Do It Yourself Panelized Basement System

Store the panels in the basement for at least 72 hours to allow the panels to reach the same moisture content as the basement, as panels do expand.

Measure the height of the basement’s wall with a measuring tape.

Cover the wall with a sheet of 4-mil plastic vapor barrier. Tape the vapor barrier to the wall to temporarily keep the barrier in place.

Cut 1-by-3 inch furring strips with a saw to match the height of the wall.

Secure the furring strips to the wall by driving masonry nails through the furring strips and into the wall with a hammer. Space the furring strips 48 inches apart. As an alternative to driving nails into the wall, apply a bead of construction adhesive to the back of the strips and press the strips against the wall.

Remove the tape that held the vapor barrier in place.

Cut sheets of rigid foam insulation with an insulation-board saw to match the space between each furring strip.

Apply panel adhesive to the back of the insulation pieces and press the pieces between the furring strips and against the wall.

Apply a piece of masking tape on the floor for each furring strip to mark the location of the strips. The tape pieces will serve as guides when driving screws through the drywall and into the strips concealed behind the drywall.

Measure the distance between the centers of two adjoining furring strips with a measuring tape.

Cut sheets of 1/2-inch drywall to match the height of the wall and the distance between adjoining furring strips with a utility knife.

Position the drywall against the furring strips. Secure the drywall to the strips with 1/2-inch drywall screws and a drill. Because the paneling covers the drywall, there is no need to apply tape or joint compound across the drywall seams.

Position one basement panel against the corner of the wall. Drive paneling nails that are 1 1/2 inches in length and colored to match the paneling through the panel and into the furring strips. Use the masking tape on the floor to determine the location of the furring strips.

Install all but the last basement panel using the same method.

Measure the distance between the edge of the last-installed panel and the edge of the adjoining wall. Transfer that measurement to the final panel to determine how much of the panel you must cut away. Scribe a cut line down the length of the panel with a pencil. Use a straightedge as a guide when scribing the line. Cut through the cut line with a circular saw fitted with a fine-tooth panel-cutting blade.

Install the final panel with the same method used to install the other panels.