Your Basement Renovation Requires These Considerations

Your basement renovation should include a moisture control system. One way to control moisture or water is building an interior drainage system.

Since this is a concrete wall, and the basement is below grade, the possibility of water seepage is very real. Basement leaks can happen. These leaks can be for various reasons.

Outside flooding, heavy rainfall, sump pump not working, foundation crack or a burst pipe could be some common reasons for extra water flow.

Ensure the contractor is building a back-water valve to prevent outside water from coming into the basement. Also get your contractor to see that your sump pump is operating properly.

Basement Heating

A proper basement remodel requires a good central home heating system. Your central heating system should be able to handle the basement area.

HVAC contractors will be able to perform a quick heat loss calculation to determine whether or not you need additional heating.

One method of adding additional heat is by installing heated basement floors. Not only will a heated flooring system warm the floors and heat the room, but they can severely reduce moisture levels.

It might also keep certain insects from populating in these spaces if you reduce the dampness for them.

Make sure that the central heating system includes a dehumidifier.

Keep the dehumidifier operating properly. Over the years, I've seen so many homeowners that don't service the dehumidifier properly. Have your renovation contractor teach you how to maintain these units.

Sewer Line Drainage

If your basement plans include a bathroom or laundry room in the basement, check to see that there is an unobstructed gravity flow to the sewer lines.

Your contractor can check for this. What it means, is that the waste water can flow freely out to the main sewer pipe.

Today, there are companies that offer services to get cameras down these sewer lines. They'll look for broken pipes or lines that have settled and don't drain properly anymore.

If you have poor drainage, your contractor may add a pumping system to get the waste water to the main line.

Load-Bearing Walls

Load-bearing walls and beams are commonly laced throughout basements. These components can become an obstacle during a renovation.

Have your contractor determine where the load bearing walls are located, which ones need to be removed, and permits that will be needed.

Moving these elements is very expensive and sometimes it might yield a poor return on your investment. But if the load bearing wall or posts are going to impose on how the space will turn out, then the best option might be is to remedy the structure.