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Triple master contractor Ed Del Grande
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By Ed Del Grande
Q: Hi, Ed. Thanks for always being there when construction questions need to be addressed. I consider myself more skilled than the average Joe, so I decided to finish my full basement complete with a big beautiful bathroom. Before I start, what should I address as far as moisture control and prep work? Also, do I have to cut up the concrete to run the bathroom drains? What about venting the drains? I know enough about construction to know there will be many issues to address. and I don't want to forget anything! Thanks. Robert (New England)
A: Finishing a basement is a great way to add valuable living space to any home, but beware. Basements are by nature wet and damp places that can take a toll on most building materials. Plus, the basement is also the area where things like water heaters and water-based heating boilers may be located. Between the threat of ground water rising and/or water heating equipment leaking, there is always a chance your basement can suffer severe water damage at any time.
Now that you know the risks, I can tell you some prep work needed to help you control potential moisture and water problems. First, you need to damp-proof the concrete basement walls and the floor. You can use a waterproofing paint or step up to a waterproofing concrete coating that can be applied to the walls and floor. Follow the manufacturers instructions, and that should seal up all the concrete surfaces and drastically cut down moisture levels in your basement.
Second, a sump and a sump pump need to be installed below the floor slab. The sump is basically a hole in the floor that collects water, and the sump pump pumps that water outdoors where it belongs. In the event of high ground water due to heavy rain, the sump and sump pump should collect that water before it rises into the basement living area and will divert the water out of the basement.
The third part of the prep work should be to set up a dehumidifier station. A dehumidifier is key to controlling the moisture level in a basement once finished. Set it up with a self draining tank according to your local codes to eliminate the need of constantly emptying buckets of water.
Speaking of codes, in most areas permits are needed to fix up a basement. The local restrictions will also tell you how to install your bathroom vents and drain lines as per code. However, when installing a bathroom in a basement, you can be sure that the concrete floor will have to be cut up and dug out in some places to run the large main drain piping. You have a big investment and a lot of work ahead of you with many issues to address. So, it's best to work slowly and fix up your full basement one step at a time so you won't work yourself into a big hole!
Ed Del Grande was born and raised in a family-owned plumbing business. With more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of construction, he holds current Master licenses in pipefitting, fire protection and plumbing. If you have a question for Ed, send him an e-mail at eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.
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