Getting Ready to Finish Your Basement

Finishing your basement can increase the living space and value of your home.

All-Dry of the Carolinas has seen thousands of finished and unfinished basements with water problems ranging from dampness to all-out flooding in North Carolina, South Carolina, and parts of Georgia. If you are going to finish your basement, this is what we recommend you prepare it properly. If you already have finished your basement, the majority of these precautions can still be made.

1. Waterproof Your Basement.
2. Sump Pump Battery Backup & Alarm.
3. Guard Against Frozen Sump Discharge Lines.
4. Basement Wall Vapor Barrier.
5. Keep the Floor Warm, Dry and Comfortable.
6. Protect Against Plumbing Leaks.
7. Inspect and Replace Basement Windows.
8. Energy Efficient Dehumidifier.
9. Check Gutters, Downspouts, and Window Wells.
   

1. Waterproof Your Basement
A basement waterproofing system installed in your basement is the first necessary step to take before finishing your basement. Whether you've experienced a small leak or an all-out flood in the past, your basement needs a quality basement waterproofing system like WaterGuard, DryTrak or other options available from Basement Systems. Basement water problems never get better with time; they actually worsen as the home ages, the foundation drains and coatings that protected the house fail. Even if water seepage is a once-a-year occurrence, it needs to be fixed before the basement is finished, as flooding is likely to be more frequent in the future. Some homeowners put in such a system even if they have not had seepage, because it's much easier (and less invasive/expensive) to waterproof a basement that is unfinished than one where finished walls and floor coverings restrict access afterwards. It is also highly recommended that this system be installed around the entire perimeter of the basement.

2. Sump Pump Battery Backup & Alarm
Keep the basement dry all the time by installing the best sump pump protection available to prevent flooding from primary pump failure, pump overload from torrential rains, and power failure. Basement Systems' TripleSafe sump pump system stands ready with primary and secondary AC-powered pumps and a third battery-operated backup pump in a single airtight sump liner. In the event that the power goes out or the primary pump mechanically fails to operate, the TripleSafe system will automatically pump out water. Without this triple protection, your finished basement is only one pump or power failure away from a flood.

If you do not have a TripleSafe pump system and have a Basement Systems' SuperSump instead, at the very minimum you should have an UltraSump back-up pumping system and a WaterWatch Alarm. The UltraSump (standard with a TripleSafe system) is a battery-operated back-up pumping system with a DC pump installed in the same sump hole, a battery, and a charging system. The UltraSump will pump up to 7000 gallons of water out of your basement in the event of the primary pump failing for any reason including power outages. A WaterWatch Alarm is standard on all Basement Systems pump systems and will sound off to alert you of pump failure before your floor gets wet.

3. Guard Against Frozen Sump Discharge Lines
Prevent flooding due to frozen sump pump discharge lines by including IceGuard with your system. Snow and ice can block the opening and cause the pipe to freeze. When this happens, your pump will be running and the water can't get out, leading to basement flooding.  Be sure to install a product like the patented WaterGuard system to give the water another way out of your home, even when the discharge line freezes.

4. Basement Wall Vapor Barrier
Water vapor can also pass through basement walls and contribute to a higher humidity level in the basement. Installing a sheet of plastic, preferably a high-quality, extra-durable one will direct water leaks and seepage down to the drainage system in the floor. Water vapor will be prevented from getting into the basement environment and humidity levels will be significantly be lowered. The vapor barrier should be caulked to the top of the wall and the bottom tucked into the drainage system.

Basement Systems has created a vapor-proof drainage sheet for the walls that will insulate, called the ThermalDry WALL System, which reflects 97% of the heat back into your basement. You'll be saving money on energy bills and creating a drier environment.

5. Keep the Basement Floor Warm, Dry and Comfortable
If you are planning on laying carpet down in your basement, a non-organic subflooring material is essential. Because concrete is porous, water vapor will slowly and continuously travel up through it. If you lay a carpet on top of the concrete floor, this moisture gets trapped under the carpet and causes odors, mold and rot in the carpet.

Basement Systems solution is a ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting system. This consists of a specially engineered polypropylene, 17-inch tongue-&-groove square tile that, unlike systems that use wood, is totally water and vapor proof. Plastic prevents mold from growing and lasts if the material gets wet for any reason. Wood will not provide the same protection. The unique grid design on the bottom of the tile creates an air space that insulates the floor and does not cause water vapor to condense. The installation takes away only 3/8" of precious ceiling height in the basement, instead of 4" for other methods.

6. Protect Against Plumbing Leaks
Any leak - including a plumbing leak - will have the same damaging effect on your finished basement. Basement Systems has easy solutions for the two most common domestic water leaks we see all the time.

Water heaters: The average life of a water heater is seven years, and when they fail, they usually leak and flood the basement. Basement Systems FloodRing is the solution. The FloodRing will contain water seepage and drain it to the waterproofing system when the water heater leaks.

Washing machine hoses: Conventional washing machine hoses are not made to withstand the 50 or 60 pounds per square inch of water pressure like our hard plumbing system is. There is a valve to shut the water pressure off when the washing machine is not in use, but people rarely shut it off. Eventually, these inexpensive hoses will leak, or blow-out completely. Basement Systems FloodChek hoses are the answer. Guaranteed for 20 years, the FloodChek hoses are made to take the pressure, and will not blow-out, corrode, or rust at the end connections.

7. Inspect and Replace Basement Windows
Will you be happy with your old basement windows in your newly finished basement? Basement windows are notorious for being drafty and hard to open . The wet environment near the window or the window well causes a metal to rust and a wooden window to rot. Many do not have screens, and painting them is a constant challenge.

Basement Systems can replace your basement windows with energy-efficient, all-vinyl EverLast windows. They feature smooth-sliding operation, double glass, full screens, easily removable panes for cleaning or passing long objects into the basement, and they never need to be painted!

Replace your basement windows before you finish the basement. Then the carpenters can trim right up to them for a nice, finished look.

8. Energy Efficient Dehumidifier
Most standard dehumidifiers are too small to make a difference in the basement air. The SaniDry Basement Air System is a powerful and effective dehumidifier - big enough to do the job. The SaniDry dries the air and automatically drains the water out of the hose so you never have to empty it like you would with a conventional dehumidifier. The SaniDry takes three times the amount of water out of the air as a typical dehumidifier yet uses the same energy. A powerful blower draws musty air in and moves the dry, clean air back out into the basement. This unit helps to ensure that you won't have high humidity and musty smells in your finished basement.

9. Check Gutters, Downspouts and Window Wells
Keep gutters clean - have your downspouts extended with Basement Systems' RainChute to keep roof water away from the foundation. Keep the soil graded away from the house wherever possible and keep the gutters clean. Make sure window wells are clear of leaves.

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