Home Garden
# Home & Garden >> Building & Remodeling >> Interior Remodeling

How to Add Basement Framing

One of the first steps toward turning your dingy old basement into a finished room is to frame out those brick or concrete foundation walls. Once you add basement framing, you can hang drywall or sheetrock from the frames, which will completely change the look of your basement. Drywall frames are made from simple pine lumber and you only need basic carpentry tools and skills to build them -- no special skills or training are necessary for this project.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • 2-by-4-inch pressure-treated lumber
  • 2-by-4-inch lumber
  • Circular saw
  • Chalk line
  • Concrete screws
  • Drill
  • Plumb bob or laser level
  • Wood screws
  • Carpenter's level
  • Framing nails
  • Hammer or nail gun
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the length of the wall that you want to mask with drywall. Use this measurement to cut down one piece of pressure-treated 2-by-4-inch lumber and one piece of regular 2-by-4-inch lumber. The first is for the bottom of the frame and the second is for the top.

    • 2

      Snap a chalk line down about 1/2 inch from the wall you are framing. This will be your guide for installing the bottom plank. Line up the edge of the plank with the chalk line.

    • 3

      Drill two concrete screws every 12 inches along the bottom plank. Place both screws side by side when installing the plank.

    • 4

      Set up a plumb bob or laser level on the bottom plank to indicate where to install the top plank on the ceiling. Drill two wood screws through the top plank for every joist along the ceiling.

    • 5

      Measure along the bottom plank and make a mark every 16 inches. From each mark, measure up to the top plank and make a note of each measurement -- this is especially important on concrete floors, which may be uneven.

    • 6

      Cut studs out of 2-by-4-inch lumber using the measurements you took earlier. Slide each stud into place, then check it with a carpenter's level to ensure that each one is evenly placed and stands at a 90-degree angle.

    • 7

      Drive three framing nails per end of each stud. When driving the nails, drive two on one side of the stud, then one through the other. Drive the nails at an angle so they go through the stud and into the top and bottom plates.

Previous:

Next:

Interior Remodeling
  1. How to Add Vents in a Basement
  2. How to Add Ductwork in a Basement
  3. How to Add a Door as an Egress to a Basement
  4. How to Add Square Feet to Basements
  5. How to Add Drawers to Your Bed
  6. How to Remove One Flooring Plank
  7. How to Add a Tray Ceiling to an Existing Basement Ceiling
  8. How to Level a Concrete Basement After Framing
  9. How to Convert a Cellar Into a Basement
  10. How to Add a Brick Wall to a Basement
  11. How to Add Value by Finishing a Basement
  12. How to Finish a Basement Framing

Home Garden © https://www.98905.com