New construction usually has cast in place concrete foundation walls that are eight ft tall and nice and straight and usually do not leak much moisture. There is more often than not all pavement on the floor. This by and large ends up as a great big empty cube that reminds persons of an unfinished living space. In order to finish this area off you yourself will want to build a 2×4 frame around the edge where you can fit insulation and wiring and wallboard. This does not have need of a perfect job. What I mean is that it can be a little bit out of plumb and that wouldn’t matter because the walls are not in fact structural at all and could maybe fall all the way out and not negativly effect the house at all. So I say construct the walls one stud at a time and nail them down to the floor as well as ceiling joists and you will have a great start.

Once you get the walls all finished then it’s time to do the suspended ceiling. To conserve time and money use 2X4 panels of suspended ceiling tile. Make sure to nail the wall angle to the studs all around the outer surface. Just measure down from the ceiling usually 4 and ½ in. to the top of the wall angle ceiling piece. In the center I regularly use a drywall finish so that needs some framing around the I-beam and the heat ducts. That provides you a serious nail base for your ceiling. Only keep an eyeball on your track and keep it fairly straight. The light fixtures usually install with the suspended ceiling.

The next step are going to be the doors and trim mouldings. Use prehung doorways along with pre primed molding. That will be the fastest and cheapest. Then give everything a coat of paint. Carpeting would be next. I make it sound uncomplicated here I know, But after you have done a few of these they are all look the same. After 20 or 30 you yourself could build them in your sleep.

I have observed zillions of beginner finished basement jobs. I should say the biggest mistake that amateurs do would be is try to be a perfectionist. That is not obligatory. These jobs don’t have to be faultless. What they have to be is done. Done is the keyword. So endeavor to get as much help as possible and remember that the light is sort of low in these places so perfect might be not necessary.

Moisture in the Crawl Space

Moisture ruins houses by providing a hospitable environment for mold, fungi, and insects that destroy wood framing. Our moisture transfer solutions include sealing all air leaks from vents, windows, doors, duct work and eliminating any puddles of water. The problem with a vented concrete crawlspace is that as warm air rises in your home, it brings up with it the air that was previously in your crawl space, including moisture and mold spores, as well as anything else that may be airborne down there. Sealing the crawl space from the earth and outside air is the solution to moisture and dampness in the home. Properly sealing the crawlspace and removing the moisture from the ground and air is part of the solution that helps provide a mold-free, radon-free, and insect-free environment, which leads to a more energy-efficient and healthier home. The moisture generated in the crawlspace will lead to structural damage and higher energy costs. To avoid moisture’s negative affects, a crawlspace should be completely sealed and isolated from the ground and the humid outside air. An important part of a crawl space moisture control strategy is the installation of a vapor barrier.

Crawl Space Moisture Control

Homes that feature crawl spaces often suffer from moisture damage related to the crawl space environment. If you have standing water in your crawl space or if the insulation in your crawl space falling down or wet and moldy or if there so much junk in your crawl space that you can’t even get inside or if your crawl space is humid and is your plumbing and heat ducts are sweating or if you are you concerned about mold and fungus in your crawl space then it is time to give us a call. The polyethylene sheeting should be laid over the crawl space soil with a minimum of joints. We always install sealing tape over the joints as well. Over time contractors and inspectors realized the vents that were installed to remove humidity in fact helped to increase the humidity level in most crawl spaces.

Oakbridge Construction Takes Over

Oakbridge Construction can seal your crawl space, lower relative humidity levels, eliminate odors, lower energy costs, and gain you storage space. Lower energy bills translate into savings year after year. Oakbridge Construction provides two main product systems to seal your crawlspace and protect your family’s health. That would include the drainage and pump system and the encapsulate system. In most geographic areas, fresh outside air is not dry and tends to worsen the humidity problems when it enters the home. Mold spores, odors, humidity, and critters create a very unhealthy environment for people.

Oakbridge Construction encapsulation system includes products that prevent crawl space moisture by encapsulating the crawl space with a vapor barrier and closing off the crawl space vents, and, to make a healthier crawl space and home. The real issue in crawl space encapsulation is its power to make your home free from any moisture problems. After installation of the encapsulation system, along with the optional dehumidifier, the humidity levels dropped from 80% to 45% within a 2-week period. In the summer this lower humidity (sweatiness) can feel pretty good.

There are crawl space encapsulation products such as crawl space vapor barrier liner to get your crawl spaces free of insects and other organisms. To avoid moisture’s negative effects, install a crawl space vapor barrier to isolate your home from the ground and the humid outside air, and then optionally, condition or dehumidify the crawl space air. Call Oakbridge Construction at 586 703 0112