Don't attempt to finish a basement
before you take care of any
dampness problems.

About this Project

Basement leaks not only make life miserable, but they can weaken the foundation of your home. Basement walls should seal out a moderate amount of water, but few will withstand a great deal of water pressure. If the wall leaks only during heavy rains, you may be able to solve the problem by adding extensions to your gutter downspouts to direct rainwater away from the basement walls. You may find that your yard slopes in a way that causes rain water to flow toward your home. If so, some corrective landscaping may be needed to solve your problem.

For help in diagnosing and curing basement water problems, see Solving Basement Water Problems, Related Projects