Home Remodeling & Construction Blog

Foundation cracks present a problem in your Virginia basement, and smart homeowners look after repairs before finishing the basement. Avoid water problems and protect your home by handling cracks from the interior and exterior of your home.

What Causes Cracks in Your Basement?

Cracking is almost inevitable, as shifting soil, water and age take a toll on your concrete foundation. So how do Virginia homeowners know what to do about this issue? And what should be done before you finish the basement?

Hydrostatic pressure is the leading cause of cracks in the basement floor and foundation walls. Pressure from the outside and natural movements of the soil around your foundation cause the concrete to crack and split. Rainwater, groundwater and run off collect around the foundation and apply pressure to the walls. Settling soil and frost movements create even more pressure, often resulting in cracks.

You may notice more cracking in the spring, but this movement and pressure occur all year round. Watch for signs of dampness in the basement and inspect your foundation walls and floor carefully before planning a basement renovation.

Do Small Cracks Cause Problems?

Thin, hairline cracks may not seem threatening, but movement and additional hydrostatic pressure widen cracks and allow for the passage of moisture. Water in the basement creates a myriad of problems today and into the future. You must repair the cracking before closing up the wall and installing flooring.

Small cracks create a point of weakness. If left unrepaired, these thin cracks will open up with additional hydrostatic pressure. You may not notice water seeping in at the moment, but unless you invest in measures to repair cracks, moisture damage could destroy your finished Virginia basement in a short period of time.

What to Do About Foundation Cracks

Incorporate foundation repairs into the budget. Depending on the scale of the problem, the following common repairs could play into your project:

• Drainage Repairs – landscaping, grading and other processes help to redirect water away from the foundation, resulting in less hydrostatic pressure
• Waterproof Membranes – installed on the outside of your foundation, these membranes provide a protective coating that seals existing cracks and helps to minimize the risk of future cracking
• Piering – an excavation process that results in greater levels of support for your foundation, and especially important in newer subdivisions and areas with a high concentration of backfill
• Steel Bracing – installed inside the basement to help minimize movement, often used in older properties with limited access to the exterior foundation walls
• Wall Sealers – applied to the inside of your foundation wall, these paint-like products help to prevent moisture movement
• Crack Sealers – direct application into the existing cracks works well for wider foundation cracking, most often a silicone product or hydraulic cement

Continue with the plans to finish your basement once these cracks have been addressed and drainage improved in your yard. You cannot guarantee against foundation cracking in the future, but with the right systems in place your Virginia basement will be much more comfortable.

Does your basement have a musty smell? Have you noticed water stains or moisture in your Virginia basement? Homeowners need to tackle these problems before finishing a basement. And if water problems show up in your finished basement area, quick, decisive action limits damages and expenses.

Follow these top five tips on keeping your basement dry.

Tip # 1 – Check Your Grading

Many basement water problems stem from grading issues. Rain water and melted snow should run away from the foundation, otherwise this water will find a way into your basement and wreak havoc. Take a walk around your home and look closely at the landscape around the foundation. Does it slope inward? Is it flat?

A proper slope grades away from the house at a gentle angle and can often be supplemented with gravel or other aggregates the improve drainage. Make sure that driveways and patios are installed on a slight slope as well, directing water away from the house.

Tip # 2 – Consider Sealing the Concrete

Ideally done in the preliminary stages of a Virginia basement renovation, applying concrete sealer is a simple process. Most quality products are affordable and go on like a paint. Sealers do not stand up to water pressure, but will keep away moisture and condensation that naturally seeps through porous concrete.

Some products are installed on the outer wall of a concrete foundation. If this makes more sense than ripping down existing walls to apply a concrete sealer indoors, opt for a rubber membrane that will cover the cracks and deterioration found in most foundations.

Tip # 3 – Install Longer Drainpipes

Improperly sized drainpipes or inadequate gutters often result in water in the basement, especially when combined with poor grading. Check that your downspouts extend at least 10 feet from the foundation, sloping downward and into a swale or drywell.

If you do not have gutters, consider installing a drainage system for surface water coming off the roof. Use a plastic liner buried a few inches into the ground, covered in gravel and extending at least 8 feet from the foundation.

Some homeowners opt to install rain barrels at the end of their drainpipes. Be sure that these barrels are emptied on a regular basis, to prevent overflow.

Tip # 4 – Repair and Seal Windows

Windows present an easy entrance for water. Inspect the sill and frame for cracks and gaps. Often a high quality caulking can repair these issues, but you may want to have your Virginia contractor install new windows. This project can also improve energy efficiency and create a more comfortable basement living area.

If the windows are aged, cracked or warped, replacement is the best option. Repairs with sealants should work for windows in decent shape, and help you to avoid potential basement water problems.

Tip # 5 – Invest in a Dehumidifier

As much as you do to prevent water from entering your basement, it will inevitably find a way in. Invest in a reliable dehumidifier to reduce moisture and lessen the chance of mold and mildew growth. You may only use this equipment during hot weather or when you detect a musty odor, but it acts as an indispensable tool against water damage in your Virginia basement.

Posts and beams present one of the most common challenges of basement renovations. But with a little help and some planning, your Virginia basement will turn out spacious and comfortable in spite of these architectural road blocks. It helps to look at the problem from a certain angle and consider the various solutions available.

Posts in Your Basement?

Depending on the size of your home, posts in the basement may be inevitable. These steel posts often support the main beam of your home, and as such, hold up the main floor and any other floors above that. Your contractor cannot simply knock them out. But with the right design, these posts can virtually disappear and leave your basement living space open and bright.

Choose from these popular ways of dealing with basement posts:

• Invest in a Double Beam – if the span does not exceed the distance allowed by local building code, you may be able to take out the post and replace the beam above with something larger. This process costs a fair amount and requires extensive renovation work. It may reduce the number of posts in larger basements or completely eliminate the posts in smaller homes, but you should weigh the value of this investment carefully before jumping in.
• Minimize the Post – using color to “paint out” the steel post, this method basically leaves the posts as is and blends the narrow towers into the space with matching tones. Use furniture placement to avoid awkward traffic and choose bright, neutral colors for both walls and posts.
• Build the Post Into the Room – incorporate the posts into shelving, half-walls, arches and other basement features to ensure these structural components blend. This won’t work as well with an open concept floor plan, but if you can use the posts as part of the architectural design, they cease to be eyesores and fade into the background of your Virginia basement.
• Decorate the Posts – if you do not like the look of minimized posts (left in their natural state as smooth, steel posts) and cannot build them in, consider decorating your posts. Some homeowners use trim and molding to create an old world feel, while others opt for more modern appeal and use bamboo slats or soft fabrics to enhance the appearance of the basement posts, making them almost stand out as decor pieces.

Low Ceiling Beams in Your Basement?

Posts are often accompanied by low areas on your basement ceiling, commonly known as bulkheads. Duct work, plumbing and framing for the space above create these challenges that could potentially make your basement space darker and less roomy. And it can be tricky or expensive to remove them.
One of the easiest ways to hide low ceiling beams is with color. Use a bright white ceiling paint (matte finish works well) on the entire room and make sure to eliminate lines near the bulkhead. All corners and seams should be a continuous color to allow the lower areas to fade away. A visual trick that will not add height to the area, painting out makes the overall space feel lighter and more open.

Dealing with basement posts and low ceiling beams in your Virginia basement can be challenging. Ask your basement contractor about the easiest, most attractive ways to handle these design issues and be creative. The solution may be cheaper and more appealing than you think.

Finishing a Virginia basement with low ceilings presents a variety of challenges. How can you transform a cramped, often dark space into something comfortable? Take your time in the design stage and make the most of this space.

Look Under Your Feet

Maximize ceiling height by looking to the floor first. Many Virginia homeowners assume that a plywood subfloor is required, but other options allow for a more open feeling. Leaving the subfloor out will save an inch or two, which could be the difference in passing and not passing building code.

Your concrete subfloor needs to be fairly level to avoid installing a plywood subfloor. Check from corner to corner and pay special attention to any low lying areas; that is where water will collect should flooding occur. Use concrete leveling products to correct any major discrepancies.

Choose from several types of basement flooring that can be installed on a level concrete subfloor, including:

• ceramic and natural stone tiles – mortared directly to the concrete
• engineered wood flooring – floats over a poly barrier and closed cell underpad
• carpet – laid over a closed cell underpad for protection from mold and other moisture issues

Look Over Your Head

The type of ceiling installed in your Virginia basement also makes a difference to the atmosphere, brightness and comfort of this below-grade living space. Depending on the construction of your home and the space required for lighting fixtures, homeowners have several types of ceilings choices available. Not all will help to maximize the feeling of roominess, and details like color choice serve to enhance the effect.

Wood paneling is one of the cheapest ways to finish off a low ceiling. This thin material can be stapled or nailed directly to the floor joists or wood blocking with light fixtures surface-mounted on the paneling. Consider how you will finish the seams and edges of your ceiling and look for rigid paneling with a decent structure.

Drywall ceilings also provide a low profile ceiling that can be mounted directly onto the floor joists. You’ll need to punch out holes for recessed light fixtures and box around bulk heads, but this type of ceiling can be painted white or off white to help expand the space.

Drop ceilings provide easy access to electrical and mechanical elements, but also cut down on the space available. If your Virginia basement has a low ceiling to begin with, this design makes it worse by dropping down two or three inches. Although you can get white tiles and add sound insulation, drop ceilings work best in basements with full ceiling heights.

Check with your local building department about the minimum ceiling height and stay within that limitation if you want to use the basement for living space. If the existing height is dangerously close to the minimum, talk to your Virginia basement contractor about installing the right types of floors and ceilings to maximize space and create an open, spacious feeling in this living area.