Basement Finishing Dos and Don'ts #1: Introduction - Waterproofing

I am starting a series in this blog, which will run for the next few weeks, concerning proper ways of finishing a basement from start to finishing: things you should do, things you should avoid and why.

I began writing it as a single article, but there was so much to cover that it became quite an extensive chunk of text. unsuitable for a single blog post. Thus, I decided to break it down in small posts, this way we can cover and, hopefully, discuss each topic.

And here’s my first recommendation:

#1 Don’t try to finish a leaky or flood prone basement.

This should be a no-brainer. Yet a surprisingly big number of people simply forfeit this important step. They are so eager to make good use of that extra room in their houses that they fail to consider the fact that basements are always prone to moisture.

Even if your basement doesn’t have water stains and puddles around the corners, and looks dry as a bone, if it doesn’t have a good drainage system and a working sump pump system, don’t bother finishing it until you have these in place.

Why?

Basements are unpredictable when it comes to moisture. They are imperfect structures, made of porous concrete, and buried in wet dirt. Water is a pretty tricky element. Fail to control it and it will find its way into your basement.

Also, let’s not forget that basement water problems can occur for more reasons than just ground water infiltration. There are plumbing leaks, broken water heater tanks, an overflowing sink or toilette upstairs… in other words, if there is water pouring anywhere in your home there is a chance that it will end up in your basement.

Every year millions of dollars are spent in flood cleanup and replacing damaged property due to basement floods. Typical homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover these damages, and even flood insurance has limitations when it comes to below grade structures.

Do: Waterproof it first

Make sure you basement has adequate drainage, and a good sump pump system. A good sump pump system will include:
- A high capacity cast iron pump
- A battery operated backup sump pump to work in case o power outages.
- An air tight sealed container to keep kids and pets safe and the water from evaporating back into the basement.
- An alarm to let you know when the backup sump pump is at work.

In my next post we will be discussing planning and design.

-- "All truth goes through 3 stages: First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Then it is accepeted as self evident." - Schoppenhauer