More and more people are making space they can use to live in their residence by redoing their basements. This makes some great living space that previously has mostly been used for storage or housing our washers and dryers. Often times when anyone decides to use their basement for extra living quarters, they will attempt the renovation job on their own. This can be quite an undertaking in its self, but an even bigger job if there is a serious problem to deal with like water condensation that has to be resolved.
If you have ever experienced a basement with condensation problems, you might not have noticed the wet appearance of the cemented or cinder block walls, but the stuffy damp smell will let you know it is there. If you have decided to want to create real living space in your basement and you have found moist walls down there, you will have to fix this problem before you proceed with anything. Even you do not ever want to finish out your basement, you should still take care of the condensation problem anyway due to the gradual water damage it can do to many things down there.
To test your basement walls for condensation, take a large section of plastic wrap, perhaps around a foot in length, and tape it to the basement wall securely. Leave it there for a few days and then check and see if there is moisture on the inside or outside of the plastic wrap. If there is water on the inside then the dampness might be stemming from a drip somewhere in the basement, but if it is on the outside, then it is a condensation problem.
If it is a leak making damp walls, they can usually be easily resolved. To correct condensation, you will first need to root out the cause. It can be a dryer with exhaust that is not getting to the outside adequately, from hot water moisture from a shower or tub because there is no escape for moisture, or even cooking in the home. Any one of these problems can be fixed and must be prior to putting up sheet rocked walls in a basement.
Installing exhaust fans in your basement will probably help dispel the moisture that can build up, especially if there is a shower, tub, or cooking steam getting down there. Redistributing air may help a little. Putting insulation on duct work, pipes and walls will also help stop moisture. Water will not condense on these surfaces if you do not permit the cold air to get to these areas.
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