How to Finish a Basement in Your Home

There are a few things you can do to ensure that when you finish your basement, you won't have to do it again in a few years. The term "refinishing a basement" has come about over time because basements often get wet, drywall has to be ripped out and installed again. If the basement is finished in drywall, water and humidity in the space can create a mold problem in the basement. You may not see it but it can in your home. Mold only needs a dark and moist place on an organic material to grow and prosper. Think about it -- a basement finished with wood and drywall fits all of these mold propagating criteria!

Dehumidification
One of the smartest things you can do in a newly finished basement is to get a great dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers wring out moisture in the air that is naturally present in a basement. (Basements are surrounded by moist earth on all sides with porous concrete being its only barrier. It's bound to be at least a little humid in the basement environment.) When dehumidifiers wring out the air's moisture, that takes one less variable out of the mold-growing equation in your home.

Plus, dehumidifiers can be ducted into a remodeled basement, meaning you won't have it sitting in the middle of your finished room. A contractor can put the dehumidifier in an unfinished part of the basement and duct the air into the finished part of the basement - it's the best of both worlds.

Materials are Key
Another key thing to avoiding a mold problem in your home's air, is to use inorganic materials that resist mold growth. Instead of using drywall to finish your new living space, try using inorganic materials that won't support mold growth. They're durable and since they're inorganic they're usually pretty easy to clean off. Crayon scribbles on the wall aren't a problem with a product you can wipe down easily.

Some companies use a plastic material under their basement flooring which further separates the cold cement floor from your feet. It acts to keep moisture away from the flooring and it can even keep the basement a few degrees warmer. That's extra money in your pocket because it's money saving on heating the basement!

Basement Remodeling Contractor - Not a Refinisher
Last, finding a basement remodeling contractor who understands why drywall isn't an ideal material to use in a damp basement area is invaluable. Their knowledge and expertise in the field can be a real asset in remodeling your home, but be sure you are using a company with a proven track record in creating mold-resistant living spaces. Contractors who "get" this aspect of basement remodeling will be able to tell you what works and what doesn't and their experience in helping homeowners create finished basements that don't promote mold growth. Be sure to ask them for before and after pictures of basements they've worked on. If it was a moldy mess to start with and they used drywall to finish the space, that contractor may not be the person you want to remodel a basement with.

To find basement finishing contractor in Rhode Island, contact Total Basement Finishing today. They will help you finish your basement the right way so you'll have usable living space for years to come.

Marianne Snyder writes about basement finishing, home energy audits and crawl space repair.