1. Bring in a basement waterproofing company to do an estimate. If you have slight leaks or cracks that could get worse, they could quickly ruin your basement refinishing effort. Always start with a waterproofing company to look and go over all options for basement waterproofing needs.
2. Have the electrical inspected. If you are going to be finishing walls that are currently not finished, now is the time to replace or add any wiring that might need work. It is much easier to do before you finish the basement.
3. Check beams for insect or water damage before basement finishing. You do not want to cover up support beams that might have termite or other types of damage. This kind of damage can weaken the core support of your home and be a serious safety issue.
4. Inspect foundation for cracks, holes or ways that animals, water or dirt can get in. Have the foundation repaired before finishing the basement, finding a bee’s nest or mice is not a welcoming find.
5. Clean the entire space before the basement is finished. Make sure it is dirt, mold and bug free before you begin your project. Mold or mildew growing behind your new walls is going to make the newly refinished basement musty and moldy again if you do not solve these issues.
6. Choose flooring carefully, hopefully you never experience any leaks in your basement. Since basements are the lowest level of your house, be careful when choosing flooring. Many homeowners typically choose tile, laminate or epoxy flooring. While carpet has its advantages (like warming up the space), you’ll want to make sure there’s no chance of flooding before installing carpet in a basement.
7. Replace bowed basement walls before basement finishing. If your walls are bowing, usually due to water issues, you need the walls supported better or replaced. Covering them with a frame and drywall will not stop the basement wall from collapsing. This can be a very serious risk to your home and safety.
8. Install Egress Windows, part of basement building codes requires the installation of egress windows. Egress windows are windows that allow people to escape in the case of an emergency.
9. Leave Space for Storage, the one thing that people often miss after finishing a basement is the storage space the unfinished basement used to provide, so don’t forget to leave a space in your basement for storage. With a few shelves and cabinets, you won’t have to completely give up storage space.
Give Bam Basements and Masons of Des Moines for all your waterproofing needs before finishing your basement. With a combined 100 years of experience in the basement waterproofing and foundation repair industry, we can help you avoid costly and stressful waterproofing mistakes. BAM will provide you a customized solution that’s going to work for you and your home long term and keep the water out of your basement.
My wife and I recently purchased our first home, and we are wanting to finish the basement so that we can maximize its value. It was really helpful when you mentioned that there are parts of finishing a basement that requires professional expertise. I would imagine that it could be a good idea for us to hire a general contractor and just let them handle the entire project.