A well-furnished basement is an addition to any home. It offers extra space that can be used as storage, entertainment room, living room, and much more. However, before you finish your basement, there are certain things you should remember to avoid having water issues there. We have put together essential things you must consider when finishing your basement.

1. Keep the Basement Dry

Before embarking on finishing your basement for other uses, you should have completed the basement waterproofing to keep water away from the basement. Therefore, before going further, see if there are any water issues in the basement; in case the basement waterproofing has become compromised. Look for cracks in the foundation, repair the gutters, and move the downspouts away from the foundation. It may be necessary to install a weeping tile to make the basement waterproofing efficient to prevent a moldy and wet finished basement.

2. Check If a Permit is Required

Having completed the basement waterproofing and come up with a plan for the basement, it is essential to contact your local municipality to ascertain if permits will be required, mainly if your plan includes electrical work and plumbing that may need to be inspected.

3. Install a Vapor Barrier

When you have completed the wiring and plumbing of the basement, you should add a Vapor barrier to both the floors and walls before framing and completing the surfaces. When you have placed the vapor barrier, wait for a day or two to check if there is moisture underneath before going further with the project.

4. Leave an Offset Space

Water or moisture is a serious challenge in the basement. As a result, you should create a slight offset from the outside wall, even after installing a vapor barrier. Add thin slats of metal or wood to level out a wall or create a smooth surface for constructing framing.

5. Insulation

Another thing to keep in mind before finishing your basement is insulation. Insulation will help to control the temperature inside the basement as well as help to control moisture and shut out the noise outside. Use insulation that has a vapor barrier on both sides. You may have to check relevant code in your area.

6. Professional HVAC System Design

This is one of the most crucial things you must remember after basement waterproofing. Hire a professional to design the most appropriate HVAC system for your basement. You need to warm your space correctly without any difficulties for your HVAC or yourself. 

7. Flooring

When finishing your basement, consider using planks or vinyl tiles to create perfect basement flooring that will transform the basement into a habitable space for you.

8. Replacement Windows

You should remember to replace the existing windows in your basement with energy-efficient and sturdy ones for best performance and comfort inside the basement.