What are the pros and cons of finishing a basement?

• <div><p>When considering finishing your basement, take into account a few pros and cons:</p><p>Pros</p><ul><li><p>Can increase the value of your home</p></li><li><p>Separate space from the rest of the house </p></li><li><p>Customize and personalize the basement to suit your needs and style</p></li><li><p>Increase the amount of living space in your home</p></li></ul><p>Cons</p><ul><li><p>May not regain enough value to cover the cost of finishing</p></li><li><p>Lack of natural light if it’s below ground level</p></li><li><p>Moisture or flooding can cause costly damage</p></li><li><p>Installing plumbing and electrical can be messy and costly</p></li></ul><p></p></div>

Get matched with top basement waterproofing pros in Laurel, MT

Q: Is it worth putting a dehumidifier in a crawl space?

• <div><p>Yes, if your crawl space is prone to humidity, a dehumidifier can help keep it dry. For use in a crawl space, you&rsquo;ll need a high-capacity and high-efficiency dehumidifier with built-in air filtration. It&rsquo;s also wise to purchase one with a self-draining feature. Otherwise, you&rsquo;ll need to climb into the crawl space to empty the dehumidifier.</p></div>

Q: How can I prevent ductwork from sweating in a crawl space?

• <div><p>Ductwork sweats due to a temperature difference between the air inside the ducts and the surrounding air, similar to how a cold drink develops condensation in the heat. This sweating is a sign that your HVAC system is not operating at peak efficiency. The best way to keep ductwork from sweating is to wrap it in proper insulation, which also improves your system's energy efficiency. Another option is to close off your crawl space and install a dehumidifier to dry the air and lower its dew point.</p></div>

Q: Is it okay for a crawl space to be wet?

• <div><p>No, you don&rsquo;t want your crawl space to be wet because water and even moisture in the air under your home can attract insects and rodents, decrease your indoor air quality, increase your energy bills, promote mold growth, and even lead to structural damage. If you notice any signs of water or humidity in your crawl space, you should get the issues addressed immediately by contacting a professional. They can remove moisture and will know <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-waterproof-your-basement.htm">how to waterproof your basement</a> to prevent ongoing problems. </p></div>

Q: Can barndominiums have basements?

• <div><p>Yes, barndominiums can have basements. Barndominiums are typically built over concrete slabs, so barndo basements are not very common. However, it is possible to include a basement in a barndominium blueprint as long as you&rsquo;re building completely from scratch. Barndos can have the same types of basements as traditional homes, including full or walk-out basements.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Basement Waterproofing pros in Laurel, MT

*The Angi rating for Basement Waterproofing companies in Laurel, MT is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Basement Waterproofing needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Basement Waterproofing companies in Laurel, MT is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Basement Waterproofing needs.

Last update on July 25, 2023

Reviewed in July 2023
They kept me informed during the entire basement repair and finishing process. They came when they said and did what they said they would do. The quality of their work was outstanding. Dry wall, tape. Paint. Doors and frames and lvp glued down. Great service and great people.
Boyd Construction
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Reviewed in July 2023
We had our basement egress windows replaced by RBA. They were always on time, communicated every few weeks with updates and completed a clean and efficient install. When we decide to replace the upstairs windows, we will definitely use them!
Renewal by Andersen of Montana
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Reviewed in April 2022
I recently had 6 basement windows replaced and I love them! The whole process from the beginning to the end was great!
Renewal By Anderson Montana
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Reviewed in March 2022
The two girls were on time and did a good job cleaning. We had a lot of dust due to some painting and sanding so it took a long time to get all of it cleaned up. As a result, they were only able to get the main floor cleaned and not the basement. I was happy with the results and next time the...
Boardwalk Home & Office Cleaning
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Reviewed in November 2021
They were great to work with. Quick, efficient, shared all information up front and throughout my project. This was a rather odd basement project in a 100 year old house and I really appreciated their attention to detail. Great job.
Red Bear Contracting
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Reviewed in March 2021
They started in October of 2020 and supposedly completed in January 2021. I reported that there was insufficient heat in a basement room in January of 2021. They came and scoped things during below zero weather and the room was 60 degrees. They stated they would be back in touch on how and when...
Precision Plumbing
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Reviewed in October 2018
The home with the cracked sewer line was built in 1935 and the sewer line and clean out were made of cast iron. For some reason the cast iron pipe cracked about one foot above the basement floor, right where the sewer exits the house. The concrete floor in the basement had to be jackhammered out...
Roto-Rooter - Billings
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Reviewed in November 2015
Had an old leaky basement that the previous owners didn't bother to correct. It developed mold this autumn and I needed the walls and carpet out and mold removed. <br /> The Pros: The group was professional and did the work in minimal time. Very punctual and responsive. Quality seems...
Safetech, Inc.
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Reviewed in April 2015
I have always had a damp spot in my basement, which has tile over concrete. I asked my plumber and he was stumped. Two people from ProTech came out, had no idea of the cause, but didn't charge me anything. Later a family member who had done a decorative finish on her concrete floor told me...
ProTech Mechanical Inc
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Reviewed in September 2014
Very respectful of our home. Worked long hours to fulfill the promised schedule. Had good ideas to help us achieve an industrial look basement and get rid of the ugly drop ceiling.
E&P Painting
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Find Basement waterproofing pros in Laurel

Groundworks

4.3(

)

Serving Laurel, MT and surrounding areas

Approved (Corporate)

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"My certified inspector MatthewCote out of the Belgrade, MT office found i have a natural spring comming up in my crawlspace. I knew I had water streaming all over crawlspace and my husband believed it was due to watering lawn of the hill our house sits on. Matt was great to work with, he was totally professional. He explained my situation and showed me in photos and map of my basement what this ssprincause, how it had eroded and damage caused. It has been going on for quite a few years, of which I noticed escalation of water even though I decreased watering on above lawn. I wish I had researched this sooner. But MATT assured me it's not too late. He was clear and concise as to what I needed done to resolve and eliminate further damage by installing 2 sump pumps, installing trenches & piping to drain all areas of water, draining ouside of house past septic and leach field, add a humidifier and encapsulation of crawlspace. I highly recommend Groundworks and Matt to anyone."

+16

Response time2 days

35 neighbors recently requested a quote

Recommended by72%of homeowners

Serving Laurel, MT and surrounding areas

In business since 1989

"At first Bob was attentive to his commitments, but was slow to finish at the end. All went well with his initial explanation of our situation and proposed solutions to the finishing of the concrete. Bob had a hard time finishing the details and lost a lot of my confidence at the end. It took over a year to get the job finished."

Recommended by75%of homeowners

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Hampton Enterprise LLC

3.7(

)

Serving Laurel, MT and surrounding areas

In business since 1989

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I only use James when I need some work done to my house. He responds fast, gets the work done quicker than just about anyone else I've ever used and seems very concerned with leaving his customers happy."

Recommended by60%of homeowners

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Basement Waterproofing questions, answered by experts

Yes, if your crawl space is prone to humidity, a dehumidifier can help keep it dry. For use in a crawl space, you’ll need a high-capacity and high-efficiency dehumidifier with built-in air filtration. It’s also wise to purchase one with a self-draining feature. Otherwise, you’ll need to climb into the crawl space to empty the dehumidifier.

When considering finishing your basement, take into account a few pros and cons:

Pros

Can increase the value of your home
Separate space from the rest of the house
Customize and personalize the basement to suit your needs and style
Increase the amount of living space in your home

Cons

May not regain enough value to cover the cost of finishing
Lack of natural light if it’s below ground level
Moisture or flooding can cause costly damage
Installing plumbing and electrical can be messy and costly

Ductwork sweats due to a temperature difference between the air inside the ducts and the surrounding air, similar to how a cold drink develops condensation in the heat. This sweating is a sign that your HVAC system is not operating at peak efficiency. The best way to keep ductwork from sweating is to wrap it in proper insulation, which also improves your system's energy efficiency. Another option is to close off your crawl space and install a dehumidifier to dry the air and lower its dew point.

No, you don’t want your crawl space to be wet because water and even moisture in the air under your home can attract insects and rodents, decrease your indoor air quality, increase your energy bills, promote mold growth, and even lead to structural damage. If you notice any signs of water or humidity in your crawl space, you should get the issues addressed immediately by contacting a professional. They can remove moisture and will know how to waterproof your basement to prevent ongoing problems.

Yes, barndominiums can have basements. Barndominiums are typically built over concrete slabs, so barndo basements are not very common. However, it is possible to include a basement in a barndominium blueprint as long as you’re building completely from scratch. Barndos can have the same types of basements as traditional homes, including full or walk-out basements.

The Laurel, MT homeowners’ guide to basement waterproofing services

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