Successfully Preparing The Basement Floor For Your Basement Remodeling Project

Preparing the floor of your basement for basement remodeling may involve first removing paint. Actually there are two ways the job can be handled, but neither one is fully delightful. Most standard paint removers will do the trick. Fumes are quite unpleasant and even dangerous so take the time to do your basement remodeling properly.

If you select this method, use all safety precautions. Provide plenty of ventilation (using fans to force the movement of air if necessary), cover up well to protect your skin and wear goggles so none of the remover can splatter in your eyes. Following the instructions on the label, apply the remover, allow sufficient time for it to work and then mop up the paint. The easiest system is to use a rubber squeegee on a long handle; basement remodeling shouldn't have to be overly hard work, so make sure you get a handle long enough to suit your height.

You may prefer to apply a wash-away remover so that the chemical and softened paint can be hosed down the drain. One word of caution: Some removers leave a waxy film behind. If the instructions suggest that you mop the clean floor with denatured alcohol after it is free of paint, be sure to do it. Otherwise, the film of wax will prevent any finish from sticking to the surface and this will be a significant hiccup to your basement remodeling.

The other system requires a floor sanding machine. Hook a belt of very rough paper onto the drum and start grinding away. The noise will be horrendous and the dust billowy, but the method does avoid the need for widespread application of chemicals. Here again there are safety precautions. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth so that you don't breathe in the fine dust. Don't let this basement remodeling project be your last.

Other problems involving basement floors

There are a couple of other common problems involving basement floors. Quite frequently the cement surface will be perfectly sound but the top layer continually turns to powder and comes off in a fine dust. You can sweep the surface from now to next St. Swithen's day and never get all the dust up. The wise basement remodeling person will seek a solution for this.

The best solution is a surface hardener. You'll find this sold at most building supply companies and lumberyards (Dus-Top is one brand and some other firms make similar products). Following the instructions on the label, swab it onto the concrete. It will harden it so you can successfully paint the floor or put down tile.

How about holes and cracks in the floor? These repairs aren't hard. Your best bet here is a rubberized concrete. Use a preparation such as U.S. Rubber's Laticrete (again there are other brands). Mix the liquid rubber with a dry packaged concrete mix instead of using water. The end result is a concrete mortar that will stick like crazy to the old concrete, even in a thin layer. It also has good water and weather resistance. After you have chipped out the loose or crumbling cement, trowel in the rubberized mixture and smooth it off just as you would the standard material. You will always be satisfied with a good job if you take your basement remodeling project seriously enough to address problems such as this.

Building on Concrete

Fastening anything up to the concrete walls or floors is not like pounding a nail into nice gentle wood. You can fasten into cement using plugs of various types.

Any kind of expanding plug must fit into a carefully drilled hole in the masonry. If you have the strength and determination of a mad dog, you can do this with a star drill and a hammer. Hold the drill in position and whong it with the hammer. Give the drill a slight turn and hit it again. Keep up this process until you have pounded the proper depth hole. Diameter of the hole depends on the size of the star drill and you'll find this information detailed on the shank. If you have a number of holes for your basement remodeling project and you are on your own, be sure to break up hammering work with other tasks.

Or you can invest a buck or so in a good quality carbide tip bit for use with an electric drill. These are tipped with a very hard material that actually bites through the rugged cement. Split the cost with your neighbour and you'll get a tool for two basement remodeling projects for the price of one!

Expanding fasteners or plugs come in several types. Most common and quite reliable is a lead anchor. But then, you will find the shelves at your local hardware loaded with plugs of plastic, fiber, etc. They all work in the same manner.

These tips should get you started on your basement remodeling.

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