Basement Contractor

In a few parts of the country basement foundations are not only impractical they are against the building code. This is because the water table is too high and a basement would, in effect, become an indoor swimming pool – and not in a good way! In other areas of the country if a basement foundation is not chosen it is because of lifestyle, design and economics. Many older people the slab-on-grade foundation because of living requirements while others choose it for style. However, some prefer not to have a basement because building one requires more labor, excavation and concrete, and this equals a greater outlay of money.

A hundred years ago a basement was a glorified root cellar. In many cases the foundations were stacked rocks and the floor was packed dirt. Even when central heating came into practice the “octopus-like” furnaces were more likely to sit on a platform of bricks. This was because basements were more likely to be damp places and dirt absorbed water leaks and water runoff. Even when concrete became a preferred flooring for basements it was not unusual for sump pumps to be installed to take case of seasonal runoff water. New techniques in drainage and waterproofing changed the basement area from a utility area to a viable living space.

Water: The Enemy of Basements

Basements have come a long way since the stacked-rock foundations of the 1800’s. Builders now understand that water has to be steered away from the home before it reaches the foundation and moisture in the basement becomes an issue. This has been accomplished by using drain tile around the foundation. In addition, gutter systems help because they gather roof water during a rain and direct it to downspouts. Moisture is not only uncomfortable it signals the beginning of a mold problem than grow behind finished walls. 

Waterproofing Treatment: Before renovating the area for living space, basement contractors will assess the space for moisture. In many basement structures, especially in cases of concrete block foundations, the exterior of the walls have to be excavated so that a waterproof membrane can be installed from the top of the foundation walls down past the footing joints. The weak spots in concrete block foundations are the mortar joints and, in time, these can deteriorate and allow water inside. It is not in the best interests of a basement development to assume that injected crack filling can plug all the leaks that may occur within hundreds of mortar joints. A rubber membrane cloaks the entire concrete surface and stops water before it touches the concrete wall.

Drainage: With the foundation secured and waterproofed a four-inch drain tile is then placed at the bottom of the footings before back filling with gravel or crushed rock. This system goes around the entire footing and then meets up with the runoff pipes from the gutters that direct the water off the property.

Most new basement foundations are protected in this way because the treatment will take away the moisture problems that will certainly plague any development in the space.

Utilities

Another concern of basement contractors is the placement of the utilities. One of the key items that should be looked after before any renovations are started is condition of the underground utility lines, especially the sewer pipes.

Sewer and Water: In the past sewer pipes were made from cast iron, and in the 1950’s there was a fad amongst builders to use asphalt-treated cardboard tubing. The old iron for the 1930’s outlasted the newer cardboard pipe - which would break over time because of shifting ground – but these needed to be replaced in time. Even the early models of plastic pipe installed in the 1960’s became brittle after being buried for a few decades and were also susceptible to breaking.

While excavating to repair and seal basement walls it is a good idea to replace the sewer line from the basement to the city service. In rural areas this should be checked as well as the septic system. The most expensive part of a sewer and water replacement is the excavating cost so the added cost would be small and well worth it in the long run. If the basement is already dry have a sewer line service take a video of the line from the home to the city service or septic system. It costs about $150 to have them run a camera down the whole length but it is well worth the money.

Plumbing For Bathrooms: If the basement living area will have plumbing it is important to check to see if the space is going to be below grade. This means that the main sewer line will above the toilets, washing machine discharge and shower drain and not able to take advantage of gravity for draining. If this is the case then a pumping system will be have to be installed. These have been improved upon during the past ten years and totally contained systems are now less than $2,000

Electrical: Since many electrical panels are in the basement it is easy to either add circuits or install a larger panel.

To get more information on basement contractors contact out Contractor Directory or simply post your project online

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