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Egress windows or doors are required in finished basements to meet safety and building codes. If your basement is unfinished and used as a storage space, egress windows are not required, but anything considered a habitable space must have an additional point of egress in addition to the stairs.

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.

The only real negative when encapsulating a crawl space is that the cost is high. It can cost several thousands of dollars to do this project. However, it protects your house and those in it by providing an energy-efficient space instead of one that frequently pools moisture and causes damage through mold growth in your home. While less common, another disadvantage could be encapsulation making access to pipes and electrical slightly more complicated in certain crawl spaces.

You should plan on waiting at least a year and ideally two to three years after construction before finishing your basement. This will give the foundation time to settle in response to the weight of your home and the expansion of the surrounding soil. You can then repair your foundation and seal any cracks as needed before finishing it to reduce your risk of future leaks or other issues.