A basement property is particularly convenient, provided that the basement is actually dry. By taking some measures, you can make a major contribution to ensuring that the cellar is permanently protected from moisture and that the value of your property is maintained. Find out what to look for when buying a home and what you can do against moisture.
Ventilate properly, insulate properly and seal well – with all these measures you can provide for a dry basement. We will explain how to make your property dry and thus fully operational basement.
Ventilate properly in the basement
Especially with a well-insulated and completely sealed cellar, you should first congratulate yourself, because you actually do not have to be afraid of moisture damage. Sure, moisture can be easily noticed, but that usually happens during the summer.
Tip: Check in advance if the outer walls are dry. Because dry exterior walls are a good sign that you can avoid moisture and the resulting damage alone by the correct ventilation in summer.
Please note the following points for cellar ventilation, then enjoy the benefits of a basement property throughout the year:
Temperature: You should ventilate the basement only when the outside temperatures are higher than in the basement. Thus, the warm, moist air escapes to the outside and fresh, cold air flows in. Avoid ventilation in fog or humid-warm weather, as this air does not have a positive effect on the climate in the basement. Especially on cool summer days, you can ventilate daily in the morning or in the evening for ten to fifteen minutes a day.
Cool down: Never let the cellar cool down completely. Even if you do your purse and the environment a favor if you heat as efficiently as possible, but you should not endanger the building in the long term. Also heat and ventilate unused basements regularly, so that no moisture damage can develop.
Free walls: When setting up the basement, make sure that the walls remain clear. Only then can the air circulate behind cabinets and other furniture when heating and ventilating. If cabinets are placed directly on the outside wall, moisture may accumulate behind them and cause damage.
Washing machine: If you have a laundry room in the basement, you should pay particular attention here to the proper ventilation. By washing machine, dryer or wet laundry, a room like a laundry room is much more heavily burdened than the living room with moisture, so you should use here every opportunity to air according to the rules presented.
Properly insulate
With so-called interior wall insulation, you can protect your cellar from moisture. In the run-up, however, you should check whether the basement walls have been sealed really well. Especially with older properties, you have to assume that no measures have yet been taken.
Tip: Before you buy a basement property, you should have a look at the cellar with professionals like KapitalBasements. Experienced professionals quickly recognize whether there are expert insulation and sealing. Even existing moisture damage, they usually recognize even if the previous owners have quickly provided a layer of color for a discreet appearance.
Due to the so-called condensation water loss, even dense cellars can experience problems with moisture, which can be seen on the cold surfaces. Before you commission a complex and cost-intensive external insulation, you, as a skilled handyman, can ensure dryness through a comparatively low internal insulation.
To do this you must first check whether the walls are also load-bearing because on the outer walls, construction of laths is first fastened to the inner wall insulation. Insulating insulation panels are then fastened with simple means, and in some variants, you should additionally integrate a vapor barrier film.
