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Finished Basement Ideas
: Basement Remodeling and Basement Waterproofing
Basement Remodeling Begins With Dependable
Waterproofing
by
Robert Clarke
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.
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. Visit http://b-drybasementswaterproofingnepennsylvania.com/basement-remodeling.html
for more information. He has also served as President of the B-Dry Owners
Association, a nationally recognized group of basement waterproofing
contractors. Visit http://www.b-dry.com/ for details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Clarke
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