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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.

A plastic vapor barrier should completely cover your basement to prevent water from penetrating through the walls. This typically goes before installing insulation to prevent moisture from building up and becoming trapped on the inside of your insulation, where it can collect and lead to mold damage. Installing insulation after the vapor barrier allows for any moisture to exit the walls for better ventilation.

Brick is designed to absorb moisture, but it is also designed to let it evaporate as well. So in general, the goal shouldn’t necessarily be keeping moisture out but making sure it has the room to breathe. If you have excess moisture getting through your brick wall, it’s more likely that you have a crack or other issue at play that a typical sealant won’t fix. So, instead of investing in sealant, try repairing your brick wall instead.

Damp proofing and waterproofing are both methods to help keep your basement dry. Damp proofing keeps soil moisture from entering your basement, which is helpful since your basement is underground. Waterproofing, however, keeps both soil moisture and liquid water out of the basement, which is essential, especially if you live in a wet environment. Because it’s more protective, waterproofing typically costs more than damp proofing.