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Finished Basement Ideas
: Waterproof Your Basement Before You Remodel It
Waterproof Your Basement Before You Remodel It
by David Cooper
Refinishing your basement is an easy way to increase the value of your home.
It can add hundreds of square feet of living space in your house, and it can
easily add an extra bedroom or two. This can make your house more appealing to a
larger family or to a family who is simply looking to have more elbow room.
However, having a wet basement can dramatically reduce your home’s value. Most
people will not even consider purchasing a home that has water leakage. You can
lose as much as 25% of the sale price of your home if you have water leaks.
Having a damp basement can also result in health problems from mold and fungus.
The best time to take care of any water problems you may have in your basement
is before you begin to remodel. If you do not take the extra steps necessary to
waterproof your basement ahead of time, it will be more expensive to do it
later.
There are some signs to look for in order to determine if you have a problem
with dampness or water in your basement.
- One of the first signs is a moldy odor. This occurs from the decay
process that is caused by mold and mildew.
- Damp spots on the walls means that water has absorbed through your
walls.
- A white substance on the walls of your basement means that there has
been a chemical breakdown with the bonding agent that holds the walls
together. Not only is this a sign of water, but it is also a sign of
possible structural deterioration.
- Cracks in your walls can be a sign of water, but they can also be
caused by other reasons. It is best to have cracked walls inspected in
order to determine the exact cause.
- Rust on appliances, furniture, floors or walls is caused by a damp
environment and is a definite sign of waterproofing issues.
There are several things to consider when you water proof your basement. You
can use a waterproofing concrete sealer in order to keep water from being
absorbed through concrete. Some of these concrete sealers will also help
prevent radon from leaking into your house through your basement floor.
Good air circulation is also important to help prevent damp air in your
basement. Most basements do not have good air circulation because they do
not have windows and they do not have proper heating and air conditioning
ducts installed. These are importing things to consider when you're
refinishing your basement.
Some homeowners will set out chemicals that are designed to draw the
moisture from the air. While this is one option to help reduce the moisture
in your basement, it can be one that is very unsightly and possibly even
dangerous.
It is much better to take the time to make sure that your basement is
properly ventilated and waterproofed before you begin to do any remodeling.
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