If you want to be like a lot of other families that possess a house with a big basement that is being wasted, then you may have contemplated converting it into a livable area. A finished basement can be very useful for a big versatile addition. Maybe it would just be better for storage if it had real walls and shelf space that is neat and orderly.
The largest issue that house owners come across when they wish to complete this unused area of their house is that a lot of it will have a moist feel to it and a musky odor. Many times there will be visible dampness on the cinder blocks that you can really feel when you touch them. This is not a proper foundation to start a building project and this wetness problem must be solved before you do anything else.
You should realize when you start a job like this that it is just common sense to remove as many articles as possible from the room. Not only will it give you more room to work, but since repairs are going to have to be made before you even start the job, it just makes things easier.
If you can locate the cause of the moisture on your own, then it could be possible to repair the issue without needing to engage someone. The wetness could be coming from leaky plumbing, but a lot of times it is because dampness is finding its way from the outside to the inside. This may be caused from a crack in the foundation structure or caused from the landscaping around the foundation of the house. When water is allowed to gather around the foundation, it will make the concrete wet and will cause the odor.
Occasionally a defect in a foundation might be repaired fairly easily. When you know the proper methods and do the job well, it may fix the situation. If it is more serious, then it is usually more advisable to employ an expert contractor to remedy the water situation. A skilled landscaper might be able to stop the water from accumulating close to your foundation with correct grading. Gutters might also create problems too if they are not set up right, working right, or could be damaged.
The cinder block walls in a basement can be sealed to keep dampness from soaking into them. It is senseless to install wooden studs and sheet rock on wet walls. It is likely to eventually cause mold and rotting wood and you will have invested a lot of money and a great deal work of for nothing.
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