Getting Ready to Finish Your Basement
Basement Remodeling Preparation in North Dakota and Minnesota
Finishing a basement in North Dakota or Minnesota is a huge investment, with problems ranging from dampness to a total flood of the basement. Both finished and unfinished basements will have water problems if not properly protected-it's vital to protect your basement before you spend money on finishing it. Even if you have finished your basement, however, you can still do a great deal to protect your investment.
- Install an effective waterproofing system.
- Install a reliable sump pump with an alarm and backup system.
- Guard against floods from frozen sump and discharge lines.
- Install a vapor barrier on the walls before you put up finished walls
- Keep the floor warm, dry and comfortable.
- Protect against common plumbing leaks that ruin your finished basement.
- Inspect your basement windows for leaks and repair or replace as necessary.
- Dehumidify the area.
- Perform some basic exterior maintenance.
- Take your basement to the next level by making it into an attractive living space.
1. Install an Effective Waterproofing System
Groundwater seepage problems in the basement can only get worse. As the house continues to age and the drains and coatings that protect the house and basement fail, your basement is going to leak more and more often. Even if the seepage only occurs once every year, it means that flooding will become more frequent and must be addressed before you add carpeting, walls and furniture to the area. It's much easier to install a basement waterproofing system in a basement that is unfinished than in one with finished walls and floor coverings that will restrict access. Innovative Basement Systems recommends a quality basement waterproofing system such as Waterguard, DryTrak or one of the other options available from Basement Systems around the full perimeter of your basement.
2. Install a Reliable Sump Pump with Alarm and Back-up Systems
The sump pump is the most important part of a strong basement waterproofing system. If you're going to count on this system to protect your basement, you're going to need the best pump available to guard your home. That pump is going to need be resilient enough to deal with primary pump failure, sump pump overload from torrential rains, and power outages.
Basement Systems' SuperSump sump pump is the finest on the market. Equipped with the WaterWatch alarm that comes standard on all Basement Systems sump pumps, it will notify you of pump failure so that you can react before your basement is flooded. If you purchase a SuperSump, it's a wise decision to also install an UltraSump battery backup system with a DC pump and a charging system. The UltraSump will pump up to 7,000 gallons (approx. 26,498 liters) of water out of your basement in the case of the primary pump failing or being inoperable due to a power outage.
But what if your primary sump pump fails in the middle of a storm? The Basement Systems TripleSafe sump pump system can handle this, with an airtight sump pump liner containing both primary and secondary AC-powered pumps as well as a third battery-operated backup pump. If the primary pump fails, a secondary pump is available to pump the water out of your basement. In the case of a power outage, the battery-operated UltraSump sump pump will keep your basement dry. Without this kind of protection, your basement is only one sump pump failure or power outage away from a damaging flood. Ensure that you'll have a dry basement before you finish it!
3. Guard Against Floods from Frozen Sump Discharge Lines
If you have a sump pump, the water is being pumped outside, where it can freeze or its flow can be blocked by snow and ice. If the pump cannot get the water out, the basement will flood. Fortunately, Basement System's IceGuard gives it an alternate route out of your basement and ensures that the pump can do its job.
4. Install a vapor barrier on the walls before you put up finished walls
Water doesn't just leak where the floor and walls meet in the basement- it can leak anywhere on the basement walls. When basement walls are not leaking, they can still allow water vapor to pass through and contribute to high humidity levels in the basement. A sheet of specifically designed plastic can solve this problem, keeping out all humidity while directing water leaking from basement walls into the drainage system below (if one exists).
Basement Systems' high-quality, durable ThermalDry Wall System takes it one step further. Not only does it keep water and humidity from basement walls from seeping through, it also insulates your basement by reflecting 97% of the heat that reaches it back into your basement. There is simply no better alternative!
5. Keep the floor warm, dry and comfortable
Once you've protected your basement walls, you will then need to take care of the floor. Water and water vapor leaking from the basement floor will also rise into the air and raise the humidity level of the basement. If this moisture rises into a carpet, then some of the moisture will be trapped there as well and will cause odors, mold and rot.
The Basement Systems solution is the ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting system. This polypropylene, 12-inch tongue and groove square tile is specially designed to be completely water and vapor proof. Unlike wood, it will never rot away or become food for mold and insects. It can't become saturated with moisture and it will not need to be replaced in the case of a major flood if it is cleaned and dried out. Even better, the unique grid design on the bottom of the tile forms an air space that insulates the floor and does not cause water vapor to condensate. It is more space-efficient, taking only 3/8" off the height of the room as compared to the 4" that a wood floor and carpet installation will use.
6. Protect against common plumbing leaks that ruin your finished basement
Although water entering the basement through the walls and floors is certainly an issue, these are not the only ways that it can enter into your basement. Innovative Basement Systems of North Dakota and Minnesota has two easy solutions for the two most common domestic leaks:
The average life of a water heater is seven years. When they fail, they leak and flood the basement. Fortunately, Basement Systems' FloodRing is the solution-it's able to contain water seepage and drain it to the waterproofing system already in place when the water heater leaks.
Among the most common plumbing leaks occur when washing machine hoses leak or blow out completely. Washing machine hoses are simply not made to withstand the 50-60psi of abuse that the rest of the house's plumbing system has been made to endure and the valve that shuts off the water pressure when the washing machine is not running is rarely used. The Basement Systems FloodCheck hoses are the answer. Inexpensive and guaranteed to last for at least 20 years, they can handle the pressure without corroding, bursting or rusting at the end connections.
7. Inspect your basement windows for leaks and repair or replace as necessary.
With all the improvements that you're planning for your basement, will you be satisfied with the basement windows you've always had? Are they rusting, rotting, leaking, difficult to open or just plain ugly? Are they drafty, causing you to spend more money heating your home? If you think you'll ever want more from your basement windows, then the best time to do the work is before your basement is finished.
Innovative Basement Systems can replace your old basement windows with attractive all-vinyl EverLast windows. These energy efficient windows are double-paned for better insulation and can easily be removed from their frame for cleaning purposes or when long objects need to be passed through to the basement. The windows and their screens glide open and closed easily, and they will never rust, rot, corrode, leak, or need to be painted.
8. Dehumidify the area
Most standard dehumidifiers aren't powerful enough to make the difference you need in your basement. If you don't want high humidity levels and a musty smell from your basement, you want the SaniDry- the basement dehumidifier that is powerful and effective enough to rise to the challenge. As it pulls moisture out of the air, it drains it away through a hose, so there's no need to empty a bucket like you would have to with a conventional dehumidifier. The SaniDry's powerful blower pulls damp, musty air in; filters and dehumidifies it; and returns dry, clean air to your basement. One of the best things about the SaniDry, however, is how energy efficient it is. With its energy star rating, it practically pays for itself in the money you will save in energy over other dehumidifiers. Once Innovative Basement Systems installs a SaniDry into your basement, you won't have to worry about dank, humid air in your basement again
9. Perform some basic exterior maintenance
A few easy preventative measures can easily keep water away before it reaches the ground. Keep the soil graded so that it slopes away from the house wherever possible and make sure the gutters and window wells are clear of leaves and debris. Make sure that at least four inches separate the earth from the siding of your home so that the soil does not rot the siding and termites are not able to access your home undetected.
One of the best things you can do to improve the exterior of your home is to extend your downspouts with Basement Systems' RainChute. This will run the water up to 7 feet (approx 2 meters) away from the house so it doesn't run down off the roof to the foundation. The RainChute is recessed into the ground, which means that it will not be a tripping hazard, will not interfere with mowing the lawn and is not an unsightly addition to your home as other downspouts tend to be. Since it's recessed and not actually underground, it's not expensive and it won't clog.
10. Take your basement to the next level by making it into an attractive living space.
Once the basement has been waterproofed, make the most of the space by finishing it! Total Basement Finishing has a variety of options specially designed to last in basement conditions that will transform your basement into a beautiful living space that you and your family can enjoy. Total Basement Finishing offers products for your basement floors, basement walls basement ceiling, basement windows, and basement window wells, that are superior to wood, carpet and drywall both practically and aesthetically. Whether you want to use your basement as a family room, office, gym, play room, home theatre, game room or anything else, you can imagine for your basement, Innovative Basement Systems of North Dakota or Minnesota can make it happen.
Call or contact us online for a free basement finishing estimate in ND or MN!
