|  Before
you begin your basement remodeling project you'll want to make
sure your basement does not leak! Any sign of moisture, dampness,
or water is a sure sign you have a leak you'll want to repair
before you begin to finish your basement.
If you live in an area with a rainy season, or seasonal snow
melt in the spring, it's a good idea to do a careful inspection
during the dampest time just to be sure.
How to tell if your basement is leaking
Before you being construction, take a good look around at the
basement walls paying special attention to any cracks that may
have been caused at the house settled onto its foundation. If
you have cracks running vertically down your walls, that's usually
ok unless you see signs of dampness such as any discoloring that
may indicate moisture stains.
NOTE: If you have horizontal cracks running
around your basement they may indicate a serious problem with
the foundation! Be sure to have your basement inspected by someone
who's qualified to determine if any foundation repair is necessary
before you continue!
Signs of a basement leak
 
If you have discoloring in any of the cracks, they MUST be repaired
whether you see water or not! You don't want to them to get worse
a few years down the road and have to tear down a wall to repair
them!
Another common problem with poured concrete basements are rod
holes. These are holes made by the forms as the basement is poured.
The contractor will seal them after removing the forms, but oftentimes
they don't do an adequate job which is sure to create a repair
for you later.
|
Most
basements in new construction have a sump pump installed. If yours
doesn't, it's a good idea to do so. The sump pump will remove
the water from beneath your home by pumping it away before it
can seep through any cracks in the walls. If you do have a sump
pump installed and it runs frequently, you may want to consider
adding a backup. You'd hate to have your sump pump fail without
your knowledge and wake up to a small lake in your basement!