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Living in a finished basement is acceptable, but only if the space has the proper points of egress and includes smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to ensure the safety of the occupants. A good way to ensure your finished basement is suitable for use as living space is to get the basement finishing project properly permitted.

It depends on what caused your basement flooding, the extent of the problem, and the risk of the flood continuing. If your flood is coming from a septic system or sewer line, breathing in the sewer gasses can be dangerous, so you should vacate. If the flood occurs from an ongoing natural disaster, relocating to a safe area might be wise. If you just have a plumbing leak or rainwater coming in, you can likely stay in the house if you don’t have electrical lines down there, but make sure you call in professionals to fix the issue immediately.

If your basement often leaks after heavy rain, it’s probably caused by hydrostatic pressure. When the ground is saturated with water, it can put pressure on the exterior of your home’s foundation, causing cracks in the basement wall and pushing water through any existing weak spots. Over time, hydrostatic pressure can cause structural damage to your home.

Topical sealers adhere to the surface of concrete to create a protective layer. In many cases, this is all you need for concrete that sees light to moderate traffic, such as your basement. Penetrating sealers, on the other hand, bond with the free lime in the top layer of concrete to form calcium silicate, which prevents liquid from passing through. This type of sealer protects the surface from water, oil, and gasoline spills.