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Yes, a bowed wall can be straightened in several ways. If the bowing is minimal, it can often be straightened by installing anchors or straps. For more severe basement wall bowing, your contractor might need to excavate the soil outside the foundation and pull the wall back into its original position to straighten it.

There are a few easy ways to locate a wall stud without a stud finder. First, try knocking on the wall with your knuckles. Most parts of the wall will sound hollow, but when you tap over a stud, it will sound more solid. Alternatively, since studs are spaced 16 or 24 inches apart, you can measure those distances from a corner of the room, which will always have a stud.

Most of the time, you’ll want to use screws on your subfloor rather than nails. Nails can actually weaken plywood, whereas screws can easily penetrate without damage. They also form a more secure connection because of their shape, preventing squeaky floors and tightly holding the subfloor in place. That said, some contractors do prefer nails depending on the type of floor covering because they allow for more flexibility.

If you’re considering buying a home with known termite damage, you can negotiate with the seller to lower the costs of the house. They might be able to make the damage repairs before handing over the keys or lower the asking price before the deal is agreed upon. It’s vital though that even if you’re winning the negotiation, a home inspection contingency might be a good idea in case of future issues.