Basement Finishing in Historic Homes

For owners of older and historic homes, it is a well-known fact that basements can be challenging to finish. The inspiration for this blog post came from a project in Historic Concord, MA, where many of these homes have basements from as early as the 1700s. They can be prone to moisture, the stone or brick foundations they have may need maintenance, and they can be shorter and, therefore, harder to finish following the current code. Still, having an unfinished basement, especially one with a substantial mold odor, can feel like a sore spot in your house. This post will discuss some of these challenges and how they can be addressed.

Mold and Mildew 

If your historical basement has a problem with mold or mildew, this could be due to the age of the foundation and the likelihood it was made of stone or brick. If a home has a moisture problem, we recommend getting professional waterproofing before going to a design/build contractor. Products like a SaniDry machine are great for keeping your basement from getting humid and musty, but if you have flooding or cracks in your foundation, it is best to have them sealed by experts in waterproofing. 

Low Ceilings

With basements you believe may not be finishable due to their height, there is still hope. However, they need to be finished following code laws in your area. The current standard is 7 feet, with beams and girders spaces at least four feet in the center and not projected any more than six inches below the required ceiling height (International Code Council, 2020). Although a drop ceiling does decrease your basement height, choosing an alternative, such as spray painting your existing ceiling black, can be a way to meet guidelines.

Works Cited

“2021 International Residential Code (IRC)”. International Code Council. January 21, 2020.