Finishing your basement is a great way to expand the amount of living space that you have in your home. Depending on how much square footage you have to work with, you can use your basement to create a playroom, an office or a workout area. It’s also important to be aware of the issues that can come up when you’re finishing your basement. There are some ways that you can prevent these problems during construction.
Flooding
A basement is very prone to flooding because of the fact that it’s underground for the most part. Flooding can be a costly issue to repair. A sump pump is a very important piece of equipment that prevents flooding, but a sump pump can break just like anything else. If you’re about to finish your basement, you’ll want to take additional steps to make sure that flooding doesn’t occur. According to Absolute Foundation Repair, having a dry basement is critical to your home’s comfort and stability. A backup sump pump can be installed. They are typically battery-powered. If your power goes out, you will still reap the benefits of the backup.
Mold
Mold growth usually occurs from excess moisture in your basement. This can appear after a flood, but simply having too much moisture in the air can also cause mold. A dehumidifier can be purchased as a stand-alone unit to remove moisture from the air. You can also have a dehumidifier placed on your furnace. According to Hunker, you want to keep the moisture level in your basement around the 45 to 55 percent point to prevent mold.
Poor Air Quality
You may be hiring an excellent professional to finish your basement, but indoor air quality is something that’s very important in your home. Most basements don’t have a lot of windows. That means you’re not going to have a lot of fresh air down there. According to EZ Breathe, a basement can quickly become musty with stale air. A contractor should ensure that you’re going to have enough airflow coming through the basement by way of vents. You can also invest in an air purification unit to clean your basement air. Healthy indoor air results in less illness plus fewer allergies and asthma attacks.
There’s a lot to take into consideration when you’re going to be finishing your basement. This is a big project that costs money and time. The end result is likely to be fabulous, but you want to make sure that you’re taking proper steps to protect your newly finished room.
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