Basement Finishing Systems

Posted by cynthia on Jul 25, 2011 in Basement Carpet, Basement Finishing, Basement Finishing Contractors, Basement Floor Tiles, Basement Framing and Insulation, Basement Insulation, Basement Lighting, Basement Renovations, Basement Subfloor, Basement Windows, Finished Basement Ideas, Finishing Basement Floors, Finishing Basement Walls, Green Basement Finishing, Uncategorized, Waterproof Basement Flooring, Waterproof Basement Wall Panels |

By Elizabeth Gormley

In many homes, the basement is a cold, dark storage space with concrete floors that’s more than a little bit spooky.  But with today’s basement finishing systems, it’s possible to transform this scary area into a warm and welcoming place as bright as any room upstairs.  Basement finishing works like adding another livable level to your home—in as little as two weeks.  Think romper room, a buffered place for the kids to play, with lots of space for toys, games and musical instruments.  Or think game room, with a pool table, ping-pong, darts, and maybe a bar.  In a few easy steps, a finished basement will add massive value to your home.

Wood Sub Flooring makes for Rotten Basement Remodeling

Posted by cynthia on Jul 11, 2011 in Basement Carpet, Basement Finishing, Basement Finishing Contractors, Basement Floor Tiles, Basement Renovations, Basement Subfloor, Finishing Basement Floors, Green Basement Finishing, Uncategorized, Waterproof Basement Flooring |

By Jacques Bouchard

Too often, general contractors who complete a basement finishing will design a house with the same plans that were used for the rest of the home. To accomplish this, they design basement ceilings and floors with drywall, creating a large white box in the basement. While not especially creative, it does give area a uniform look- it looks just like a room upstairs but without big windows. Of course, in a basement, a drywall ceiling will make access to pipes, wiring, ducts, and other utility lines difficult and will be ruined in a plumbing leak….

Perhaps one of the most unfortunate general contractor practices, however, is what is done with the basement floor. Expensive wood sub floors and beautiful plush carpet is laid on the floor, creating a beautiful, soft, and warm floor. Sounds great, right?

Unfortunately, this is doomed to failure. If carpet or wood is laid directly on a concrete basement floor, a home improvement disaster is looming on the horizon.

The issue is clear: concrete is porous. The dirt that was filled in after your home was built is looser and less densely packed than the untouched earth around it. This dirt tends to fill with moisture and collect more densely than anywhere else around the home. If you have moisture in the earth surrounding your basement floor, the concrete will sponge the moisture up and through the concrete, releasing it into the basement in the form of water vapor.

Basement Subfloors – All you need to know

Posted by cynthia on Jun 7, 2011 in Basement Carpet, Basement Design, Basement Finishing, Basement Subfloor, Finishing Basement Floors, Green Basement Finishing, Waterproof Basement Flooring |

Basement Subfloor

When choosing flooring options for basement rooms, carpet surfaces as one of the most popular choices, especially for basement family rooms, home theaters and guest rooms. Carpet adds comfort and warmth to basement rooms, can be easily installed and, if compared with some other popular flooring choices, it can be less expensive as well.

However, unlike any other area in the house, basement floors are prone to moisture. The slab, which is made of porous concrete, sits straight on top of dirt. Wet dirt.
Some of the ground moisture will always be infiltrating the slab, and during the rainy season the problem can get much worse.

That makes it very unsafe to place padding and carpet straight against the slab, because they will be soaking all that moisture and there is a huge potential for mold growth.
This is the reason why so many carpeted basements smell musty after a while, even though there are no visible leaks.

Contractors typically deal with it in a number of ways. Some are temporary solutions that work for a limited period of time; some are just plain disastrous choices from the start.

Top Six Mistakes People Make in Basement Remodeling Projects

Posted by cynthia on Jun 23, 2010 in Basement Carpet, Basement Finishing, Basement Framing and Insulation, Basement Insulation, Basement Lighting, Basement Subfloor, Finishing Basement Floors, Finishing Basement Walls, Waterproof Basement Flooring, Waterproof Basement Wall Panels |

The wrong finishing choice can have disastrous consequences.

Almost everyone who owns a house with an unfinished basement, dreams of having it finished. How can you not think of it? After all, an unfinished basement is a whole floor’s worth of space that can be easily turned into any type of room your family needs.

However, basement finishing projects are hardly inexpensive and, because basements are like no other room in the house, there are special challenges when it comes to choosing the best finishes and configuration. Basements usually house utilities, plumbing, wiring. They are also quite prone to moisture and water accidents. All of which must be taken into consideration before you tackle your project. Making the wrong choices, can literally spell disaster.

Finished Basement Flooring:  Then and Now

Posted by cynthia on Dec 22, 2009 in Basement Carpet, Basement Finishing, Basement Floor Tiles, Basement Subfloor, Finished Basement Ideas, Finishing Basement Floors, Uncategorized, Waterproof Basement Flooring |

Like all things these days, basement flooring has made some huge advancements from the past. What is being understood more and more often today, especially by basement waterproofers, is that these floorings simply do not work. Consider these points:

1. Concrete is porous and absorbs moisture. Because of this, water vapor and a mineral powder called efflorescence continuously passes upwards through the floor and into the basement.
2. Concrete is cold– made so by the earth around it.
3. Most basements will eventually flood from the plumbing, basement windows, water heater, washing machines, or through the foundation.

If you have a basement finishing project in mind and want to install these products, think again. Basements remodeled with traditional materials, such as carpeting, linoleum, tile, and wood, are being ruined and ripped out every day. And this is a big investment– you’re not going to want to pay to do this again.