How to Build a Floating Basement Wall

It is necessary to construct floating basement walls in areas where the soil around your home is expansive. This means that the soil expands and contracts based on the amount of moisture in the soil. The soil in highly saturated areas expands more than that in a dryer area. Expanded soils cause the concrete in your basement walls to heave from 1 to 2 inches. Floating walls look like regular walls; however, they have plates at the bottom that allow the structure to move up and down without creating any cracks in the wall.

2-by-4s, 8-foot
Wood saw
3-inch concrete nails
Nail gun
6-foot level
Carpenter's pencil
4 wood blocks, 3-inch

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a 3-foot piece off an 8-foot 2-by-4 to construct a 3-by-8-foot wall. You can adjust the measurement to suit your particular space. Place the 3 foot long piece on the floor where you want to build your 3-by-8 foot floating wall. This board is called a bottom base plate.
- 2
  Hold a 2-by-4 stud against the bottom base plate. Place a 6-foot level vertically next to the stud to find the point where the stud is vertical. Mark the stud at top of your 8-foot wall at the vertical point. Also mark the floor and the floor joist with a carpenter's pencil.
- 3
  Secure the bottom base plate to the basement floor using 3-inch concrete nails and a nail gun once you have determined it is level. Place a nail approximately every 2 to 3 inches.
- 4
  Place four, 3-inch blocks evenly on top of the bottom base plate. These pieces will be used as temporary spacers.
- 5
  Cut and place another 3-foot 2-by-4 on top of the spacers laying on top of the bottom base plate. This board is called a top base plate.
- 6
  Drill a hole into the top base plate approximately every 12 inches. Ensure the top and bottom base plates are aligned and drive a 60d nail into the drilled holes, connecting the top and bottom base plates.
- 7
  Install 2-by-4 studs -- every 18 inches -- between the top stud and top base plate. Secure them to the stud and base plate using 3-inch nails and a nail gun. Do not remove the spacers until you have placed all of your boards.
- 8
  Remove the temporary spacers once you have placed all of the studs. The only thing connecting the top and bottom base plates are the 60d nails.

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