8 Things To Do Before Finishing Your Basement
Finishing your basement is exciting because this area has endless possibilities: a fan cave, extra bedrooms, sleek storage, a home office…you name it.
Few things can destroy a finished basement like leaking water. Taking a few precautions before a flood occurs can prevent this issue and protect your home. This includes eliminating all existing and potential sources of flooding and addressing any issues with humidity in the space.
Learn how local basement waterproofing professionals dry your basement and get it ready to make the most of your remodeling investment.
8 Steps To Take Before Finishing
Once the basement is finished, repairing and waterproofing the space is much more expensive. That’s why homeowners with wet basements are often reluctant to invest in finishing.
However, with a little preparation, your basement can be permanently protected from any moisture damage to drywall, insulation, or property. If your basement is already finished, many of these precautions may still be made.
Here’s what we recommend:
1. Install An Effective Drainage System
If your finished basement floods, the water will damage drywall, fiberglass insulation, and many other wall-finishing products.
To repair a finished basement that’s flooded, you will need to cut away the damaged wall, fiberglass, and studs to accommodate an interior drainage system. The drywall can then be replaced after the drainage installation.
However, the better choice is to install drainage before the basement is finished. Many homeowners choose this option as a precaution even if their basement has never flooded before.
2. Invest in A Complete Sump Pump System
Installing a sump pump system ensures that you can discharge large volumes of water from your home in the case of heavy rains or a plumbing failure. If you’ve installed a drainage system, you should definitely install a sump system as well; these systems work best when paired together.
The best sump pumps are ready for anything, including power outages. Your system should include both a battery backup sump pump and a secondary sump system that can kick on if your primary pump fails.
3. Guard Against Frozen Discharge Lines
A good sump pump discharges water outside of your home, sending it downhill so it does not pool around your foundation.
One of the most common causes of sump pump failure occurs when these discharge lines become clogged with ice or debris. Once the water has no way out of the home, the sump system backs up, and a flood occurs in your finished basement.
You can prevent this with a special exterior discharge line attachment, such as the FreezeGuard™ System, which gives water a secondary way out of your home.
4. Seal The Basement Walls
Concrete basement walls are porous, and they sponge moisture from the earth outside. This moisture enters your basement in the form of water vapor, which can build up behind walls and lead to mold growth.
Address this issue by covering your basement walls with a vapor barrier system. This system locks out moisture, protecting your finishing products and directing any water into your perimeter drain.
5. Control Humidity & Ensure Indoor Air Quality
Keeping your basement dry is key to creating a healthier, more comfortable space in your home. Eliminating humidity will keep mold, mildew, and rot under control and can even lower heating and cooling costs. When possible, look for a dehumidifier that’s ENERGY STAR® Rated to ensure maximum savings on your utility bills.
A good dehumidifier should run without the owner even knowing it’s working. The best ones are self-draining and can be installed with ductwork. They can dry air in your living space while being stored in a closet or utility area.
6. Upgrade Basement Windows
Your basement windows are vital to the beauty and appeal of a finished basement. If they’re dingy, rusty, or leaky, they’re not doing their job.
We recommend upgrading your basement windows to a model with energy-efficient glass and a vinyl frame, as well as protecting windows and wells with a durable window well cover.
An egress window system may also be necessary to ensure code and safety requirements if you are using the basement as a liveable space.
7. Perform Basic Exterior Maintenance
A one-inch rainfall on a typical home adds up to 500 gallons of water on the roof. Unless your exterior is properly designed to handle this volume, this can mean a lot of water in the soil around your basement.
Extending your downspouts and keeping your gutters clean of leaves and debris is an important part of properly maintaining your home (and will help prevent damaging ice dams in the winter). Your basement window wells should also be carefully cleaned of leaves, debris, and weeds about twice a year.
Check your home’s grading to ensure water drains away from your home, regrading it as necessary.
8. Install Plumbing Leak Safeguards
If you’ve invested a lot of time and money to protect your basement from flooding from the outside, it’s certainly worth it to spend a little more on protecting it from plumbing leaks from the inside.
Water heaters can begin to leak significantly as they age. If you already have a perimeter drain system installed, it’s easy to install a ring around the water heater that connects to that drainage system.
If you don’t turn off the water every time you do the laundry, your washer hoses may be a ticking time bomb for a flood. Replace old hoses with heavy-duty washing machine hoses for a little extra peace of mind.
Let Us Help You Prepare Your Basement For Finishing!
Don’t let a leak damage your beautifully finished basement. Protect your home from moisture to ensure your remodeling work stays valuable and looks great for many decades to come.
You can count on Indiana Foundation Service for lasting basement repair and safeguarding. Our permanent basement waterproofing solutions are tailored to meet your needs and your budget, and you can rest easy knowing your basement is protected by the best. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and obtain a no-obligation quote.
Basement Waterproofing & Finishing FAQs
We highly recommend seeking professional help to repair wet basement walls. DIY solutions may provide temporary relief, but they cannot match the effectiveness of a comprehensive, whole-home solution. You can contact Indiana Foundation Service today to schedule a free inspection.
The cost of fixing water issues in your basement varies based on factors like the extent of the damage and the solutions needed. It’s important to address the problem as soon as possible to prevent further damage and costly repairs down the road. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation inspection, transparent pricing, and flexible financing options.
Allow at least 2-4 weeks for waterproofing materials to fully cure and to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment before proceeding with finishing.
Holly Richards-Purpura
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