Basements in WNY offer an easy way to dramatically increase the amount of usable square footage in your home. A basement office, a playroom for the kids, or an extra family room can help to relieve the pressure from cluttered and busy houses.
But the factor that stops many of us from remodeling our basements is water. And for good cause. Over 90% of basements in our area get water at one time or another. This means that all the hard work of installing drywall could be wiped out with one flood. Thousands of dollars spent on carpet could be lost.
But there are some simple steps you can take to minimize the water that comes in and the damage that could result. If you want a fool-proof system, call in the professionals and prepare to spend some serious money. But if a reasonable amount of safety is what you’re after, consider taking these steps:
1) Install a Sump-Pump Backup
Much of the basement flooding in our area occurs because a sump pump fails or loses power and doesn’t pump out the water that is trying to get above the floor. If your sump pump runs consistently, it wouldn’t be wise to remodel a basement without a backup. Battery backups can be installed, but if there is a long power outage those batteries can lose their life. So I recommend a water-powered backup that will actually pump water out with water pressure.
2) Regrade the Exterior
Water often comes in basement walls because the soil outside is sloped toward the house. Make sure that the soil outside slopes away from the house, ideally for 6′, so that all the water outside is channeled away.
3) Divert Rainwater
Every house should have gutters and downspouts, and at the end of those downspouts there should be leaders, or tubes that divert water away from the house. Splash pads alone don’t do the trick. Leaders cost about $8. at local home stores.
4) Relieve Water Pressure
If you have pressurized water coming through your walls, first do #2 and #3 above. Then find the places the water is coming through and install weep pipes, small pipes that channel water down into the gutter around your basement floor.
5) Drylock the Walls
If moisture coming in the walls is minimal, apply a coat of masonry water seal to keep out what is coming in.
6) Watch the Windows
Water will often come in basement windows, so consider replacing them with glass-block windows (But make sure you leave some way besides the main stairs that a person can get out in case of fire). A window-well should be kept free from debris to keep water from filling up past the glass.
7) Expect Some Water
When you remodel, even if you’ve covered your bases, there can still be occasional water problems. Build with this in mind. Install drywall so that it is cut off two inches above the floor, and then cover the gap with tall molding. Drywall will absorb water that sits on it and be ruined, but wood molding can handle some water and is easier to replace than a section of drywall. Install a thinner carpet that can be cleaned and dry out easily (shag is not good for basements!) Build storage shelves and media centers to keep everything up off of the floor.
8) Wait it Out
If you just got into a house, do all of these repairs and then wait at least a full year before you remodel. You want to be able to see how your basement functions in all 4 seasons under every weather condition. (If it is a dry year, wait another year to see how your basement handles normal water.) Some basements will get several inches of water, but only once a year when the snow melts.
There are many more steps you can take to be more sure that your basement will stay dry, but they’re higher priced and better left for experts. Try these 8 steps first to see if you can do it yourself.
