Basement Finishing Tips
There are several things you should consider before constructing new rooms or finishing a basement. Since basements are underground, you must address moisture, drainage and waterproofing concepts before framing in new room walls, laying tile and carpeting or installing plumbing and heating. It is better to be overly cautious about basement refinishing than suffer the consequences of mistakes after investing substantial amounts of cash. Use basement finishing tips to prevent costly mistakes.
Evaluate the exterior perimeter around the entire basement before beginning construction inside the basement. Installing waterproofing systems can address groundwater seepage problems that can prove to be disastrous after completing basement rooms. Groundwater seepage or even flooding usually gets worse over time as houses get older.
Address the best ways to seal interior walls from moisture before finishing basement rooms. Since basements are below ground level it is not unusual to have water vapor passing through the walls. Purchase a high quality mold inhibitor and waterproof sealant to control higher humidity levels in basement walls. Waterproof paneling is another alternative, which is easily installed and is a decorative touch to basement rooms.
If you live in portions of the country that do get substantial amounts of rain, you should give serious consideration to installing a sump pump with an alarm, in addition to a back-up system. A sump pump can offer piece of mind and may save you hundreds of dollars in the process. Pumps designed with an alarm system alert homeowners that the pump is not functioning and they can take immediate action to reset a circuit breaker or fix the problem.
- Consider the installation of any type of carpeting or flooring carefully and prepare the floor surface accordingly before installation. Basement floors are composed of porous concrete from which water vapor travels through. Tiling, linoleum and carpeting will all absorb moisture through the concrete and can create rot, mold and odors as a result. Floor matting systems constructed of polypropylene materials can be installed prior to floor installation to protect your flooring against water vapor.