Massachusetts Basement Remodeling Basics
Many homeowners that start a Massachusetts basement remodeling project find there are some variables they had not considered. The most basic are the cost of the plumbing or electrical that may be needed or if there will be money left over for furniture. The biggest problem however is waterproofing and mold prevention. Most homeowners assume that if they have not seen any water on the floor that their basement is dry. This assumption is nearly always in error. The following points will explain why.
- You may not see water, but this does not account for moisture. If you plan on placing carpet, drywall, wood or even tile in your basement it is not only necessary that it is waterproofed but that it is moisture proofed as well. Just because you have not seen actual water does not mean there is still not enough moisture to cause drywall or other building materials to mold.
- A ‘dry’ basement is never really dry. It may appear that you basement is not taking on water, but to a trained eye it would appear clear to be doing just that. If a basement floor is more than just a few inches, not feet, underground it is highly likely that it leaks in at least one spot every 12 feet it is more than a foot under ground.
- Concrete is very porous and will absorb a small amount of water very quickly. This is a problem if one is trying to guess if their basement has gotten wet. If there was even a small leak it would likely absorb and disappear before the homeowner would notice.
- How much moisture is a problem? Unfortunately it only takes a very small amount of water to create a mold or mildew problem. If a basement wall is underground at all it will reflect the constant low temperature of the ground. In a heated house/basement this will cause condensation much like a cool glass of water on a warm day. This condensation is second only to water leaks in causing mold in basements.
- Nobody notices the leaks. People assume that there is no water if they check on the basement after a good rain and it appears dry. The problem here is that the water may penetrate the foundation at any point after. It could take days or some moisture will appear for a few hours in the middle of the night. The homeowner wakes and checks the basement and it appears dry and then after a few of these ‘observations’ determines the basement is ‘dry’ and proceeds to finishing it off. The real problem here is that the homeowner is looking for water and not just moisture which is nearly always present and that leaks and the presence of moisture can be very brief. In either case it takes very little to destroy carpet, tile drywall.
In all of these point above the on major thing considered is that in the event of an overwhelming water presence or a major flood. There is no way to predict to what extent the basement will be damaged or destroyed. Proper waterproofing should always be completed before finishing. The most devastating thing a Massachusetts homeowner can experience is a flooded basement that cost them ten’s of thousands of dollars to build and will again cost ten’s of thousands to repair and replace.
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