Basement remodelling begins with dependable waterproofing. Many houses have basements, but few people take advantage of all that space. Some are dark, dank areas used for storage or laundry at best. If you’re not getting much use out of your basement, you might think about remodelling it. Yes, this will take some money, but it can give you a huge useable space that can be used as a spare bedroom, an exercise room, a game room, and more. A lot goes into remodelling a basement, of course, and it all starts with ensuring that everything is waterproof.
Basement Remodelling
While it may be okay for your basement to leak a little bit if you’re not using it for much, you certainly don’t want it to leak if you put down nice flooring and have furniture in it. Many basements, especially those in older homes, are known to have small leaks from time to time. Many people simply patch them with some kind of low-quality patch that holds for a while, but it eventually starts to leak again. That’s why it’s very important to install dependable waterproofing before you remodel your basement.
Waterproofing Your Foundation
By waterproofing your basement, you’ll help protect the foundation of your entire house. If your basement constantly leaks or holds water, the walls will weaken, and you may have to deal with a lot of structural issues. There’s also the problem of mildew and mould growing in the walls. That can lead to illness and allergies.
The first step in waterproofing is to install a drainage system to make certain that if there are leaks, the water will at least drain out instead of standing in the room and ruining things. You will also want to ensure the room has been sealed using waterproof foundation materials. This does more than just help protect the things you put in that room. Once the walls have been sealed, you shouldn’t worry about water leaking into the room.
Consider a Water Pump
You may also need to invest in something like a sump pump. This equipment will help remove any standing water from your basement and prevent water from building up in the future. If your walls have been waterproofed correctly, this shouldn’t be an issue, but if they haven’t, you might need a sump pump on hand just in case. If you currently have a basement that leaks, you will need a pump to use before you start waterproofing it so you have a completely dry area to work with.
If you’re considering remodelling your basement, you may want to hire a company to handle the waterproofing. You do not want to complete your entire remodel only to find a leak somewhere in the wall. Hiring a professional may add more to your budget, but it can also save you a lot of money in the long run if there are issues with leaks. Even if you plan on doing the remodel yourself, remember that the first step is making sure your basement is completely waterproofed so the rest of your work isn’t wasted.
