Tips on Framing Basement Walls

Framing the walls of a basement can be an interesting do-it-yourself home improvement project if you are good at carpentry. The basement can be used as a room where children can entertain their friends or the family can use it as a reading room. It can be brightened up using handmade wall hangings, cushions, tapestries, and floor rugs.

• Ladder
• Caulk line
• Hammer
• Plumb bob
• Measuring tape
• Mason's string
• Saw
• Crowbar
• Framing square

You can frame basement walls in two ways:
You can build all the sections of the wall on the floor and then raise them up and put them into place.
The second method is to nail the top and bottom plates of the wall first, and then nail the studs between two plates.

You can choose the method depending on your convenience. If there are no obstacles such as water pipes and electrical wiring tubes in the basement, then the first method is the best.

• Use moisture resistant and seasoned lumber for the bottom frames and plates. The lumber should be straight, the thickness of the wooden boards should be 1.5 inches, and the standard length is 2 by 4 meters.
• The ends of the boards should be even and smooth. The top and bottom plates/boards should be secured using clamps.

• On the boards, you have to place the studs. The position for each stud has to be marked at 16 inches apart on the board.
• On each side of every stud, draw a line of ¾ inches. Use a measuring tape to get accurate measurements.
• With the help of a framing square, mark the top and bottom boards at the same time. Do not forget to put an 'X' mark. This is done to ensure that you nail the stud in the right spot.

• Determine the length of the studs before you cut them. You have to take the measurement from the floor to ceiling, and then subtract the length of the top and bottom plates from it. The standard length that you need to deduct from the total length is 3.5 inches (1.5 inches for the top plate, 1.5 inches for the bottom plate, and 0.5 inches to tip the wall).

Once you have cut the studs to the required length, nail them to the top and bottom plates using 12D nails.

• Use a plumb bob to draw a vertical line from the ceiling to the floor along the wall you have framed. This is to ensure that your wall is vertically level.
• Now, slowly raise the wall to put it into place along the top and bottom lines. Get the help of one of your family members to raise the wall.
• The top of the wall has to be secured using 12D nails. Fill all the gaps using shims (It is a thin wedge material of either wood or metal that is used to fill the gap).

Use wooden panels to keep the basement warm. To make the room soundproof, add insulation to the inner walls. Framing the walls of a basement will increase the value and comfort of your home. Once the walls are in place, you can think about doing the basement flooring and the ceiling too. If you want to convert the basement into a room, you should check whether the builder has made the required provisions while constructing the basement of your house.