Getting Ready to Finish Your N. Philadelphia or Trenton, NJ Basement
Finishing your basement can increase the living space and value of your home in the north Philadelphia area.
BQ Basement Systems has seen thousands of finished and unfinished basements with water problems ranging from dampness to all-out flooding in North Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Trenton, New Jersey. If basement finishing is an idea you're considering, take these steps to ensure that the project is done right the first time - ripping up wet carpet and dry wall is frustrating and costly. If you already have finished your basement, the majority of these precautions can still be made. A basement is an investment, finished or not. Protect it!
1. Waterproof Your Basement
 Whether a basement leak is small or all out flooding, if the basement has ever experienced any groundwater seepage at all, then it needs a quality basement waterproofing system like WaterGuard , DryTrack or other options available from Basement Systems.
Basement water problems never get better by themselves, they only get worse as the house ages and the drains and coatings that protected the house fail. Therefore, even if water seepage is a once-a-year occurrence, it needs to be fixed before the basement is finished, as flooding is likely to be more frequent in the future. Some homeowners choose to put in a system even if they've never had a leak before, just to be on the cautious side. It's much easier to put in a waterproofing system before a basement is finished rather than after and waterproofing before you finish will protect your investment. It is also highly recommended that this system be installed around the entire perimeter of the basement.
2. Sump Pump with Battery Backup
Installing the best sump pump protection available to guard your home against flooding from primary pump failure, pump overload from torrential rains, and power failure is very important. Basement Systems' TripleSafe sump pump system comes equipped with primary and secondary AC-powered pumps and a third battery-operated backup pump in a single airtight sump liner.
The TripleSafe system automatically pumps out water in the event that the power goes out or if for some reason the primary pump mechanically fails to operate. Without the protection that the TripleSafe offers, your finished basement is only one pump or power failure away from a flood. Ensure a dry basement all the time with triple protection - before you invest in it.
If you do not have a TripleSafe sump pump system and have a Basement Systems' SuperSump instead, at the very minimum you should have an UltraSump back-up pumping system and a WaterWatch Alarm. The UltraSump (standard with a TripleSafe system) is a battery-operated back-up pumping system with a DC pump installed in the same sump hole, a battery, and a charging system. The UltraSump will pump up to 7000 gallons of water out of your basement in the event of the primary pump failing for any reason including power outages. A WaterWatch Alarm is standard on all Basement Systems pump systems and will sound off to alert you to pump failure before your floor gets wet.
3. Prevent Frozen Discharge Lines
Snow and ice can block the opening of the discharge and cause frozen sump pump discharge lines. When this happens your pump will be running and the water can't get out, causing your basement to flood. Basement Systems IceGuard, which is standard on most systems, will prevent this problem automatically.
4. Start with a Vapor Barrier
Water vapor can pass through basement walls and contribute to a higher humidity level in the basement. Installing a sheet of plastic, preferably a high-quality,  extra-durable one will direct water seepage down to the drainage system below and keep it off of the studs and sheetrock or paneling. It will also keep water vapor from getting into the basement environment and lower the humidity levels.
It is important that the vapor barrier be tucked into the drainage system below if one exists. The top of the vapor barrier should be caulked to the top of the wall.
Even better, you can install a vapor-proof drainage sheet on the walls that will insulate, such as Basement Systems ThermalDry Wall System, which reflects 97% of the heat back into your basement.
5. Basement SubflooringAfter addressing any possible leakage problems in the basement, the next thing to eliminate is water vapor from coming through the concrete floor. Because concrete is porous, water vapor will slowly and continuously travel up through it. If you lay a carpet on top of the concrete floor, this moisture gets trapped under the carpet and causes odors, mold and rot in the carpet.
 Basement Systems solution is a ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting system. This consists of a specially engineered polypropylene, 17-inch tongue-&-groove square tile that, unlike systems that use wood, is totally water and vapor proof.
The unique grid design on the bottom of the tile creates an air space that insulates the floor and does not cause water vapor to condense. The installation takes away only 3/8' of precious ceiling height in the basement, instead of 4' for other methods.
6. Plumbing Leaks Will HappenAny sort of leak, plumbing or groundwater, will have the same damaging effect on your finished basement. Basement Systems has easy solutions for the two most common domestic water leaks:
 One of the leaks that occur most often in the basement is due to water heater failure. Basement Systems FloodRing is the solution. The FloodRing will contain water seepage and drain it to the waterproofing system when the water heater leaks.
 Another common basement leak is due to washing machine hoses blow out. These hoses are not made to withstand the 50 or 60 pounds per square inch of water pressure like our hard plumbing system is. There is a valve to shut the water pressure off when the washing machine is not in use, but not many people actually shut it off.
Eventually, these inexpensive hoses will leak, or blow-out completely. Basement Systems FloodChek Hoses are the solution. Guaranteed for 20 years, the FloodChek hoses are made to take the pressure, and will not blow-out, corrode, or rust at the end connections.
7. Check for Window Leaks, Rust, and RotWill you be happy with your old basement windows in your newly finished basement? Basement windows are notorious for being hard to open and drafty. Moisture and water near the ground or in a window well causes metal windows to rust and a wood window to rot. Many do not have screens and painting them is a constant challenge.
 Basement Systems can replace your basement windows with energy-efficient, all-vinyl EverLast Windows. They feature smooth sliding operation, double glass, full screen, easily removable panes for cleaning or passing long objects into the basement, and they never need to be painted!
The right time to replace your basement windows is before you finish the basement. Then the carpenters can trim right up to them for a nice finished look.
8. Energy Efficient Dehumidifier
Most standard home dehumidifiers are too small to make much of a difference. The SaniDry Basement Air System is a powerful and effective dehumidifier - big enough to do the job. The SaniDry dries the air and automatically drains the water out of the hose, so you never have to empty it, like you would with a conventional dehumidifier. The SaniDry takes three times the amount of water out of the air as a typical dehumidifier, yet uses the same energy. The SaniDry has a powerful blower to draw musty air in and move the dry, clean air back out into the basement. This unit will take care of those musty odors and clammy feeling in the basement.
9. Clean Gutters and Extend DownspoutsMake sure that your downspouts are extended with Basement Systems RainChute to keep roof water away from the foundation. Keep the soil graded away from the house wherever possible, and keep the gutters clean. Clean out window wells that might be filled with leave, debris and dirt.
Contact us for a free basement finishing estimate in North Philadelphia, Lancaster, PA, Trenton, NJ and surrounding areas.
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