How to Refinish a Damp Basement
- 1). Treat the most likely areas of condensation. Refinishing your basement requires treating the source of the condensation to reduce the level of humidity in your underground rooms. Measure the exposed cold water pipes in your basement. Use a utility knife to cut sections of preformed foam pipe insulation to fit the exposed pipes. Apply a strip of duct tape along the seams, holding the insulation in place and sealing the pipe inside the foam fabric.
- 2). Cover bare air-conditioning ducts and cold-water storage tanks with insulated sheeting. Place the waterproof side of the sheeting facing to the outside of the fixtures and appliances. Hold the sheeting in place with duct tape.
- 3). Check your floor drains to make sure they function properly. Run a garden hose from your faucet to your floor drains. Run the water for at least 10 to 15 minutes to make certain the full length of the drainage pipes is clear and capable of dispelling water.
- 4). Remove moldy or damaged wall coverings and floor coverings. Clean mold and mildew stains on basement concrete with a solution of one part bleach to three parts water. Apply the solution to the spots with a damp rag. Let the liquid soak in for about 15 minutes. Rinse off with fresh, hot water.
- 5). Remove existing wall paint with a paint scraper and wire brush. Clean the walls with a solution that contains trisodium phosphate. Rinse the walls and let them dry before applying primer and mold-resistant paint.
- 6). Scrub your basement floors. Install floor tiles, vinyl flooring or mold-resistant carpeting. If you use carpeting, install it over a waterproof-backed carpet pad.
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