Renovating a full-height basement can be a relatively easy and cost-effective way to add new living Space to your house.

To make a good living space, a basement should be high enough to permit ceiling fixtures or fans with space beneath for a 1.8m (6ft.) tall person to stand. Dampness or leaks in the walls or floor must be corrected, because a damp or wet basement isn’t a suitable living space. Moisture problems can ruin even the most expensive renovations and make your basement unliveable.

Most basement floors in houses are sloped to a drain that, in turn, slopes to a sewer or dry well. It is a common practice to install a ‘P’ trap in the drain, to prevent sewer gases from entering the basement. If you intend to live in your basement, ensure there is a proper drain with a trap situated at the low point of the floor. The trap should be kept full of water to function properly and should be topped up periodically.

To prevent heat loss to the surrounding earth, most jurisdictions require exterior basement walls to be insulated for most of their height. When insulating the foundation on the inside, Place a moisture barrier, such as vapour-permeable building paper, on the interior face of the foundation from exterior grade to the bottom of the wall. The top of the wall and the space between the joists should be insulated, because it is here that most of the basement heat loss occurs. Dampness and cold can enter a basement floor from the ground beneath it, consider placing polyethylene over the existing floor before installing the finished flooring.

Humidity is a common source of discomfort in basements and can contribute to odours, staining, mold growth and wood decay. High humidity can result in fungal growth, progressively damaging organically based materials, such as wood and wood-based products, and natural fibres in carpets and upholstery. Excessive humidity is caused by leaks; damp materials; improperly installed insulation, air barriers and vapour retarders; weather conditions and building occupants. Therefore, it is important to keep room humidity levels within an acceptable range to prevent mold growth and preserve occupant health.