [gonna] put this
in my backyard.

522
00:22:30,533 --> 00:22:33,233
Tom: "I guano," oh, my gosh.
Kevin: I guano.

523
00:22:33,300 --> 00:22:35,233
Tom: Been thinking about
that all day, haven't you?

524
00:22:35,300 --> 00:22:36,733
Kevin: Eh.

525
00:22:41,833 --> 00:22:44,033
Kevin: Next time on
"Ask This Old House"...

526
00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:46,666
Lee improves the soil conditions
of a garden space

527
00:22:46,733 --> 00:22:49,100
that takes it
from dreary to dreamy.

528
00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,433
Then we meet a painter
whose passion for the trades

529
00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:55,466
inspires those
who work around her.

530
00:22:55,533 --> 00:22:57,166
Stephanie: I love what I do.
I want to provide

531
00:22:57,233 --> 00:22:59,600
the best product for people,
and I think that comes across.

532
00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:04,033
Kevin: And Heath installs
a bathroom vent for a homeowner

533
00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:07,233
in an old house
with some vintage wiring.

534
00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:10,333
All that on
"Ask This Old House."