There are 101 problems you’ll face when purchasing a new house. One of them is a damage basement flooring. Basement flooring which is prone to leaks and humidity, could cause bigger problems if not repaired immediately. But fixing basement flooring is not an easy matter. Especially if you do it alone. Leaks, humidity, and poor ventilation are the biggest challenge that probably will give you a headache.
Let’s leave the worry at the bay and find some tips on how you can finish the basement flooring during weekend, without leaving headache.
1. Do a Total Check
Before making repairs, you must check the overall condition of the basement. Play detective and look for cracks, seepage or leaks which so often become the very basic problems. Don’t forget to check for mold and humidity in the room.
Write down all the things you find, whether they need to, or not need to be fixed. The list will definitely help you to sort out which parts of the basement that is prioritized for repairing. If there is a part of the floor that is leaking, then you must immediately fix it. Leaks can cause floor foundations become brittle, and increasing humidity in the room which can lead mold growing wildly and leaving a musty nasty smell.
Don’t forget to also check the walls and roof around the basement, before you start working on the flooring.
2. Budgeting
After doing a total check, list down the financial planning and budgeting you need, to fix your basement. Prepare the largest budget for repairing parts that have suffered severe damage. After that, you can start sorting out the budget to buy equipment, paying the workman, and buying furniture that will later be used in your basement room.
3. Choosing Floor Material
After preparing managing your budget, you can start hunting for flooring material. It is important to use the right flooring material based on your basement condition. Budgetdumpster.com said, you can choose various types of flooring materials, from concrete, vinyl, tiles to carpets.
If you want to save money, you can simply paint the concrete floor once or twice, though this way has plus and minus, but panting your floor can help if you’re in a tight budget.
Another way is to Coat the concrete basement floor with epoxy. This material will make your floors waterproof and durable. Epoxies are available in water-based, solvent-based, and 100 percent solid solutions and in various colors.
Epoxy can be easily applied when you work to finishing basement flooring. While epoxy is great for protecting your concrete slab from water sources from above, it should not be used if moisture is coming from below through your concrete slab. Because epoxy is waterproof, it holds water inside the concrete slab. This can lead to increased pressure which can damage the concrete slab.
Vinyl is one floor material which is easy to find and commonly used. Being waterproof, this type of material is also known to be durable. It also has a variety of interesting pattern that can be adjusted to the basement room theme you want.
While flooring with tile material, it will make you easier to clean the basement floor, in case of a leak or flood. Besides being easy to clean, this type of material can also make your room look more beautiful.
Flooring with carpet can also be another option. But remember to choose the right carpet material at a price that fits your budget is also important.
4. Clean the Basement
Make sure to clean the basement first. Starting from moving items, sweeps away debris and dust, also ensuring there are no harmful electrical wiring which could cause accident.
If you are unsure about cleaning or checking electrical wiring, don’t hesitate to contact a professional who can help you with the problem. Better leave the job to the expert than sorry.
Just like installing electrical wiring, you can ask a professional to help check and install a good plumbing. This is useful so that you can avoid problems in the future, such as leaks.
You should also look for signs of cracks in the floor, which often occurs due to concrete floors. After marking the cracked area, you can patch the crack. Apply the concrete fillings to the cracks and make sure there are no gaps or uneven areas.
Smooth the patch with a putty knife. If the crack requires a second patch, wait for the first coat to dry before applying the second coat. Seal the concrete patch and let it dry for a few days. Certain cracks may be caused by structural damage and may require professional assistance or a specialist.
5. Install the Basement Sub Floor
Installing the basement sub floor will help you to avoid moisture. You can use plywood or polystyrene sheets as a sub floor. But beforehand, make sure to check the following things before installing the sub floor basement, such as cleaning, levelling, dry, and do structural sound.
While it’s important to have a clean surface, no matter what floor material you use, you should thoroughly clean the floor, with the aid of a steam cleaner.
For anything that sticks to the floor, you need to clean the floor from paint, and any other product. It’s best to use a concrete grinder, which will also leave the floor with a slightly rough surface, so the new floor will stick more together.
After cleaning, it’s important to have a level floor not just for aesthetic reasons. An uneven floor can limit where you place your furniture and can also cause standing water. You can level floors that feel uneven, with a concrete grinder and low areas can be levelled by layering the concrete.
Testing the dryness of the floor can help you choose the right floor material. If you have a very dry basement, you can probably get a modified hardwood floor. If there is a lot of moisture, use a waterproof and durable material.
As previously explained, it is important to check for signs of cracks in the building structure, especially in the basement. If you see signs of structural damage, it’s time to get in touch with a professional. Any significant spider cracks or cracks that should be aware of.
After all the checks are done, you can start installing the sub floor. First, lay the polystyrene sheet using the adhesive in the same way you used to insulate the walls. Then on top of the insulation lay the plywood sheet. Secure the new sub floor using a rock drill and concrete screws. Once the plywood has been installed, you can use it as a basis for installing almost any type of flooring material you want.
6. Check the Room Humidity
There are various inexpensive ways to finish basement flooring, for example by painting the concrete. However, keep in mind that this doesn’t last long. It might look good at first, but painting on the concrete doesn’t protect your concrete slabs. Especially if you want to use the basement as a new room that can be used by family members. You will feel the cold nuance of painting the concrete. Therefore, the choice of flooring material must be in accordance with your basement repair goals.
Finishing basement flooring is not just a fix, but its use must also be in line with the ideas and the needs of the family. Floorcritics.com said, the comfort of a room also needs attention. When finishing basement flooring, make sure you know where the moisture is coming from.
If it’s from under the floor, any material, including vinyl, can grow mold. This can be very dangerous, because mold and mildew can be inhaled and disturbing your family’s health. This is why it is important to check for moisture on your concrete slabs before laying your floors.
It’s a good idea to seal your basement floor, whether you plan on installing a new floor or not, as this can provide unnecessary moisture protection.
If you want to check that your plates are tightly closed, simply pour water over the concrete. When the water stays in place, the concrete is tightly closed, but when the water seeps in, the concrete is not properly sealed.
7. Note the mistakes that are often made when finishing basement flooring. Reported by thechronicleherald.ca, there are mistakes that are often made when finishing basement flooring.
1. Make sure the room is not damp
Weather and environmental are the main enemies for basement. Coupled with leaks, it is a big challenge for homeowners who want to renovate their basement. So, make sure your room is dry with a variety of checks, starting from cracks in floors, walls, and checking for signs of leaks. You can do monitoring for several weeks, (some even up to a year) to see the humidity conditions in the room when the seasons change.
2. Installing the carpet directly on the concrete
Sub floor becomes important if you are going to choose carpet material as flooring in the basement. Carpets are known to be poor materials when it comes to leaks. Carpet material can hold water, and lead to mold or mildew growth.
In summer, humidity can increase due to hot weather. The problem can again be solved with a good sub floor. If you are unable to make a sub floor, then find a professional who will help you to install the sub floor, so you can use your favourite carpet in your basement.
