Wet Basement

A wet basement problem could be caused by many things including a water leak or high humidity. It is important to note that a wet basement can lead to mold, mildew, or other biological growth. Left untreated a wet basement can lead to rot, structural damage, premature paint failure, and a variety of health problems.

Water can seep into your house from the outside through a leak in the foundation, or small gaps around windows or doors. Water can also come from inside your house from a leaking water pipe, toilet, shower or bathtub. High indoor humidity caused by normal activities of everyday living, such as showering, cooking, and drying clothes, can also be a source of your problem. A wet basement is commonly caused by moisture migrating through a concrete foundation. There may not be a sign of any leak or standing water, but the moisture evaporates, increasing indoor humidity. Another common cause is condensation on the cold concrete walls and floors during humid months.

Wet Basement-Checklist

• Where does the problem occur? Below a bathroom? Ceiling? Corners? Where the problem occurs can lead to what is causing the problem. If the problem is localized (a spot on the ceiling, wall or corner it is possibly caused by a water leak. If the problem is in a large area, like a whole wall or room, then it might be caused by humidity.
• If you suspect a mold problem consult EPA’s Brief Guide to Mold in your home for more information.
• If you plan to remodel your basement, it is important to control moisture problems at the before doing anything else. Corrective actions can be relatively easily but sometimes, depending on the severity of the problem, they can be difficult and expensive.

Wet Basement-Stop water leaks

• If a leak is the source of your problem, have it fixed first.
• If you have standing water on the floor of your basement after a heavy rain then it is likely from a leak in the foundation.
• 1. Clean rain gutter and redirect downspout runoff away from the foundation.
  2. Make sure the ground around the house slopes down away from the foundation. If necessary, re-grade so the ground does slopes away.
  3. If you have a sump pump, make sure it is working properly.
• If you have water stains on the ceiling or wall under or near a bathroom it could be a leak from a water pipe, toilet, bathtub or shower. Hire a plumber to repair the leak.
• If the leak has caused substantial water damage or mold you will want to hire a contractor who specializes in mold remediation and water damage repairs.

Wet Basement-Reducing Humidity

• If your basement has a dirt floor, cover the floor completely with plastic to slow down water vapor coming through the soil.
• Use ventilation fans in kitchens and baths to control moisture. Check to make sure ventilation fans venting directly outside. In some cases the vent fan may have been installed to vent into the attic or become disconnected or blocked.
• Your clothes dryer should be vented directly to the outside. Inspect the vent duct. Make sure it is attached securely to the dryer. Check that it is clear of obstructions (e.g. lint). Check for holes that leak air. If vent duct is damaged replace it with a metal duct. The vent duct should be cleaned at least once a year.
• Ask a heating and cooling contractor to check your heating and cooling system to make sure it is sized and operating properly to remove humidity. If you system is too big or the airflow incorrect your air conditioner will not remove humidity like it should. Also, ask the contractor to check your duct system for air leaks, and proper size and air flow to each room. To help you find a contractor, please refer to our recommendations.
• Sealing air leaks (Home Sealing) and sealing duct air leaks can help to prevent high humidity levels in your home.
• During hot humid months, using a dehumidifier in the basement can reduce condensation on the walls. This may work better after you’ve sealed air and duct leaks to reduce the amount of humid outdoor air you are bringing into the basement.

If you have a wet basement you will be doing yourself, your family and your property a big favor by seeking an aggressive remedy.

Basement Finishing

If you  have decided to undertake a basement finishing project, you’re in for a lot of work, some tough decisions but in the end you will end up with a fantastic amenity in your home as a reward for your time and any money spent.

A basement finishing project provides virtually unlimited opportunity to add living space within your home for your family. It will increase the value of your home should you decide to sell it.

Getting basement finishing ideas and suggestions is a fairly simple process if you utilize magazines and the internet.

Prior to setting out with tools in hand on your basement finishing project, there are some details you will need to attend to

• Check for the presence of radon gas.
• Check for dampness, leaks, mold or fungus.
• Check for cracks within the floor and walls and seal any that you find.
• It is good construction practice to apply a sealant to the concrete or other building material utilized to construct your basement.

Now you are ready to start with the design your basement finishing project. It can save a lot of time, money and problems if you start your design by sketching out the floor space inside your basement and mark your floor plan to show essential things you will require to take into account inside your style

1. Show where any windows are situated.
2. Indicate an exterior door.
3. Indicate the point(s) of access from the principal floor.
4. Locate and indicate on your drawing, the location of your fuse box or circuit breaker box, shut-off valves for water, gas, etc. You may will need to arrange your basement finishing plan around these essential items to keep them accessible.
5. Indicate the location of any plumbing access pipes.
6. Indicate the location of appliances, furnace, heat pump, water heater, laundry.
7. Indicate the location of any support poles or beams
8. Your plan will need to make concession for any essential heating or hvac ducting.

Now that you are ready to use the basement finishing list items above and develop the design for your basement remodeling project. Here are some time money and labor saving ideas:

1. Place any new bathroom, kitchen, laundry room or any item that needs a water/ sewer access, as close as is possible to existing plumbing. This will save you some time and money.
2. Do you need a second means of egress (stairway) to satisfy local code guidelines or just to facilitate privacy for a family member or tenant.
3. Figure out how you are going to work around and still offer access to shut-off valves, circuit breaker boxes, etc.
4. Discover a creative way to work with supporting columns or beams.
5. Don’t forget to try to integrate a storage area in your basement finishing project as you will most likely be losing a large storage space by remodeling your basement into family living space.
6. Remember that it may be necessary to insulate any walls that separate living space in your basement from utility rooms like furnace rooms that produce noise..

Some of the most best reasons for finishing a basement space are:

1. Play room for young children.
2. Residence office space.
3. Teen or in law suite
4. Guest bedroom.
5. Movie/theater room.
6. Games room.
7. Personal computer or homework room.
8. Hobby or craft room.
9. Carpentry workshop.
10. Storage.

If you put together a comprehensive basement finishing plan before you start work carefully gathering ideas and suggestions, you will be rewarded with a beautiful functional addition to your homes living space for a surprisingly low outlay of money and effort.

Basement Flooring

Because the basement is an underground room, you will more than likely have ongoing issues with dampness and musty mold odors. One of the remedies for this condition can be found in basement flooring planning.

Basement flooring systems should enhance the looks of the basement, but far more importantly, they should have the ability to lower humidity, otherwise the basement will turn out to be a haven for microbes rather than a very useful and fun family living space.

Basement Flooring-Carpet/Rug

Carpeting or rug which is a favorite and conventional flooring choice for upper living space in a home is not ideally suited as a basement flooring material.

There is no doubt that carpeting because of the vast range of colors and designs available can work wonders for the décor of a room but the humidity-factor involved in a basement make carpet a breeding ground for bacteria and mold fungus. The presence of mold renders a living space unfit for human habitation. If you must have a carpet material as part of your basement flooring plan consider putting some area rugs in places where you need the comfort of rug under your feet.

Basement Flooring-Tile

Tiles are a great choice as a basement flooring material. The large choicer factor that comes with tile, including materials such as ceramic, marble and slate make finding a great basement flooring product that fits in with style and décor easy.

Ceramic tile offers an almost infinite range of colors and patterns that guarantee to fit into any basement remodeling project with ease of both installation and inexpensive cost options.

Marble, slate, or other natural flooring material, have a beauty that only a natural product can offer, although these natural products can be rather expensive as a basement flooring option they more than make up for their cost in beauty, functionality and wear ability.

The only real drawback with tiles, both natural and man-made, is that they are cold to the touch especially in an area where people like to go without shoes but this problem can be address by placing area rugs in places where the family tend to congregate.

You will need to ensure that any concrete fractures and or cracks do not affect the integrity of your basement flooring tile. There are propriety membranes which are an excellent preventive measure to ensure you do not have premature floor damage.

Basement Flooring-Hardwood

Hardwoods are a beautiful flooring material however natural hardwood flooring may not be a great choice as basement flooring in a basement that has high humidity levels. Natural hardwood flooring tends to well when exposed to moisture and if the floor is not expertly installed you may experience buckling of you floor in the summer months and worse still if you have water in your basement a natural hardwood floor will be destroyed.

If you must have natural hardwood flooring in a abasement you should have French drains and sump pump installed along with central air.

A far better option for natural wood flooring lovers is to install laminated wood flooring a basement flooring material. Laminated wood flooring resists swelling when exposed to humidity is inexpensive and very hard wearing which is perfect for a family room that will experience high traffic.

When installing a wooden floor system in a basement it is imperative that a membrane is placed beneath it.

Basement Lighting

There are many ways and methods to make any home really feel family friendly  and comfy not the least of which is to finish and decorate an unfinished basement and install some nice basement lighting. Even so, basements are somewhat different from the above ground rooms in the average family home. Basement suggestions for remodeling have to focus on lighting, as several basements have poor lighting because of lack of windows or smaller windows. Some basements because of the lot levels may have full-sized windows and even a door on one side, but even these basements can often appear dark by virtue of being beneath the house.

The most effective way to make the most of basement lighting with out installing or plugging in a light every few feet would be to pay attention to colors and fabrics. Keep in mind that dark colors and dense patterns absorb a lot more light than lighter colors and basic patterns. Fans of earth tones can stay away from removing all the light from the room by using these cool hues in moderation, possibly as tiny accent pieces, including throw pillows. Basement suggestions, although requiring a distinct approach than used although redecorating rooms that typically are bathed in sunlight throughout the day, do not have to mean throwing out personal style and preference. Patterns call for the same attention. Bigger pieces of furniture, walls and carpeting will absorb much less light if they’re simple and light. Neutral tones frequently work well as they permit for a number of accent pieces.

Basement Lighting-Ideas

Ideas for basement lighting and decorating can come from several sources. Of course, numerous will desire to incorporate personal flare into the room. Several basements are employed as a recreational location or as a relaxing environment, and really should reflect those objectives inside the decor. For basements which are employed as office space, a lot of the decor will adhere to the: form follows function, approach, but that does not mean that basement ideas can not be incorporated from other portions of the house. In addition to carrying ideas from the principal and upper levels of the home into the basement, basement suggestions can be formed by anything from visiting a friend’s home to seeing a decorating accent that stands out. These conversation pieces of the room’s design can lead to remarkably exclusive and cohesive basement ideas.

With regards to furniture selection and placement, tall furniture, like bookcases and media centers ought to be kept away from any windows that may provide the basement some natural light. Several basements feature slightly lower ceilings than the rooms above, which indicates tall furniture stretches even closer to the ceiling and can make the basement really feel overfilled. Use of lower and longer furniture can make the ceiling appear higher, along with the room far more spacious. Installation of a chair rail along the walls can accomplish a similar impression, specifically if the wall is two toned, or, for example, painted on the bottom and wallpapered on the leading.

Basement Lighting-Project

Like all decorating projects, the most effective basement ideas are built, brick by brick, or within the case of interior design, pillow by pillow. Careful consideration of color and pattern is as crucial as furniture placement and comfort, as all three combine to form an entire set of basement ideas including a basement lighting plan that hopefully turn into a comfortable room that is each and every significantly a component of the home as the living room or den.