On The Basement Floor

Mold begins to form and the unpleasant smell you can t seem to shake is born.

On the basement floor.

The good news is most basement floor cracks are normal and don t need to be repaired. They typically show up two to 12 months after the. When the warmer air from above seeps into your basement the moisture in the air condenses and ends up on your dark basement walls and cold water pipes. Sheet vinyl flooring creates a nearly seamless water impervious surface on your basement floor always a good thing where moisture might be involved.

Sweep the basement floor clean with a broom and dustpan. The surface of the floor should be as smooth and clean as possible before applying the waterproofing materials. One of concrete s few weaknesses however is porousness. The vast majority of basements in america are constructed using concrete one of the most durable materials available to home builders.

Basements are notoriously dark damp cold and sometimes they get wet or worse they can flood. And it s not the potential for water leaks either. But it doesn t fit with every décor and isn t warm to the touch. Polished and sealed concrete is waterproof incredibly wear resistant and cheap to install.

Be they straight jagged or spiderweb like fine cracks in the basement floor commonly result from surface shrinkage as the concrete dries. The basement floor doesn t support the weight of the home so cracks in the floor won t affect the home s structural integrity. Tile vinyl flooring has multiple seams that may invite moisture infiltration if water is left standing long enough. Condensation and water vapor are moisture related hazards unique to basements and they affect the kind of flooring that makes sense downstairs.

Consider a variety of other flooring materials for a refined look and feel. Most basements are below grade meaning that that they are below or partially below the ground level and most on built on a concrete slab and to top it all off the majority are uneven. Use a shop vacuum or other heavy duty vacuum cleaner to remove all dirt and debris from the basement floor. Cracks in the basement floor can be a cause of panic for homeowners.