Hi. I am finishing my basement. There is a sump pump at the bottom of the stairway. I have been unable to find any information about the proper way to conceal a sump pump in a finished basement, although I've heard something about building a closet around it.

I'd like to leave the stairway open and install railing, but if I enclose the pump, I'll have to run the railing from either side of the pump's closet, since the pump sits to the right side of the stairs alongside the 3rd stair tread.

What are my options for hiding the pump? Is there anything I can do to minimize damage if the pump quits working and delivers a few inches of water into the basement? I guess I'm wondering if there is any way I can enclose it to keep the water contained inside the closet...a way to make the closet waterproof?

Not unless you construct a curb around the perimeter of the closet. Basically, that makes the sump pit a deeper one than you already have.

If the location of the existing sump pit is inappropriate to what you are trying to achieve, then re-locating the sump pit and pump to a remote corner, or beneath the stairs, and building a closet around it, might be a reasonable choice, as long as the incoming water will come in at the new location first, not come into the basement and flow across the floor to the new pit location.

Moving a sump pump can be very expensive and messy. You can just build above the pit high enough for a plant shelf and then a smaller enclosure for the discharge pipe. This will provide less sight obstruction. As for protecting against pump failure, there is available a backup pump that is driven by domestic water. It requires too much water to use it as a primary pump but it will function even if your house loses power. Check with a local qualified plumber for pricing and availability.

Unfortunately, building codes require that sump pumps be "Readily Accessible" for maintenance. This means that if you build any type of enclosure around the sump pit it has to have some type of door or access point. This is why closets are usually used. While relocating the pit is an option, I agree with Dennis G that it can get expensive and messy, but if it is that big of an eyesore for you, it may be worth the money. I would definitely suggest that you enlist the help of a professional if you choose to relocate the pit, because a mistake could prove extremely costly.

There are battery backup systems available. I have hidden sump pumps in drywall "cabinets" with an access door in the front, and shelving on top. Meets code and looks good too.