I recently experienced a major flooding issue in my basement due to a storm that dumped 10 inches of rain. I had about 6 inches of standing water until my sump pump was able to handle it. I've already removed the LVP floor, baseboards, and door frames, and now I'm planning to cut out the drywall up to about 16-24 inches from the floor. Once everything is dried out, I'm looking for waterproof options to replace the drywall I removed. I've considered PVC panels from Trusscore and possibly a waterproof tile backer board with PVC wainscoting. Anyone have other suggestions? I'm thinking of going 4 feet up from the floor to create a nice split around the room.
3 Answers
For flooring, I'd say go with waterproof LVP, it looks slick! And use vinyl baseboards with quarter round trim; they can really pull the look together. Also, consider installing commercial gutters that drain away from your foundation—trust me, it made a world of difference for my basement, which also flooded multiple times. After my renovations, I've only had minor issues during hurricanes, whereas before my basement used to flood a lot.
Yeah, definitely think about how the studs need to dry out too if it floods again. I recommend drywall, but making it look nice with batten strips to cover the seams and screws would be super handy. It’s an easy option to remove if needed later. Another idea is to finish it around 3 feet and have a sturdy 12-inch baseboard; then that’s the only part you’d have to replace if something happens again.
Honestly, I'd probably just put drywall back up since it's cheaper. But if you're thinking ahead for future floods, you might want something removable, like plastic or vinyl wall panels often used in commercial kitchens. In my area, they’re called polywall. You could install PVC trim at 4 feet high and overlap the polywall to create a wainscoting look. Then if it floods again, it’s easier to take down the polywall for drying.
I get where you're coming from about future-proofing. This last flood was a real doozy and hard to prepare for. My area was hit just as badly. I’m just grateful my place held up better than many.
Good point! Maybe I’ll go with drywall (more affordable) and just add PVC wainscoting at the bottom 4 feet. That way, it cuts down on the hassle with mud and seams on the drywall.