WATER/MOISTURE/CONDENSATION ISSUES
Moisture or water conditions must be taken care of before you finish your basement. “Waterproofing” sounds like a good idea, but first try to find the source of the wetness. It's not as difficult as it sounds.
Where does the water come from? The best way to find out is to observe what is actually happening during a rainstorm. Go outside and check your gutters. Are they clogged anywhere? Are there puddles or running water flowing against the foundation of your home? (which will eventually leak into your basement) How does the water flow around your home?
Clean your gutters. Clogged gutters force rain water to overflow onto the ground near the foundation walls of your basement. Excess water in this area can seep in or actually run down the walls, pooling in your basement.
Runoff from improper grading. You may need to regrade the immediate ten feet all around the footprint of your house (or wherever grading is slanting towards the foundation instead of away.)
Seepage. Waterproofing or a masonry sealer can be applied to floors and walls, but cannot control an onslaught of running water. This may help a lesser moisture issue, but is not the answer for all situations. Be honest about the severity of your problem. Cutting costs on controlling water can lead to major costs and repairs if your basement remains damp after it's been remodeled. A wet basement is also a health hazard.
Fix your cracks. If you do have water running down your foundation walls, it obviously will travel through cracks in your masonry basement walls.
When all else fails . . .
And I mean all the things above. Try them first. They’re generally inexpensive and you’re actually fixing the root of the problem.
If you have clean gutters and directed all running water away from your house, installing a foundation drain system might be the answer.
A French Drain system is a trench dug inside your basement along the perimeter walls. Drain lines direct water into your sump pump system. This system does not eliminate the water problem, but deals with it by whisking the water away. It costs approximately $40-65/foot, and needs an additional professional to insure correct installation.
Sump pumps can fail, especially during a power outage in a rainstorm (just when you need it most!) We have investigated battery-backup sump pumps and can install a system that will kick on when your primary system fails.