Basement Repair & Insulation in Williamstown, MA
Challenge
Are You Aware of The Steps You Should Take Before Remodeling Your Basement For a Total Basement Finish?
This homeowner wanted to remodel their basement to have extra room for their grandchildren to play. Our Building Science Specialist arrived for a free evaluation and notified the homeowners that before they could start remodeling the basement they needed to add a layer of protection that included basement waterproofing, insulation, and repair. Before beginning the Total Basement Finishing process, Fogarty's home services needed to make sure this basement was protected from potential water damage and properly insulated and air sealed. Starting with the sump pump, it's a critically important part of the home because it keeps an entire level of your home protected against flooding, and that needed to be replaced along with a water prevention drainage system. Then the poured concrete walls would need insulation, in addition to the un-insulated rim joist that would have to be spray-foamed. Removing the dryer vent from the window and repositioning the vent through the rim joist would allow us to replace the basement windows with new everlast basement window inserts that would help prevent further air leaks. These steps had to be taken to prepare the homeowners for a Total Basement Finishing by Fogarty's Home Services.
Solution
Here's How Fogarty's Home Service Was Able to Prep This Homeowner's Basement For a Total Basement Finishing!
Installing a sump pump system with 3 pumps to protect from flooding was the first step. The first pump can pump up to 2200 gallons per hour, 8 feet high. This sump pump is equipped with a backup pump on a separate discharge line that can pump 3900 gallons of water per hour should the first one fail or is unable to keep up with the temporary heavy flow of water. If the power fails then a third battery-operated pump automatically pumps up to 12,000 gallons of water out of your basement! A drainage system was also installed to help to prevent any future water damage. Insulating the basements poured concrete walls with Foamax "Polyiso" insulation boards was the solution to helping the homeowners from dealing with humid air in the summer creating condensation from hitting the cold basement walls. Heat moves from more to less. The dense concrete has a lot of mass and heat from our basement constantly flows into and through the wall by conduction. You can never heat them. So to make your basement and home more energy efficient we install Foamax boards to make your basement warmer, more comfortable, warmer floors above your basement, less condensation in the summertime, lower fuel bills, house easier to heat in the winter. Using our two-part spray foam to install on the homeowner's rim joist and over sill plate helped to seal all air leaks from outside and insulate the important areas of your home. Dr. Energy Savers spray foam has a high insulation value per inch of R7, and because it expands, it seals all cracks and gaps, and joints where air from the outside enters your home. The rim joist insulation helps with warmer floors, and fewer drafts, your home is easier to heat and costs less to heat, less summertime condensation on cold basement surfaces. Moving the dryer vent to the rim joist with a pro hood, a 4 1/2 hole is bored through the siding, and the "rim joist". A durable high-quality metal "pro hood" dryer vent with a factory exterior finish is installed in the hole. The Pro Hood Seals out drafts far better than lesser quality hoods such as plastic or thin aluminum models. Then the dryer hose is attached. All the windows can now be replaced with our energy-efficient everlast basement window inserts which was the last step in getting the homeowners ready for a Total Basement Finishing By Fogarty's Home Services!
