Lol, what not to do in basements

So this is what happens when you glue foam insulation to the walls and then have to tear it down. Isn't that some pretty artwork? sorry for the grainy image, like I said, I suck at taking pics with my phone as this doesn't do it justice. I bust out laughing every time I look at it! I have no idea how I'm gonna get all that glue off!!

Harbor freight "Oscillating Multifunction Power Tool" - $20 right now. Scrapper blade may work for what you need to get the glue off.... check the video of it in action on their web site.

I hate to promote big box stores,but lowes has a scrapper blade to fit your sawzall,they come 3 to a pack.Goodluck!!!

Bet it coud easily be air-chiseled off!

wdaddy - you know, I was actually looking at that very tool about a month ago before I knew I had to tear this all down but was thinking I didn't need all the different attachments and should I invest in something I might not use that much or wouldn't come in handy for scrapping. Maybe I shoulda picked it up anyways!

stephen - I had no idea! thank you for that tip!

Scrap Junky - LOL! That would definately be some fun chiseling work!! I'd be lucky to have any walls left!


That was just a small section I took the pic of, when I'm finished half of my basement will look like this!

Why did you have to take the insulation off ? Couldn't handle the moisture?

Well new, who knew you were artistic? (Not to be confused with autistic...)

new, who knew....shoot i'm a friggin poet and i didnt know it.

Use a masons chisel (what the use for bricks and stuff). It has a dull edge, so it wont scrape your walls. It is pretty fun too

Looooong story Dee (noticed mold) and never had a flood or sump pump back up so have to figure out where the moisture is coming from. have so much more to tear down yet - the other side of basement has drywall - I built an extra bedroom all by myself when I was single so that side of basement got drywall and the other side was paneled for just the tv/gaming area (I split the basement in half). lol, I did it all with only one electric tool (jigsaw) and the rest hand tools /saws as thats all I had at the time. Got me some books and read up on how to do it all. Had one brother do the electric for me as I didnt want to leave my kids motherless if I screwed up!! Sucks tearing down all the $$ I put into it.

Originally Posted by dryvr12

Use a masons chisel (what the use for bricks and stuff). It has a dull edge, so it wont scrape your walls. It is pretty fun too

You know what? My dad has one of these. I'll pick it up tomorrow and give it a try!

I am no expert but I believe cinderblock sucks up moisture. Is that an outside wall we're looking at?

How is the grade outside and are all the gutters and down spouts working and delivering the water away from the house?

^^Correct, its an outside wall. I graded the yard after the house was built and it has sunk some over the years but I top it off and bring it back up so that shouldnt' be the problem. I cehcked the gutters and spouts and they all seem fine so I'm wondering if something is blocked or backed up in the street sewer system.

Yea, but didn't you guy's get a ton of rain over there? I know all of our yards around here was waterlogged for over 2 months. You could walk thru the yard and water would come up around your shoes.