After speaking with many homeowners that are looking to finish a basement, or even remodel one, there are a lot of issues that come up. Not everything that is done in this category is cut and dry, simple and quick to get through. There are a lot of mistakes that can be made, especially if someone has already tried to get the project rolling.

We never recommend anyone go the DIY route, especially when it comes to this type of work, as it can cause a serious amount of damage to the home. Not only that, you may find yourself dealing with a larger price tag because things need to be cleared out first before the new work can begin. It’s for that reason that we have come up with a few common mistakes that you will want to avoid when finishing a basement, with the purpose of hiring us to get this work done for you.

Using the Wrong Raw Materials

We don’t use ordinary materials. However, when you go the hardware store, you may be tempted to get started with several simple options. For instance, wood studs, drywall, and hardwood flooring all seem tempting to use. However, these are not mold resistant, and you could end up causing more damage than good. The raw materials that you are going to use downstairs are vital to the long term use of your space. No matter what you want to do to convert it, it’s imperative that you look at the raw materials and do not use anything that could end up causing problems.

The Vapor Barrier Issue

One of the mistakes that could end up being made is in regards to vapor barriers. You’ll find that some will create this on top of the raw materials that are in place. This is not a good idea, and has even been discussed on a national scale from the likes of the US Department of Energy. If this is done, the moisture will be stuck between concrete and the raw materials which have a vapor barrier on them. That means one thing, mold. Mold can be deadly and you don’t want to put down anything that is going to instigate the growth.

Moisture Control Elements

One of the worst mistakes that we see on a regular basis is that of moisture controls or rather ignoring them. The basement is going to have moisture and humidity that needs to get leveled out. If it is not leveled out, no matter what type of work is done on the inside, things are going to end up problematic. You’re going to first get a “musty” smell, and that will eventually lead to mold growth. It’s not a good sign and could definitely derail things down the line. It’s imperative that this is not ignored at all.

At the end of the day, the above are just some of the problems that are most common when doing a basement job. When homeowners call us, we sometimes see this type of issue from previous attempts to finish the area. Do not do this alone, and if you have hired a contractor in the past that didn’t do a good job, you’re going to find the above elements in place. These are just some of the common issues, but there’s so much more that goes into this, so don’t let yourself get trapped. Hire a professional that knows what to do, and can spot these issues before doing any work. You’ll need to fix the problems mentioned above before you settle into any plan of action that’s for sure.