Thinking about FINISHING your basement space?

READ THIS IN FULL BEFORE YOU BEGIN ANY FINISHING WORK.  You can save yourself thousands of dollars, time and heartache.

It is never a good idea to put up a floor or wall coverings over a damp or wet basement.  Organic material such as wood or carpet will "mold" when moisture is present.  The musty odor, high humidity and mold cause major health issues for many people.  The following are items you should be sure are addressed before you finish your basement:

• WATERPROOF - If you have an existing leak, have a qualified waterproofing professional provide a permanent repair.  CAUTION: Many repairs, even by some waterproofing contractors, are designed to be a temporary fix and will lead to a false sense of security.  Be aware of "leaky warranties" that are not fully transferable, require service fees, or are not offered by a company with an established track record.
• Install a Backup Sump Pump System.  All pumps fail and once you have invested thousands of dollars finishing your basement, the cost of the failure goes up dramatically.  A reliable, well designed backup pump system is a must!
• Install a WATERPROOF SUB-FLOORING SYSTEM.  Concrete, by nature, is porous and your basement floor is just 2-4" thick and rests on cold, damp soil/rock.  Inevitably moisture and water vapor will rise through the concrete and into your flooring material- more "mold candy".  Perma-Seal offers a wide variety of waterproof sub-flooring and flooring materials including tile and waterproof carpet-squares.
• Install a vapor barrier over the walls.  The concrete or masonry walls will likewise emit a lot of moisture vapor into the basement if left untreated.  Perma-Seal offers several grades of prefinished and semi-finished wall coverings which will protect and extend the life of your finished walls.  We also offer a WATERPROOF INSULATING BLANKET that can add up to R-10 to R-20 insulation value to your basement walls.

Before you spend thousands of dollars creating a living space in your basement; invest the time and have a Perma-Seal consultant evaluate your foundation for potential problems and offer helpful tips.  Our consultants will inspect your home inside and out to spot potential drainage, waterproofing and structural issues.