Whether you are building a house or just remodeling your basement, and you are looking for information about how to frame a basement, then you have come to the perfect location.
Steps on How to Frame a Basement:
Before you learn how to frame a basement, you need to start your process by checking your basement walls for moisture: You can do this by using duct tape and securing a 2-foot-square piece of polyethylene sheeting to the basement wall. You will then need to wait 3 to 4 weeks to see if condensation begins to appear either behind the plastic, or possibly even on its outer surface. If the plastic is dry, you can then proceed with framing your basement. If not, you need to repair the moisture problem.
If your basement walls are made from poured concrete, you should first check for rust spots at the metal ties. If you see any, you need to take a hammer and center punch and drive the metal ties at least ¼-inch into the wall. After you have punched the metal ties back in, you can use a margin trowel to mix water with a hydraulic cement mix in a plastic bucket. Get a spray bottle and mist the metal-tie holes with water then apply the pre-made hydraulic cement with margin trowel over the holes that were punched using the center punch. Allow the hydraulic cement to dry.
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The next step will be adding some insulation to the basement walls that you are about to frame. To do this, you need to apply beads of foam-board adhesive to the rear of 2-inch-thick polystyrene panel. You should then place the glued-up foam-board panels to the wall and hold it their for a minute or two. Repeat and continue to place the polystryene panels up to cover the remaining wall areas.
Next, you can use a chalk reel to snap five horizontal layout lines onto the foam board. You will need to position the lines 3 inches from the top of the wall and 3 inches from the bottom of the wall, another line at the center point of the wall, and then again in-between the 3-inch lines and centerline. You will use these guides to attach the horizontal 1×3′s. To do so, you must first drill 5-inch-deep pilot holes through the 1x3s, through the foam boards, and into the concrete wall using a hammer drill and a 3/16-inch masonry bit. You will need to drill one hole approximately every 16 to 20 inches.
Next, you will use a hammer to then drive in 4-inch-long spring spikes through the pilot holes and into the walls. You can then attach the vertical 1×3′s, spaced 16 inches (o.c.) on-center. You will attach them to to the horizontal 1×3′s previously installed by using a electric drill and 1 5/8″ drywall screws.
If you’re planning to install an electrical system, carve out the foam board with a utility knife to accommodate the electrical boxes, then snake the electrical cables behind the 1x3s.
At this point you will install drywall and paint the basement walls. You can find additional information on these topics by searching our site.
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