Basement Finishing Plans: 3 Mistakes to Avoid

When making basement finishing plans, you need to consider a number of variables. Many individuals who undertake this project end up making mistakes along the way. When you are getting ready to finish your basement, here are a few important mistakes to avoid.

Choosing Wrong Materials for Walls

One of the biggest mistakes people make is choosing the wrong materials to construct basement walls. When you are forming basement finishing plans, you may find you need to build interior walls or cover up the concrete walls around the outside of the basement. Many people make the mistake of using wood studs and regular insulation for this project. When you are doing this, you should only use materials that will not be damaged by water. Basements tend to flood and have a lot of moisture in them. If you use natural materials such as wood, you are creating an environment that can harbor mold. Mold can be a big problem that can spread throughout your house. Incorporate waterproof materials for the walls into your basement finishing plans.

Using Hardwood or Laminate Flooring

Another mistake many people make when forming basement finishing plans is that they plan on installing hardwood or laminate flooring. In most cases, you should avoid installing hardwood or laminate in a basement. Both of these floors are made out of wood or have large amounts of wood in them. If your basement floods or develops a leak, there is a good chance the flooring will be completely ruined. If you do not want to continually replace your flooring, you should think about installing ceramic or porcelain tile. You might consider going with vinyl as well. Just avoid natural products like wood, bamboo, cork or laminate.

Not Planning for Drainage

Some people forget to provide access to drainage. For example, they will install something over the top of an existing basement drain and make no provisions to get access to it again. A basement could flood at some point. When this happens, you need access to a drain, which allows you to get rid of the excess water and dry out the basement again. If you cannot get to the drain, you may have to tear up the floor in order to allow proper drainage. At that point, you will find yourself replacing the flooring because you cannot patch it. The best option is to install the flooring around the edge of the drain. Being able to see the drain in the floor is not nearly as bad as having to deal with a flooded basement and replacing the flooring afterward.