Difficulty of Drywalling Over Cinder

Furring-Out Above-Grade Wall

• Building a frame on a cinder wall to accommodate drywall panels is known as "furring out" the wall. You can purchase bundles of furring strips that are 1 inch thick and up to 3 inches wide. These work well for above-grade cinder walls that already contain electrical wiring. You’ll position the furring strips vertically, 16 inches apart, using a hammer drill and concrete screws to attach the strips to the cinder wall.

Below-Grade Wall

• Below-grade cinder walls are usually perimeter basement walls, and as such, they probably don’t have installed wiring. Your local building code will determine how many electrical outlets you must install, and you must do this before you hang the drywall panels. To accommodate new wiring, use standard studs as furring strips. By placing the studs flat against the cinder wall, you’ll have enough space to run the wiring and install shallow switch and outlet boxes. If you’re installing wiring, run a base furring strip, horizontally, at least one inch off the floor. Install the vertical furring strips above the base strip, leaving a 1-inch space between the strips to run the wires.

Need for Vapor Barrier

• When drywall gets wet, it deteriorates. Cinder, a porous masonry material, transfers moisture. If you’re installing drywall below-grade, there is a risk of moisture seeping through the cinder. To ensure that the furring strips do not become damp, install a vapor barrier between the cinder wall and the furring strips. Although this is an added step, it isn’t difficult. You can purchase rolls of thin polyethylene vinyl and cover the cinder wall, using glue made to hold the vinyl to masonry.

Insulation

• To increase energy efficiency, install insulation between the drywall panels and the cinder wall. Fiberglass batt insulation is too thick for the shallow spaces between the furring strips and insulation manufacturers advise against compressing the batts, which depend upon loft for their insulation factor. Instead, use rigid foam insulation board, cut to fit between furring strips. You’ll have to trim the board around outlets.

Hanging Drywall

• Once you've installed the furring strips, wiring and insulation, you'll hang the drywall panels just like you would on a stud wall. Use the largest panels you can safely handle, to reduce seam-taping, and butt the panels tightly together. In moisture-prone areas, use moisture-resistant drywall.