Don't Finish Your Basement Until You Read This, Advises CEO of 1-800-GOT-MOLD?

PRINCETON, N.J., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Finishing a basement is a popular way to add more living space to a home, but it's usually a mistake, says Jason Earle, CEO and founder of New Jersey mold inspection company 1-800-GOT-MOLD?.

"Many people think they have a dry basement, and that they can install carpeting and drywall and have a nice, cozy new living space," Earle said. "But it's a trap. There is no such thing as a dry basement. Concrete harbors massive amounts of moisture even when it looks dry. If you want that cozy new living space, there are some things you must know."

From his days in the basement waterproofing business to his entry into the mold inspection and mold remediation consulting business in 2003, through today, Earle has inspected thousands of homes in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and New York City. This region's homes are more likely to have basements than not.

Because a basement is below ground level, the water in the soil around the house and under the slab is exerting constant pressure on the foundation walls and the slab floor, Earle explained. And since concrete and block are porous, moisture gets through.

"A raw basement may seem dry because the incoming moisture is evaporating as it emerges. But as soon as you put anything organic and absorbent, such as carpeting, paper-backed sheetrock or wood in direct contact with the concrete, the water then transfers into that material," he said. "The result is mold growth, often leading to rot not what you had in mind for your TV lounge, recreation room or child's playroom."

In an article posted to the company website, http://www.1800gotmold.com, Earle explains in detail how to finish a basement without creating mold problems.

Mold growth occurs when a few specific factors are present. In fact, part of the problem is that these factors are very often present indoors because mold loves the same conditions we do, with fewexceptions.

Of all of the above factors, moisture is the most easily controlled. In fact, few of the other factors are easily or cost-effectively dealt with. So, control moisture you must. Moisture control is the mold-preventionmantra.

In the article, Earle details what to do and what not to do - when finishing a basement, starting with the reduction of moisture:

"If you have a damp basement or get water sometimes, you MUST do whatever is necessary to fix it before doing anything else. A dehumidifier is NOT the silver bullet, although they are necessary. If you can, you should do whatever you have to do to prevent the water from coming into the basement in the first place. This can sometimes mean excavating outside, fixing cracks and sealing the foundation properly (Big $$$$).

Go here to see the original:
Don't Finish Your Basement Until You Read This, Advises CEO of 1-800-GOT-MOLD?