Top 4 Mistakes Most People Commit In Basement Remodeling

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Who would not want his unfinished basement to be completed? Everyone does and it is normal to dream of finishing it. Besides, how can you sleep well when you have a basement that needs attention? After all, a basement is already an equivalent to a whole floor's worth of storage which can be turned into a room for the family.

Here, are the 4 famous mistakes that many homeowners commit when trying basement remodeling for their unfinished basement.

1. Trying to finish a flood prone basement

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Naturally, basements are prone to moisture and even floods because of the way they are designed.

To put it bluntly, it is a box of porous concrete intended to be underneath wet ground. So, it gets saturated with water. As a result, there happens hydro-static pressure pushing against the walls. But, this does not mean that you carelessly put it in a flood prone area. This is because, eventually, water will make its way to your basement through cracks or leaks which will get deposited between walls and floors. When they are left for a long period of time, water can damage the basement. Even plumbing leaks and water heating breakage may also damage your basement then flood the surrounding. More importantly, if you do not have a proper pump system or dehumidification, your basement gets more damage.

2. Utilizing wood studs or fiberglass insulation

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Although these materials work well in rooms above ground, they are not good for your basement. In fact, they can spell disaster. These materials tend to absorb moisture and given that basements are humid in nature. Such materials are composed of organic compounds like paper and wood. For fiberglass, it has urea based adhesive that keeps the batch intact to each other.

And, when organic materials are exposed to moisture, they develop a good condition for mold development. Additionally, fiberglass tend to lose its R-value when it gets wet or moisturized and drywall, when in contact with water, tends to decompose then spreads out toxic fumes. In short, basement walls should not involve any organic materials. It should be completed with 100% waterproof materials which will withstand flood and water accident.

3. Not using vapor barriers properly

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Most contractors would tell you that you can use whatever kind of finish you desire when attaching poly sheets on the floor or over the walls. They say that vapor barrier will help protect your materials. But, there are those who even have the worse suggestion: put the vapor barrier over the fiberglass and studs then quickly attach the drywall. But, this is not what the US Department of Energy's Building America Best Practices say. According to them, moisture should be allowed to evaporate 'till dried up to the interior. Vapor barriers do not allow moisture to evaporate instead; they trap the moisture between the barrier and concrete then condensate. In this condition, mold grows and develops.

4. Absence of backup sump pump

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According to recent studies, millions of dollars and resources are shelled out on basement restoration, replacement and cleanup due to leaks, cracks and other sorts of damages. Moreover, expenses are not covered by home insurance. Even special flood insurance got limited coverage when coming to terms with basements. So, it always pays to have a backup sump pump even if you already have one. Make sure that you have an extra which is battery operated so your basement is not at risk with flood and water damage.