Does finishing a basement reduce radon levels?
Nope! Not necessarily.
So first, what does finishing a basement entail? I have compiled a list of things that you can read below.
- Framing - First, you build the frames of the wall(s) and of your rooms. You would do this out of wood this is kind of the foundation of your basement and very similar to building a home. This type of work is typically done with 2 x4s.
- Electrical - This is can be more expensive in terms of the finishing of your basement. A lot of people will say to do this yourself, we firmly standby letting the experts do it. If you mess up or do something wrong it can cost you a lot more money than just initially hiring a company that is experienced. However, if you have the expertise and can do it alone you can save a good amount of money,
- Drywall - Drywall is light, super clean, and very easy to hold on to and install. That's why everyone loves installing drywall because it is so easy to finish correctly!! NOT! It's heavy, it's dusty, it's awkward and it takes forever to learn to finish correctly. In other words, leave it to us.
- Flooring - This can be really difficult especially on your back. Definitely consider hiring a CleanSpace or TotalBasements contractor for a job like this.
What is Radon?!
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. The air pressure inside your home is almost always lower than the pressure in the soil around your home's foundation. Because of the pressure difference, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. In a small number of homes, the building materials (e.g., granite and certain concrete products) can give off radon, although building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. In the United States, radon gas in the soil is the main source of increased radon levels in homes.
High amounts of radon are not good and can lead to cancer and other really bad things!
The best thing to do is to call a radon specialist. Depending on the area of the country you are in the prices range but it can range from $1,000–$3,000.
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