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Basement Remodeling Starts With Reliable Waterproofing
by Robert Clarke
http://www.b-drybasementswaterproofingnepennsylvania.com
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.basementleakage.com/basement-
waterproofing.html for details.
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