When was the last time you inspected your basement? Do you know if yours suffers from water seepage, poor ventilation, carbon monoxide leakage or inefficient heating and cooling?
Before you start remodeling, it’s always wise to perform a safety review—especially if you don’t normally spend a lot of time in your basement. Besides the fact that those boxes full of personal items you’ve had stored down there for years may end up wet and ruined, if you don’t do your homework before finishing your basement space, you may also endanger your life and the lives of those you love.
So where should you start? What’s the procedure for making finished basements safe?
If, like most people, you know next to nothing about what’s required to make living spaces safe, consider these steps that help keep basement remodels—and families like yours—secure and protected.
- Look for signs of water leakage. If not controlled or eliminated, uncontained water can lead to mold and mildew in your basement and health problems in family members. Look for cracks in the walls, where water can flow through; damp spots on floors and walls, which may indicate a water problem; and rust on your heating or air conditioning system, which is usually a dead giveaway that water either is or has been present. A good waterproofing sealant usually takes care of the problem if you discover leakage or damage.
- Check for radon gas. Buy a self-check kit or hire a professional, who is trained, carries the proper equipment and knows what to look for. If you have radon leakage, you may need to install an air ventilation system to pump dangerous fumes out of your home.
- Inspect heating and air conditioning systems. Since you’ll be adding living space to your home with your basement remodel, you need to make sure your present HVAC can handle the additional load it will bear without breaking down. Also, ventilation must be sufficient to ensure your basement has adequate air circulation.
- Conduct an energy audit. Before remodeling, you should identify all sources of energy gain or loss. Knowing where problems exist, and their severity, will help you solve them properly when you finish your basement. Energy audits are typically conducted by home inspectors in Colorado and cost $200 to $300—much less than the cost of energy wasted through inefficiency.
- Establish emergency exits. Make sure family members have a way to get out of your basement in case of emergency. Check with your city or town on local building codes, and install exits that meet those codes if none exist already.
Once you’ve thoroughly scrutinized the safety conditions in your basement , and gotten the professional opinions you need to know what you’re facing and solve any potential problems, it’s safe to move ahead with your basement finishing plans.
Basement remodels can add quality space to your home. And by doing your homework first, you can be sure your home and family stays lovingly protected in that new space for years to come.
Penny M. Hagerman is a communications expert and marketing professional living in Denver, Colorado. Penny lends her talents to businesses nationwide and enjoys helping them grow and prosper.
