6 Steps to Finish Your Basement - Fix Your Concrete Flooring First

Do you have a wet basement? Or do you have a continuing problem with a mustly odor there? Would you simply like to use your basement, but are afraid to put anything valuable down there?

Moisture problems are prevalent all over North America. They are viewed as one of the single largest factors limiting the useful service life of a building. Wet basements are the most frequent complaint of homeowners. Over 60 percent of basements have moisture leakage and 38 percent experience mold and fungus growth due to an elevated level of moisture.

When your basement leaks in storms, or has cracks from stresses of your foundation, you may find that it is risky to store any valuables in this area. Much less make a livable space from it.

All your home should be livable, comfortable, enjoyable. Not just the upstairs. Take these simple steps to reclaim and finish your basement.

You have to start with the floor first, as floor moisture will promote mold and decay of any wall work or furniture over time.

1) Check for moisture. The common method discussed is to take a plastic trash bag or a piece of plastic drop cloth and spread it over a dry section of the basement floor (at least 1-foot by 1-foot). Using duct or masking tape, tape all four sides to the concrete, so no air can escape from under the plastic. Let it sit for 24 hours. If it's wet on top, this is probably from condensation. But pull the bag up, and inspect the concrete underneath. If the concrete is damp, you have a moisture seepage problem and the concrete cannot be sealed. If it's dry, then you can simply chip the cracks and fill with a concrete patch. Hairline cracks should be chiseled out 3/4" deep and wide and filled with a concrete patching material. Any cracks in the floor should also be chiseled out and repaired with standard concrete and a bonding agent. Trowel smooth, let dry per instructions, and then paint with an expoxy-based paint - most hardware stores carry it as a garage floor paint.

2) If you have moisture coming from the floor, you have to take additional steps. What will work depends on whether the moisture problem is something that has always been a problem or a recent thing caused by a particular year's excessive rainfall. Often, cleaning gutters and routing downspouts away from the house can resolve the problem. If the excess rain caused it, wait until the moisture dries up and keep a dehumidifier in the room.

3) While you are outside looking after your gutters, also look to see if any of the ground around your house is sloping toward it. In these cases, water will run toward your basement walls and collect there, infiltrating into the house. In good weather, bring in additional fill dirt into these areas so that the water flows away from the house. Keep this below the actual siding to avoid other problems later. You may also want to get a professional to inspect your grounds, as drainage tile may be suggested. The point is to ensure water is draining away from the house, not toward it.

4) If you have a sump pump, make sure it's working properly.

5) If you find condensation, or sweating, on cool surfaces in the basement such as walls, floors, and water pipes, you should insulate the water pipes.

6) Another culprit of indoor humidity is solved by using ventilation fans in kitchens and baths to control moisture. Make sure the fans are venting directly outside. Make sure your clothes dryer is being vented outside - also, check the vent duct and make sure it's attached securely to the dryer.

If you've completed the above steps, repeat the test before you attempt to paint or finish the floor. Hopefully, you've solved the problem and can proceed with your renovation steps. Seal the floor, work out what flooring you want and the wall treatments, as well as overhead and lighting. You're on your way, now!

But - if you still have more moisture coming in, it's probably time to call in a professional to check your basement and foundation for other problems. They can advise you on the best and least expensive way to resolve your moisture problem.

Either way, confronting this early will give you a "hand up" in finally reclaiming that space and making it livable.