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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Finishing basement
DH and I are going to update our basement this winter. It is considered "finished" right now but desperately needs a facelift.
It does have a damp smell to it, and I would like to get rid of that. Any ideas?
Right now it has indoor/outdoor carpeting and wood paneling on the walls. Would new sheetrock and tile flooring reduce the smell? Maybe a coat of paint? Has anyone gone from smelly basement to fresh basement?
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Posted 11/30/11 11:37 AM  |
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Dulcinea
Weekend Warrior
Member since 3/08 2530 total posts
Name:
Dulcinea
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Re: Finishing basement
I got the same problem in my basement so have opted not to finish it for now until I take care of the smell...
If it's damp smelling then the humidity may be too high. Get a dehumidifier or check what's the level of humidity down there.
If too high, you might want to find out where the moisture is coming from. It could be your downspouts are set too close to the foundation or there's water underneath the house...
Get the basement watersealed too if that's needed..
Covering it up by sheetrocking is not going to help if you get water damage behind the sheetrocks...
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| Posted 11/30/11 12:05 PM |
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caps612
In love with my little guys!!
Member since 8/10 5108 total posts
Name:
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Re: Finishing basement
Sounds like you have a damp basement... if you are finishing it I would get a dehumidifier and install a drain for it so it can run on its own and kick on and off to monitor the humidity level.
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| Posted 11/30/11 12:10 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: Finishing basement
You might have water seeping in our jsut ahve a damp basement. But just changing the walls and flooring will not make that go away permanently.
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| Posted 11/30/11 1:56 PM |
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babyberry
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 1477 total posts
Name:
Ang
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Re: Finishing basement
We had the same problem and what helped was tiling the basement and getting a dehumidifier! There was carpeting in the basement previously and it had literally soaked up all the dampness growing mold in the corners. 
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| Posted 11/30/11 8:48 PM |
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Lauren82
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 4580 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Finishing basement
When we finish our basement, we are going to have an air extractor and dehumidifier system installed. It basically circulates the air to keep it at an ideal humidity level. My husband swears it makes a basement more livable and less like a basement.
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| Posted 11/30/11 9:07 PM |
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Jenhos
Maeve
Member since 6/05 3273 total posts
Name:
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Re: Finishing basement
I would dry lock the walls and floors and put in new sheet rock and carpet and run a dehumidifier all the time.
Our old house had a smelly basement and then we did the above when we finished it and it was much better. we did have to run the dehumidifier all the time though.
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| Posted 12/1/11 9:29 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Finishing basement
Posted by Jenhos
I would dry lock the walls and floors and put in new sheet rock and carpet and run a dehumidifier all the time.
Our old house had a smelly basement and then we did the above when we finished it and it was much better. we did have to run the dehumidifier all the time though.
Yes drylock the hell out of all the concrete walls. You can also put a vapor barrier up as well.
I think after doing this, then sheetrocking and running a dehumidifier you should be fine.
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| Posted 12/1/11 10:13 AM |
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