The most mold-proof finish for basement room?
user-7049441
| Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on
For a 200 square-foot basement office that was remediated for mold and mostly gutted to the concrete. There is no active leak in the room, but it is a basement (and the prior owner never ran a dehumidifier).
Wall suggestions from contractors include:
– Framing + sheetrock
vs.
– Durock on the concrete (with a spackle skimcoat for painting)
vs.
– Brick veneer on the concrete
What is the most fool-proof wall construction for a mold-free future?
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Replies
User-7xx, can you tell us your name? It seems the software is not supplying the name you registered with. What climate zone are you in? If you don't know, what is your approximate location? I ask because mold resistance is not about materials as much as it is about managing moisture and temperature.
In the meantime, here's some reading:
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/how-insulate-basement-wall
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/guest-blogs/basement-insulation-part-1
Hi Michael, my name is Andrew and I'm in climate zone 4 (New York City). Thank you for those links!
Andrew, you're welcome. The short version is to start with moisture management. You need to stop water in all its forms from getting to the interior. There are various ways to accomplish that, depending on the situation. Then add thermal insulation, which needs to be (or at least include) foam in basements, to keep interior surfaces warm. Then if you want additional protection you can use mold-resistant finishes like Magnesium Oxide board instead of conventional drywall. But if you do the other steps properly, any standard interior finish should work.