How to Make Sure Your Basement is Ready for the Big Upgrade

When you’re ready for a big change to your living space, the possibilities seem endless, especially when it comes to finishing your basement. 

Finishing a basement is considered one of the best ways to maximize your return on investment.  A finished basement obviously adds square footage to the home in preparation of resale, and provides additional living space as a family grows. Further, a basement upgrade can be utilized as a home office, an exercise room, a grandparent’s suite, or living and entertainment room. 

However before you are ready to start picking paints, it is important to consider the condition of your foundation, literally the pillars holding up your home to ensure it is stable and healthy prior to the improvements and financial commitment you are embarking on. 

Let’s understand some tricks and tips for making sure your foundation is secure. PierMagic created this list of considerations before continuing with your home renovation. 

When Finishing the Basement, Check for Foundation Repairs First 

The foundation of a home dictates the bones of the structure, and how much value and importance is placed on the craftsmanship put into a home.

The foundation, while sometimes an afterthought in the process of a renovated finished basement, is one of the main structural aspects that needs to be attended to in the form of basement/home foundation repair. 

For instance, if there are cracks in the basement wall, moisture could be getting into the house. When a basement is unfinished, this moisture - while still damaging - can go overlooked. However, when the basement is finished, you’ve now put significant money into this part of the home, and moisture can wreak havoc on your belongings, spread into mold, and weaken the foundation structure. Moisture can come into the home quickly and unexpectedly if there is a big rainstorm or if the cracks continue to grow. 

One way to minimize the potential foundation issues is to have a professional come out and provide a free assessment. You should have the company offer solutions for sealing these cracks and providing  waterproofing solutions. A concrete foundation repair expert can take a look at the foundation’s cracks, and diagnose the damage, and determine the further potential for water to enter the home. Even a basement that is mostly dry is just that - mostly dry. The areas where water gets in are still of concern when you’ve overhauled and upgraded the entirety of a basement to suit your lifestyle. 

Look to the Walls

Obviously as any newly renovated and finished area of the home, a finished basement will require much more maintenance than what most homeowners are used to. When we occasionally duck into our unfinished basements for laundry or storage needs, we often don’t consider the ways in which soil pressure affects the integrity of basement walls.

Here’s the science: when the soil around a home absorbs water, it expands. This expansion puts pressure on the walls and creates weak areas. These weak areas, if left unattended to, can cause walls to fail. When walls begin to fall around your basement area, the foundation and home’s integrity is at risk. 

Particularly in the Midwest, where expansive soil is more prevalent, there is a compelling argument that home and property foundations will experience this kind of distress. The key to finding a reputable foundation repair company is to find a local company familiar with your area’s soil. If you have a company that sets up in your area for a few months to get some jobs, they aren’t privy to the seasons and the impact on the soil. You need to ensure the foundation repair company can evaluate your vertical and horizontal cracks, as well as “stair-step” cracks resembling a flight of stairs cut into your wall. 

Tilting and bowing walls are other signs that the foundation has been impacted inward by the soil. Tilting is easy to notice because the wall leans in. Bowing occurs when the soil’s pressure creates a bulging effect on a portion of the wall. 

One of the most harmful and expensive homeowner issues that should be evaluated immediately is your foundation. The last thing that a homeowner should do is turn a blind eye to the foundation, covering up the most important aspects of a renovation with interior design elements. These may look nice on the outside, but what’s hiding behind them can pose safety and monetary concerns.

Fortunately, foundation repair experts in Kansas City can make an effective diagnosis and offer a solution for your walls. A local company, like PierMagic, has seen many issues related to the Midwestern climate, and can offer the right solution for your home.

Remember the Windows

Now that you’re planning to use your basement as a living space, it is important that there are safety measures in place for easy exit. Egress windows, or windows that can be accessed from the basement and provide an escape to the ground-level, are an essential part of ensuring the safety of your family. 

These windows, however, don’t have to function as a utility in your basement. If done right by a foundation repair expert, these windows can be an attractive and value-adding addition to your home. The egress windows ensure the bedroom can be marketed as a legal bedroom, which ultimately increases your ROI. In addition to these benefits, egress windows will add natural light to your basement as well so that you don’t have to be entirely reliant on other light sources.

If you’re looking for foundation repair in Kansas City, PierMagic can make these egress windows a stylish, safe, and secure addition to your finished basement.

Make Foundation Repairs Before You Dream Up Your Design 

Whenever you’re ready to dream up a finished basement to upgrade your living space, much of the attention should be on the full scope of your vision from the floor plans to the furnishings. 

It is important, however, that before contractors begin the design phase for this new space, they tap an experienced professional to assess the basement. 

You can be proactive and preventative by waterproofing your basement before issues arise and ensure that everything you want to accomplish in your upgrade isn’t spoiled by a crack in the basement wall in need of repair. 

If you are a basement contractor or homeowner noticing foundation issues, consider the expertise of PierMagic. With 15 years of experience with basement waterproofing and foundation repair, we know the climate, soil, and moisture conditions for our area as well as the necessary upgrades to make your basement project a success.

Give us a call at (816) 765-4800 or send us a message online. PierMagic can provide a free estimate and investigate your foundation repair concerns. We want to be sure that your happiness with a new basement upgrade starts with the basics. This extra up-front attention will be worth your investment.