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Basement construction- Best Basement for your Dream Home
few easy construction techniques for the homebuyer's, which can be used.
A general checklist of good basement construction practices helps ensure
the quality of the new homes. The most effective line of defense against
basement wall moisture problems is basement Waterproofing System.
Insulation in the Basement
The exterior insulation offers many advantages to the homebuyers. Exterior
insulation protects the waterproofing membrane from the extremes of the
soil and above grade climate. The wall maintains a stable temperature
and undergoes very little thermally induced expansion and contraction.
This reduces the potential for cracking too. Since the wall's temperature
is maintained nearer to the indoor temperature the humid interior air
is unlikely to condense on the basement walls.
Drainage Placement for Basement
Installing a perimeter footing drainage system to relieve hydrostatic
pressure from surface water and table water is better. An exterior system
is preferred to an interior one. However, many experts recommend both
forms of drainage. When using both, the exterior system is used as the
primary drainage system while the interior is used as the backup and
for venting the soil of gases. The drainage system should connect to
a sump pump for gravity discharge. For most residential applications
a 4-inch diameter perforated drainpipe is adequate. A clean-out point
makes drainage system maintenance easy.
Water Table Protection
As basements become larger the slab will be more susceptible to pressure
from the water table. It is important to have a minimum 4 -inch layer
of clean gravel spread evenly under the slab area for drainage as mentioned
above. There should also be a pathway to relieve water pressure from
the center of slab too. This can be done by digging a 6 to 8 inch deep
trench in an X pattern by filling it with clean gravel and connecting
it to the drainage system. As the water table rises, the pressure is
relieved through the pathways to the sump pump drainage system. Remember
that the top of the perimeter exterior drain tile should be below the
bottom surface of the interior slab to get extra protection.
Basement Insulation
The basement is the first area to be affected by a flood and also the most difficult one to clean up after a flood. Insulation systems for the basement must be able to dry the basement after the flood and maintain the temperature to enable family...
Basement toilet
A basement can also be an extension of the house for some or all the members of the family. The basement can be used as a living space or even as a bedroom. It can also be used as a makeshift living room or a business office for enterprising members...
Basement Sports
In times when the climate does not favour sports to be played outdoors, the basement provides a valuable alternative. One can play ping-pong otherwise known as table tennis in the basement.
Squash and badminton too can be played in the basement....
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