The Basics Of
Basement Waterproofing
Are you thinking about remodeling your basement into a more useful area of the home? With winter approaching, it’s time to start thinking about the usable space of your home and your basement can be one of the most valuable. But when it comes to basement remodeling, not many homeowners know what steps to take to ensure the basement doesn’t become a dungeon. Thankfully, we are here to help! We have all the basic information you need to get your basement ready for remodeling and you can find it all down below!
Moisture Is Not Your Friend
Studies by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry have shown that well over 78% of all basements have a problem with leaks. Another study by the Basement Health Association reports that 86% of all basements across the country have troubling mold growth. There is however a way to waterproof your basement and stop the growth of mold and fungi, epoxy flooring. Epoxy flooring is one of the most common forms of basement flooring as they are 100 percent water-resistant when properly installed and its nonporous finish will restrict the growth of harmful mold and fungi. When you start your basement remodel with a waterproofing project, you won’t regret it!
What Are You Using It For?
Now it’s time to think about what you will be using your basement for. Because of its low light and isolated feel, they are not ideal for all uses. For example, it may not be the best idea to use your basement for an art area as they are rather boring but they would be perfect for something like an at-home gym or movie theater! Depending on what you are going to be using your basement for, it would be a good idea to find materials that match that type of setting like paint colors, flooring and the type of lighting you are going to use.
Plumbing Your Basement
It doesn’t matter if you have a new home or an old one, an unfinished basement is probably going to lack even the most basic forms of plumbing. But if you want to make the most of the basements valuable space, you are going to want to plumb the basement, even if it’s just a simple powder room. But when adding a powder room to your basement, you will need to run both hot and cold water to your basement bathroom. You also need to check where your sewage line is located. If it is above the level of your basement, you will need a pump to bring the sewage up to the sewer line to avoid any nasty, unhealthy happenings.
Evaluate Your Lighting
If you have been in your basement lately, you will remember why you don’t like being there, it’s too dark! Basements face a lot of challenges when it comes to lighting with low ceilings and if you don’t have a walkout basement, using larger windows to let more light in isn’t really an option. With the use of a drop ceiling to hide those ugly pipes and wire and some thoughtful planning, your basement can be brighter than you ever thought! One of the most common forms of lighting in many basements across the country are can lights. Can lights are super effective at providing light and won’t take up that much room like a ceiling fan or hanging/mounted ceiling lights.
Choosing The Right Flooring
Sadly in basements, there is no chance for using traditional flooring options like carpet or hardwood as moisture will destroy them within a few months. That is why homeowners across the country are making the switch to more untraditional flooring systems like rustic wood concrete and basement epoxy flooring; more so basement epoxies. Basement epoxies are one of the most functional flooring systems for your basement for the reasons we covered up above but they bring more than that to the table. Epoxies have a very reflective top coat and can make a basement up to 150% brighter. They can also be modified to your liking with options like metallic epoxy, epoxy flake flooring and the integration of logos or emblems.
Use A Contractor
No matter how far you plan to finish your basement, it is always best to use a professional contractor that knows exactly what to do. When working under your home, you will find that any project will be extremely sensitive and with a contractor, you will have peace of mind knowing that your home is in good hands as some contractors will offer a strong warranty. Not only will you have peace of mind knowing that your basement is finished properly, but you will also know that your basement has the best materials available installed by industry-exclusive equipment.
Now that you know the basics of basement finishing, it’s time to put it into action! Whether you just want to floor your basement or you go in a do a full restoration, we wish you the best of luck on all projects to come!