Planning a Basement Finishing
The value of your home in Baltimore, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia can be increased and your living space expanded by finishing your basement.
Total Basement System: The Floodbusters has worked in thousands of basements- both finished and unfinished. They’ve met with basement water problems of all types ranging from dampness to total flooding conditions. If you plan on finishing your basement, we recommend you prepare it properly. If your basement is already remodeled, many of these safety measures can still help!
- Protect your basement with an effective waterproofing system.
- Find a dependable sump pump with alarm and back-up system.
- Safeguard from floods caused by frozen sump discharge lines.
- Establish a vapor barrier on your basement walls before finishing.
- Make your cement floor warm, dry, and comfortable.
- Stop plumbing leaks from ruining your finished basement.
- Fix the basement windows.
- Dehumidify your basement.
- Stop water from collecting around your foundation.
1. Protect your Basement with an Effective Waterproofing System
A basement that is experiencing pooling water or any groundwater seepage at all needs a reliable basement waterproofing system like our WaterGuard, DryTrak, or other options available from Basement Systems. If you have a basement water problem, it’s only going to worsen as the house
ages and the coatings and external drains that once protected the house continue to fail. Even if water is only seeping into your home once a year, you will need to fix that before remodeling your basement, as future flooding is a sure thing. If you do not have seepage but are planning on investing in an especially nice basement makeover, you may want to install a basement waterproofing system before the basement is renovated as a precaution. Basement waterproofing is far easier and less destructive to install in an unfinished basement than one where your basement walls and cement floor are finished and the coverings restrict access. We also highly recommend that the system be installed around the entire basement so it’s completely protected.
2. Find a Dependable Sump Pump with Alarm and Back-up Systems
Before investing in a basement remodeling plan, it’s advisable to make sure you have the best sump pump on the market to protect your house against flooding from failure of the primary pump, overburdening of the pump during extremely heavy rainfall, and power failures (often due to a heavy rainstorm). Basement Systems' TripleSafe sump pump system is equipped with a primary and secondary AC powered sump pump as well as a battery-powered backup sump pump- all contained in a solid and airtight sump pump liner! Whether your primary pump fails or the power goes out. Our TripleSafe system can keep pumping the water out of your unfinished or finished basement. If you don’t have this triple protection, then your basement is only a single sump pump failure or power outage away from water flooding the basement. If you’d like your basement to stay dry all the time- including after your invest in a basement remodeling- this is the way to go!
3. Safeguard from Floods caused by Frozen Sump Discharge Lines
Most sump pumps discharge their water outside. As it reaches the end of the discharge line, it can meet with snow and ice blocking the opening and causing it to freeze. When this happens, your pump is pushing to water than can’t go anywhere, and the pump backs up and floods. With Basement Systems, this is no concern. Our IceGuard gives the water another way out, solving this problem automatically!
4. Establish a Vapor Barrier on your Basement Walls before Finishing
Basement Walls can also on areas in the basement walls higher up off the floor. Additionally, water vapor passes through the basement walls, contributing to a higher humidity level in the basement. By installing a sheet of plastic- especially a high quality heavy duty one that can direct water down into your perimeter drainage system, you can keep water off your studs, finished basement wall paneling, or sheet rock. Additionally, water vapor in the basement environment will be prevented and your humidity levels will lower.
5. Make your Cement Floor Warm, Dry, and Comfortable
Once you’ve ensured that your basement is protected from leaks, you can begin to eliminate water vapor from entering through your basement floor. With porous concrete, water vapor slowly and continuously travels up and through. When carpet is laid on top, the moisture is trapped underneath as it enters the basement, collecting and causing odors, mold, and rot in the carpeting.
Basement Systems solves this problem with their ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting system. Our system uses a specially engineered polypropylene, 17-inch tongue-&-groove square tiling that is completely waterproof and will not swell and buckle with water like wood and it’s totally water and vapor proof. The grid design and square pegs that raise ThermalDry off the ground create an air space that can insulate the floor without causing water vapor to condensate on its surface. This airspace is only 3/8’, and will not significantly affect the ceiling space in your basement the way 4’ alternatives can.
6. Stop Plumbing Leaks from Ruining your Finished Basement
Water leakage will damage your finished basement no matter where it comes from. Basement Systems has solved the two most common ways that water can enter a basement without entering through the walls or floor. We see these problems all the time and know how damaging they can be!
The average life of a water heater is seven years. If your water heater fails, it will usually leak and flood your basement. To solve this, have Basement Systems install a FloodRing. Our FloodRing will contain leaking water and drain it directly into your waterproofing system. If your water heater leaks, you’ll be protected!
Washing machine hoses can leak water into your basement even when it’s on the second floor (as well as your second floor, staircase, etc.) Washing machine hoses are not built to hold the 50-60 pounds per square inch that your hard plumbing system is made for. The water pressure valve is meant to be shut off whenever the washing machine is not in use, but it’s very rare that these valves are turned on and off every time a load of laundry is done. Eventually, these inexpensive hoses can leak or completely burst, pouring a torrent of water into your home. Basement Systems’ FloodChek hoses are the perfect way to avoid this problem. They’re made to take the pressure and will not corrode, rust, or blow out.
7. Fix the basement windows
Will you be happy with your rusty, drafty and impossible to open windows in your newly remodeled basement? Does water leak into your basement through the windows? Do they need to be painted, cleaned, or are they in need of a screen?
Basement Systems would like to replace your basement windows with our double-paned, energy efficient and all-vinyl EverLast basement windows. Their smooth-sliding operation, low-E coating and easily removable panes are perfect for cleaning and passing long objects in the basement. They’ll never need to be painted, and they’ll never rust or rot!
If you want to finish your basement, this is the right time to replace the windows. Replacing the windows before the basement is finished will allow for minimal mess in your finished space and will allow carpenters to trim right up to them for a newly finished look!
8. Dehumidify your basement
Our SaniDry Basement Air System is powerful, effective, and large enough to do the job right. Where most standard dehumidifiers can’t get the job done or even make a significant difference, the SaniDry will dry the air and drain water automatically out of the house. You’ll never have to empty it like you would have to with a standard dehumidifer.
9. Stop Water From Collecting Around your Foundation
Having your downspouts extended with the RainChute by basement systems will keep water from the roof away from your foundation. Soil should be graded away from the house whenever possible, and all gutters should be clean. Keep your windows clear of debris, especially leaves.
