For some homeowners, a basement can be a rec room, guest area, or living room space. For others, it's a mold-ridden, moisture-filled, half-finished nightmare that nobody wants to step foot in. A durable basement isn't just a space for the family; It can also improve your home's value greatly.
To plan and build a basement, you're going to need to set up your construction site, clear out the mold, and get ready to start pouring some cement. Of course, that's not all. Here's what you need to know.
Choose the right type of concrete or cement.
Unless you've only been buying ready-mix concrete, you probably didn't know that there are different types of concrete and cement. Of course, there's the kind that you'll cover with asphalt in parking lots (the kind that cracks easily) and then there are reinforced types of concrete and cement that have added strength to resist cracks, damages, and leaks. Even if you're going for the fully-finished, carpeted look, you're still going to need concrete mix underneath to prevent moisture from seeping in.
When you use products like ready-mix concrete, they're more likely to crack which can cause water damage from pools of liquid seeping in. Heavy showers and humidity can cause this so take your region of the United States into account when choosing your aggregate. It's the foundation of your home, after all. You don't want to deal with structural damage down the road.
Pick out the fixtures.
In most cases, you're going to keep your water heater and your furnace in the basement. A hot water hardener, even a tankless system, can sometimes cause mold and mildew so you're going to want to make sure you choose a system that won't end up leaking gallons of liquid into your basement. The first thing you should do when looking at heavy equipment like a gas water heater is to shop around a bit. While the first option can sometimes be the best option, it can also be the worst.
Think about carpeting.
Carpeting can impact the construction site greatly. Also, keep in mind that fabrics soak up hydration. If you have gallons of water spill into your basement, you could find mold spores, stains, and mildew. However, carpeting often looks more "finished" in a basement. If you prefer the look of the pavement, you can keep it as is, though.
Protect yourself from the elements.
Depending on where you live in North America, you likely see a lot of adverse weather conditions. Rain, snow, and ice can all affect your basement. If you live somewhere that's prone to flooding, you'll also want to maintain workability in those cases. Choosing high-performance concrete can bring some reinforcement to your basement that pervious concrete can't. Just make sure it's up to your specification. And if you do live somewhere that experiences flooding, consult basementguides.com to learn what to do if a natural disaster seeps into your basement.
Think about the lighting.
Even if your ceiling vaults or domes and has room for more natural light to come in, you'll still need solid lighting since basements are, by nature, below ground. Plus, if you have high-strength concrete for your basement wall, it's going to darken the room, even if you throw on a coating of paint or epoxy. This isn't much of a concern in new homes that are designed for cable wiring and modern lighting, but if you're finishing up a basement, you may need to think hard about the lights.
Between choosing between a gas heater and a tankless water heater and deciding on resins, polymer concrete, lightweight concrete, and who to hire as your plumber, there's plenty for a homeowner to consider when crafting a basement. However, for all the hard work it requires, you'll be glad you did it.
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