Homeowners preparing for basement remodeling often have a lot of work in front of them before their project can get underway. To ensure that a basement finishing project creates an attractive, functional room that can stand the test of time, it’s important to not only consider the interior of your basement, but the exterior of your home as well.

If you’re considering remodeling your basement, here are a few steps you can take to ensure your project will produce the result you want:

Clear out your basement – If you’re like many homeowners, your basement is probably used as one of the primary storage spaces in your home. Even if you’ll be storing items in your basement again, you’ll need to find a storage space elsewhere in your home at least temporarily. This makes your project a great opportunity to go through your old belongings and trim down on what you have. Hosting a yard sale or donating some items to charity can aid in this process while clearing clutter from your home at the same time.

Give your basement a thorough cleaning – Installing flooring, walls and the other components of a basement finishing system requires a clean surface. Be sure to thoroughly sweep, vacuum, dust and scrub your basement before your installation to prevent problems with the adhesives and sealants you’ll use.

Repair cracks – Cracks in your basement can allow water intrusion, which can seriously damage many different basement finishing products like drywalls or carpeting. Many small cracks can be easily repaired by homeowners themselves using epoxies available from home improvement stores but larger ones may requires special injections from professional contractors. These cracks may also indicate problems with the underlying foundation which need to be repaired ahead of your basement remodeling project.

Seal your basement – Applying a sealant to the porous walls and floors of your basement will help slow or stop water infiltration. This can significantly reduce the risk of damage for your basement room and the items it contains over time.

Service your sump pump system – Once your basement is finished your sump pump may be more difficult to reach, so it’s important to make sure that your system is functioning properly before your being your project. Check your system’s pumps and plumbing and replace any parts as needed to ensure it’s in top condition. You may also want to take additional steps to reduce buildup in your sump.

Ensure your home has proper drainage – Poor drainage around your home can cause your basement to flood during heavy rain, which could severely damage your newly remodeled basement. Grouting and grading can improve the drainage properties of the soil around your home, while servicing your gutter system will help properly channel water away from your home’s basement and foundations.

You may want to hire a professional basement contractor to help guide you through your preparations, and determine which of these processes are most important for your home. After taking these steps, you can feel confident that your basement remodeling project will proceed smoothly and produce lasting results.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services. His work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites. http://www.1800basement.com/

Author Bio: Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: basement remodeling