GOOD-BYE DARK SCARY BASEMENT

Most houses in the cold north have basements. They are frequently dingy, moist places that store our extra junk from yesteryear. To the DIY’er they are uncharted real estate waiting to be captured, however there are some potential health risks lurking in those subterranean rooms. Mold, radon and mildew are some of the issues that could be looming if you just slap up some wood studs and dry-wall. However basements can be great space if you take a few steps.

1) Check for Radon. The EPA and U.S. Surgeon General's warn that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and that you should test your home. Having your home tested is cheap and easy, see the below link to find how to have your home tested:

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html

2) Determine whether your basement has any moisture problems. If your foundation walls are only damp on humid summer days, it might be okay to finish your space but if you have any problems with standing or leaking water in the spring or during heavy rains, you’ve got some preparations to do. If you have noticed major dampness in the areas near the walls you should probably forget building out your Tiki Lounge.

If you noticed any water issues you should look into adding gutters and downspouts and regrading you lawn so the water moves away from the house. If you periodically get standing water in the basement you should consult a professional and look into an interior and exterior drain tile system, this can mean big bucks and lot of mess. If you don’t fix every water issue you risk facing health risks, property damage and extremely extensive mold remediation down the road.

Eitherway there are good and bad ways to finish a basement. Build your walls and floor out of materials that can tolerate moisture. Below is the example of how we finished the Mullet dungeon. A monolithic layer of rigid foam provides a thermal break. We then framed the walls with 2x2 framing held away from the masonry walls to conserve space and keep the wood away from the concrete. A full 2x4 treated plate allows 3” of water in the basement before the wood gets wet. The only trick part if the wiring which we ran in conduit for extra safety. One other option is spray foam with steel studs. Both systems should be finished with paperless drywall to avoid moldy paper.

Tile and stained concrete are great alternatives for mold free flooring. However if you have a nasty unlevel floor Flor Carpeting and several other companies offer recycled synthetics with mold resistant backing. This is a great way to cover that gloomy concrete with color and style while avoiding nasty health problems.

http://www.epa.gov/radon/video/other_warning.mpeg
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/components/7051-00.html