Basement Remodeling - What To Look For

by Alden Smith

It is inevitable that you will run into problems with both construction and existing home parameters. Unless you build a new home with specific requirements for a finished basement, you can bet that sooner or later a problem will come up that requires someone who is in the know to correct. It's always a good idea to hire a contractor that specializes in basement remodeling, but if there isn't such a contractor in your immediate area, don't be afraid to ask specific questions of the contractor you finally decide on. The purpose of this article will be to inform you of problem areas, and solutions for them. With this knowledge in hand, dealing with a contractor will be a breeze.

The Biggest Issues

For this article I interviewed the contractor that maintains my 114 year old building. I asked him what the biggest problems would be to do a basement remodel, and his answer surprised me - he told me that framing in the rooms are the biggest difficulty. Jim explained to me that because the remodel depends on so many factors, it is very hard to tell how a job will go until you once get into it. Here are some of the things he mentioned:

• Location of sewage pipes
• Location of water pipes
• Location of furnace
• Location of sump pump
• Height of ceiling, and whether ductwork and water pipes run inside or outside of ceiling joists.
• The type of wall - poured or cement block
• How level the floor is
• Proper planning - did contractor put in access to important traps, valves and electrical boxes?

Problems in Depth

Each of these problems can be rectified through proper planning and execution. Let's look at each in detail:

1. The location of sewage pipes and access to them is dealt with in 2 ways, depending on the build. These pipes need to be accessed on occasion, and must have proper access built into the remodel. If this isn't done, and the access trap not properly mapped, then you end up removing an entire sheet of drywall to find it. In modular systems, the same holds true. The good thing about the modular systems is this - a panel can easily be removed by pulling the joint strip and unclipping the panel to access.
2. The same holds true for water pipes. Often in older homes the water pipes run beneath the floor joists instead of recessed inside. Consideration must be taken in your choice of ceiling, with an acoustical tile ceiling being your best bet. This can be dropped below the level of the water pipes, and removing a ceiling tile to access them is very easy. In a finished ceiling, this is not possible.
3. If you have a large basement, chances are good there is the possibility of walling off an unfinished room for the furnace and other utilities. Relocating or installing a new furnace can greatly inflate your budget.
4. Location of the sump pump is also critical. A power outage during a heavy thunder storm can be devastating to a new remodel due to basement flooding. Insure easy access and use a battery backup system.
5. In older homes, ceiling height can be greatly diminished in a remodel. If the floor needs to be built up to make it level through use of a sub floor, and basement ductwork is below joist level, the height of the ceiling can drop to as little as 6.5 feet. To get around this, a contractor may have to re-route the ductwork to between joist and then level the floor with self leveling concrete, adding further expense.
6. If your walls are poured, you have an advantage in moisture control. If walls are cement block, moisture can build up over time in the three holes of the cement block if proper drainage isn't in place. Walls can be treated with Xypex to insure watertight integrity.
7. A lot of basements have a sloping floor to aid drainage in case of water flooding. Leveling the floor is done in two ways - either through a sub floor or the use of self leveling mortar. A sub floor is considered better because proper insulation can be added. Much of this depends on the height of the ceiling.
8. It is the owner's responsibility to plan properly for a basement remodel. The last thing you need to hear from your contractor is the problems you may run into if you haven't done your due diligence. Start any basement remodel by mapping your basement, measuring walls precisely and noting locations of ductwork, sewage pipes, electrical runs and water pipes.

Keep these things in mind when planning a basement remodel. It will save you money and a lot of trouble in the long run.

Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects, and excels in research.