Basements

Finishing your basement is one the best investments in your home that you can make. A finished basement not only improves overall home value, but it also gives you lots of additional finished space.

Finished Basement

Moisture Barriers and Thermal Break

A proper barrier between wood and concrete is the first critical step toward finishing your basement. There are plenty of different methods which you can use in order to achieve this. Failure to do so will result in moisture build-up, and rotting of the wood.

Sill Gasket

Sill Gaskets are a great way to protect your bottom plates from coming in contact with concrete, a great alternative from using pressure treated bottom plates, these gaskets provide an adequate barrier to avoid moisture from transferring through to the wood.

Delta MS/Planton

Delta MS / Planton products act as a foundation barrier and double as a sub floor barrier. These products contain multiple ripples which allow the concrete to breath and not build-up with water. This product is applied to the entire area and will act as a superior barrier between wood and concrete between your sub floor and bottom wall plates.

Ridgid Foam

Using a Ridgid Foam on the concrete is one of the best options available. The ridgid foam product creates a thermal break from vapours being drawn up from your floor when properly installed and gives you a good R Value of around 7.5 to help reduce heat loss and heating costs. The main benefit of the ridgid foam is that it is going to keep your floor warm.

Basement Sub Floors

A 3/4 Tongue and Groove plywood floor makes for a great sub floor, this is no different in basements. After you have created your moisture barrier you are ready to screw down your tongue and groove sub floor directly to the concrete with concrete anchors and get ready for your actual floor

Framing

Framing is necessary in order to define the spaces within your basement. Proper framing around the exterior walls allows space to properly insuate your basement and then you can frame the remainder of the basement to divide the space to suit your needs by adding bedrooms, bathrooms, bulkheads etc.

Flooring

Flooring finishes are just about endless in basements, carpeting is a popular choice, but laminate, tile, vinyl are all available. Hardwood is an option, although not recommended because concrete is porous and will just draw the moisture and eventually buckle the wood floor. However, if you properly create a thermal break with the ridgid foam this will prevent any moisture from transferring up through the floor and will never reach the hardwood.

Sound Proofing

Sound proofing is usually a request when finishing a basement in order to prevent sound transfer to the main floor. Roxul Safe n’ Sound is an excellent product to accomplish this task. When installed properly this sound proofing insulation will eliminate sound transfer between floors and walls.

Proper Insulation and Thermal Break

Ridgid Foam

Ridgid foam is an excellent product to use on your concrete floor to give you that thermal break, it is also an excellent product against your foundation walls, acting as your vapour barrier and giving you additional insulation this product is a superior product to a 6mm vapour barrier with a bunch of screw holes in it. In combination with a R-12/R-14 Insulation properly installed these products will make for a really warm space. If you have taken all the proper steps to properly insulate your basement you will save on energy, and your overall comfort level in your home will increase.