Basement Remodeling Begins With Dependable Waterproofing  

Basement remodeling can add lots of extra living space to your home but beware; basement water leakage could put a real damper on your hopes if not properly corrected.

There are two conditions you must address for a dry basement, actual water leakage and condensation. Water leakage is a pretty obvious concern to homeowners but many are unaware of the problems that high humidity can cause to a finished basement.

Humidity Problems 

Because a basement is below ground, it will be naturally cooler than the floors above ground. When warmer air from upstairs or outside enters the basement, it shrinks in volume as it cools. This shrinking or “condensing” of the air volume results in higher humidity. Everything porous in your basement will absorb the extra moisture in the air and cause a foul odor. Dehumidifiers are appliances which mechanically remove the unwanted extra humidity from your basement. A good dehumidifier is a must if you plan on remodeling your basement. Even a basement that doesn’t leak will benefit from using a dehumidifier.

Water Leakage 

Without doubt, water leakage into the basement must be permanently corrected before you start your remodeling project. Start by correcting obvious sources of the problem; broken or non-existent rain gutters, down spouts emptying next to the foundation, ground outside sloping toward the home, uncovered underground windows, etc.

After you exhaust all preventative measures outside, try to identify areas inside where you are experiencing the leakage. If a corner of the basement seems to be a particular problem, again, look outside at your rain gutter downspouts. If you see cracks in the walls leaking, some of these can be repaired with hydraulic cement or crack injection. If water seems to be coming in from an isolated area, installing a sump pump below floor level can lower the water table and underground hydrostatic pressure in that area. If you are unsure or your problems seem to be widespread, it might be best to call in a building inspector, engineer or other professional to help you identify and solve your problem. There are a variety of services available to solve your leakage problems. These include; outside excavating, re-parging your walls, interior or exterior drainage systems, interior cove systems, grout or epoxy injection and others. Most of these options will require a professional Sioux Falls Remodeling contractor.

Basement Remodeling Begins 

I like studding the walls out with 2X4s. If you can spare the extra space, 2X6s are even better because they allow room for more insulation. Never, under any circumstances, nail furring strips onto the walls. Penetrating the foundation will compromise its barrier against water.

Use construction adhesive rather than nails or screws to adhere your bottom wall plate to the floor. It’s ok to nail the upper wall plates into the upper floor joists.

Don’t glue down your basement carpet. Carpet is something that is going to wear out and eventually need to be replaced. Glued down carpeting creates a real problem later on when trying to remove it. Tell your carpet installer to use construction adhesive to install the carpet tack strips around the perimeter. Do not allow them to drive nails into the cement floor.

Summary 

With some common sense construction techniques, a reliable waterproofing system and humidity control, you can enjoy a lot of extra living space by remodeling your basement.

About the Author:

Robert Clarke has owned B-Dry System NEPA, a basement waterproofing company, for the last 20 years. He has also served as President of the B-Dry Owners Association, a nationally recognized group of basement waterproofing contractors. Visit https://www.b-dry.com/ for details.

5 replies
  1. Afton Jackson
    Afton Jackson says:

    I didn’t realize that basement waterproofing can help prevent from condensing air from causing issues with your foundation. My sister wants to remodel her basement soon. This seems like something that could protect her investment from water or humidity issues.

  2. Derek Dewitt
    Derek Dewitt says:

    My wife and I are remodeling our basement at the moment, but we aren’t sure where to start when it comes to making it waterproof. I like that you suggest checking your rain gutters to see if they are pouring into a specific spot. We’ll be sure to check for any outside spots where water could get in so we can seal them off. Thanks for sharing.

  3. waterproofing
    waterproofing says:

    Great article , thanks for sharing. According to me house waterproofing should be taken up as a measure while building a new home as well as can be done while repairing. 

  4. Jocelyn McDonald
    Jocelyn McDonald says:

    The basement in my family’s home keeps having leaking issues, and we’re thinking about remodeling it to try and fix the problem. Your article had great information regrading this, and I liked how you said we’ll need a good dehumidifier for the remodeling, as this will porous materials in the basement from absorbing extra moisture. Thanks; we’ll keep this in mind when fixing our leaky basement.

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