Our first attempt at finishing the basement looked great… for about six months.
Then we noticed a musty smell. A little bubbling paint. A damp patch behind furniture. We hadn’t solved the moisture problem we’d just covered it up.
This time, we approached it differently. We sealed cracks, improved drainage outside, added a sump pump, and installed vapor barriers where needed. Only after that did we think about flooring and drywall.
Was it frustrating? Absolutely. It meant redoing work we’d already paid for. But the basement now feels dry year-round, and we don’t worry every time it rains.
If there’s one bit of advice from the whole experience, it’s this: water always wins if you ignore it. Fix moisture first. Everything else comes second.
