|
|
|
Everything...Plus The Kitchen Sink
Looking to do some remodeling in your kitchen sink area or maybe the whole kitchen? There are many options out there for any idea you may have. Kitchen appliances on down to kitchen tables, and kitchen sinks are available at your finger tips...
For Sale By Owner - Prepare For Success
So you want to sell your home without a real estate agent. Like hundreds of thousands of other homeowners, you've chosen this option because you don't want to pay those large commissions to an agent. Many people who have tried it in the past will...
Hidden Causes of Water Damage in the Home
In addition to causing destruction, water damage also has an adverse affect to the indoor air quality of your home. Damage from water can cause wood rot, insect infestation and mold . The obvious causes of water damage are leaking roofs,...
How To Buy A Hot Tub/Home Spa
When you first decide to buy a hot tub, you will be faced with a dizzying array of features, specifications, designs and accessories. It can be quite daunting to research all of these possibilities and determine the best configuration for your...
Toile Bedding
Toile is a centuries old fabric that has once again become quite popular for use in gorgeous, lushly detailed bedding. (pronounced twaal)
Delicate drawings, very Old World in nature, often define the fabric.
Some conflicting opinions exist...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Basement Remodeling Starts With Reliable Waterproofing
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.
Copyright Robert Clarke - http://www.b-drybasementswaterproofingnepennsylvania.com
|
|
|
|
|
|