Perma-Seal News and Information

Located in DuPage County, Illinois, Willowbrook is a small village with a population of just about 9,000. Situated just about 23 miles from Chicago, Willowbrook shares the same weather and climate of the Windy City.

With families slowly getting larger and land becoming more expensive, not many Willowbrook residents can afford buying more space to expand their houses. So many look down into their basement.

Naperville was once a quaint farming town that has evolved into an affluent city and is the 5th largest city in Illinois. This growth can cause some problems with living space, and being a rich city, land and property can be a tad expensive. Families who need extra space for their growing families will find that extra land can be prohibitively expensive.  

However, there is good news. If you have a basement, you can convert that into a living area, whether as an extra family room or a bedroom for your teenage son. The only cost you'll have is for converting it, but it will be much cheaper than having to buy an extra parcel of land or a bigger house.  

Arlington Heights, a village in Cook County, Illinois, is a Chicago suburb with a population of 75,101 and counting. Since the population explosion in the 1950's and 1960's, virtually all land has been taken up, which leads homeowners to think about adding more rooms to their existing homes.  

However, adding a room can be difficult and expensive, so many convert their basements to additional rooms. But unless you have an egress window, the building codes in the area won't allow you to undergo this renovation project due to fire safety regulations.  Since most basements were built before these new building codes were implemented, not many were built with egress windows. Fortunately, you can install new ones.

Thinking of finishing your basement…when you start with a dry, healthy basement, anything is possible!

The first step you should take when you are planning to finish your basement is to stop any active seepage or moisture in that area.  If you have any potential water problems, it is crucial to resolve those issues before you spend thousands of dollars to refinish the basement.  Call a professional to evaluate your foundation for any active as well as potential leaks.  They should also examine your sump pump to make sure it is properly working and efficient for your home.  Lastly, you should have a backup sump pump system to ensure full protection for your basement.