Create Usable Dry Living Spaces With Basement Wall Systems

By The Home Renovator

With many new basement wall systems, turning your basement into usable living space is relatively easier than it was a few short years ago ...

One of the most wasted spaces in a home is the basement and growing families can take advantage of that space when needed. However, many times the basement shows signs of leaks and may even pool water on the floor. Originally, the basement was designed to house utilities such as the hot water tank, the furnace and all of the electrical power boxes with pipes and lines running through the floor joists. With many new basement wall systems, turning that area into usable living space is relatively easier than it was a few short years ago.

Looking over the basement to determine if flooding is likely will determine if extensive work is needed before any type of remodeling work is done. Signs of slight condensation or a minimal presence of seeping can usually be taken care of with some waterproof paint. The installation of a basement wall systems with a thermal vapor barrier can collect any moisture that may form on the walls, trapping it into drain chancels before it can contact the interior walls.

A thermal barrier built into some basement wall systems will allow space between the exterior wall and the barrier, trapping any moisture where it drips to the bottom of the wall and collected in a drain channel. On the inside of the barrier, a thermal shield helps keep the majority of the heat in the basement, consequently helping to reduce the humidity in the air as well.

Systems For Interior Walls Need Extra Space

When adding finished basement wall systems to a vapor barrier system, a minimum of a half-inch must be allowed between them to keep the barrier from coming into contact with the interior wall. Using the two basement wall systems together can provide a warm, dry area for extra living space in the basement.

Many companies offer their brand of basement wall systems that typically can be installed by the home handyman in a few days. However, depending on the scope of the remodeling, moving plumbing pipes and electric lines many require the use of a professional. In some instances, water lines and drain pipes may need to reset into the basement floor, which will require digging up the concrete and replacing it once the pipes are moved.

In most cases, electric wires are already run through floor joists, but for those that are hanging loose, they will need raised above the planned ceiling level. Wires and ventilation ducts should never hang down onto the ceiling material, especially electric lines as they can cause a fire.

Next article: Bathroom Remodeling Made Simple

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Basement Planner: Inspiration, Design, Remodeling Materials, Decorating (Paperback) Basement Planner: Inspiration, Design, Remodeling Materials, Decorating (Paperback)

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For more information about Home Renovation-related resources, see our Home Improvements resources section, subscribe to our Home Improvements Newsletter containing news, updates and insider tips, or go to more articles about Basement Wall Systems.

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