Finishing a Basement in Superior, Wisconsin with ThermalDry Basement Floor System
Challenge
This customer wanted to make the most of the square footage in her home, but her basement was a dark and sometimes damp environment that was not ready to be used as a permanently livable space. The moisture in the air made it possible for any organic materials in the basement like sheetrock, wood, or furniture to become covered in mold and possibly even rot. In addition to this, the sump pump had become old and less effective which made for a situation in which a basement flood was becoming more likely and required a new solution quickly. Outside of water problems in this basement there was a degree of concern about cracks that had formed in the foundation walls. If a basement finishing contractor had disregarded these cracks and covered over them they could become worse without the homeowner knowing it and could eventually lead to an unstable foundation for the home.
Solution
In order to provide this customer with a proper permanent solution we needed to address four main areas: moisture in the air, use of organic or inorganic material, sump pumps, and foundation stabilization.
Moisture in the Air
Like many homeowners this customer was experiencing moisture in her basement. This is a common problem of course, but when creating a livable space in a home it is important to reduce the moisture in the air due to health concerns and to reduce the risk of mold & rot. This customer understood that the moisture in the air in basements can not be effectively and efficiently controlled with a standard dehumidifier so she opted for our SaniDry XP which creates dry, clean air, and is 10 times more powerful than traditional dehumidifiers and is energy efficient.
Organic vs. Inorganic Material
If there is one thing we hope you learn from visiting our website it is that you should never finish your basement with organic materials like wood, sheetrock, and carpet. These materials are susceptible to mold and would almost always need to be replaced during a flood, meaning one flood could make a basement finished with organic materials a total loss. In this home we used the ThermalDry basement flooring system which will not support mold or mildew, tiles can be easily replaced or removed, and it won't warp, bow, or delaminate like wood products. This was the perfect material to use since the customer wanted a wood flooring look in her basement but also wanted a solution that wouldn't need to be replaced.
Sump Pump
The customer had a sump pump that had become quite old and was taking away from the peace of mind the customer was having regarding water in her basement. In this situation we reccommend the TripleSafe Sump Pump. This system has a secondary back up pump and a third pump that is battery operated and turns on when the first two pumps become overwhelmed or in the event of a power failure. The proper sump pump installation is essential to all finished basements as it helps reduce the amount of water resting around the home and prevents flooding in the home. The sump pumps we provide are sealed which prevents dangerous radon gases from entering the air through an opening in a sump pit.
Foundation Stabilization
The foundation of this home had become a concern for our customer. Several cracks had formed in the foundation and it was clear that if left alone the problem could become much worse. In order to permanently stabilize the foundation wall the best option in this situation was to use geo-lock earth anchors. These earth anchors are set in a solid position in the earth on the outside of the home and connect to plates on the inside of the home which help prevent the foundation wall from caving in and over time can help to put the wall back to its original position.
Each of these solutions is instrumental in properly finishing a basement. At DBS Residential Solutions we make sure to take time to provide all of our customers with a permanent solution that addresses the root of the problem while accomplishing the goals set by the homeowner. We are very happy to have provided our customer with the finished basement that she wanted while also creating a stable foundation and dry, healthy environment which will gives the customer peace of mind in the longevity of her new living space.
