How to Finish a Basement Wall

Solve All Moisture Problems First

Before beginning any work, you must determine whether your basement has any moisture problems. If your foundation walls are only damp on humid summer days, fine—you’re good to go with the methods we recommend. But if you have any problems with standing or leaking water in the spring or during heavy rains, you’ve got some “prework” to do.

Fixes usually are as simple as adding or repairing gutters and downspouts or adjusting the grade to direct runoff water away from the house. But serious water problems may call for drastic measures like interior or exterior drain tiling, or exterior waterproofing, which could mean digging around the house or tearing up part of the slab. You must solve all water problems, or you’ll risk boxing future water in behind a finished wall, ruining it. You’ll end up spending hundreds of bucks re-remodeling a recently finished lower level.

Just about every carpenter or building inspector has a different opinion on how to finish walls against masonry. The methods we’ll demonstrate work well in most conditions, but consult with your building inspector before beginning any work to make sure you’re meeting building codes in your area with these unfinished basement wall ideas.

Seal the Wall

• Use a paint roller to apply the masonry waterproofing product you choose.
• • Note: This step is only to help prevent water that naturally migrates through concrete through a capillary effect.

Meet the Expert

Phil Geis has been a framing carpenter for more than 20 years. He started out helping his uncle on remodeling projects while he was still in high school. He and his crew have built more than 300 new houses and breathed new life into dozens of old basements.

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