How to frame out Basement Walls properly may be one of the most important things you ever learn in the construction business. Properly framing out a basement wall can help your home has a finished look even if there is just wood framing around the edges. If you use a sheet rock compound to hold the wooden boards in place, you won’t have to worry about running out into the garage to pull some of the wood out. You will have a nice solid foundation to build on.
How to Frame Out Basement Walls
Start by checking your basement walls for excess moisture. Using cheap duct tape to seal a two-inch square piece of plumb dry plywood to the exterior wall is good to go. Wait about three months to see if moisture seems to appear behind the plumb drywall. If the plumb drywall is still damp, you are good to go. This is the first step in learning how to frame out basement walls. You must make sure that your new basement walling system is properly set up and dry before you even apply the first layer of siding on it.
In order to create a good solid foundation wall, you need to lay a layer of waterproof insulation board along the bottom of the basement walls.
The insulation board must be four inches thick. This will allow you to have a tight seal against moisture entering through the vents. If you don’t use this board, the moisture from inside the home can seep through and end up in your home through your foundation wall.
When you have applied the insulation board and foam board, you are ready to install your exterior basement wall jointing. Start by installing the drywall screws and place the first joint on the exterior basement walls. Use drywall screws of a size six to eight to help hold everything together.
If you want to learn how to frame out basement walls the right way, use a chalk board as a guide.
You want to draw your basement wall plan on the chalkboard with black tape. Cut out a piece of black construction paper to use as a reference for cutting your interior foam board into proper shapes. Cut the line on the construction paper where you will drill your first hole. This line will serve as a guide for cutting out the interior foam board trim.
Your next step in learning how to frame out basement walls is to measure your exterior walls.
This includes the top and bottom of your basement walls. You will want to mark these pieces of wood with a pencil so you can cut them later on. You will need to have at least four inch nails spaced two inches apart for both the inside and outside corners of the wall.
After measuring your basement walls you will want to set up your construction area.
You will need to have a large tarp for the floor and workbench as well as large sheets of plywood on both sides for the top plates and studs. You will also need to mark the top plates with a pencil so you can cut them later. You will want to set up the braces for the exterior and inside foam board trim before you drill the first screw.
Your top and bottom plates will have slats of wood that jut out from the side of the wall as well as an interlocking lip to make it more solid.
Drill and screw the slats onto the studs. Drill pilot holes for the first brace then set a level so you know how high the concrete floor is. Use a spirit level to ensure the top and bottom plates are level. Then attach the exterior top plate to the exterior studs. Now you have a strong foundation for your new basement floor.