Building Basement Walls

Framing Basement Walls

Introduction: Many home owners eventually take on the task of remodeling the basement themselves. This does cut down the cost of the house and allows the home owner to finish the basement to meet his own requirements at a later date as a DIY task. The material used for building basement walls is determine by how the basement is going to be used. There are two choices of wall material, sheetrock or plywood. .

Many basements are finished to provide additional living space in the basements while others are not. Many are simply used for storage and a place to locate the utility system such as the heating system. In many other homes the basement may be modeled as a combination of rooms such as a hobby and an exercise room. No matter how the basement is finished it does require the construction of walls to separate the various rooms.

Normally when framing basements the walls are constructed with 2x4s and sheetrock but sheetrock may not be the best choice. Basements are invariably damp simply because the basement is below ground and receives poor ventilation. The moisture can lead to all sorts of problems including mold. In addition, if the walls are made with sheetrock the sheetrock will absorb moisture that leaves a constant odor in the basement. There is a way to prevent the odor caused by sheetrock.

I recommend using ¼ inch plywood on the wall in the basement. They are light weight and easy to cut and install. The advantage of having plywood walls is that they do not absorb moisture after they are painted. And plywood is easy to attach to the wall studs. They can be attached using a brad gun or they can be screwed to the studs using one inch sheetrock screws.

Plywood walls in a basement woodworking shop have advantages other than the fact they do not absorb moisture. They do not easily get dented from sharp objects and they are easy to attach shelving to. When painted white they reflect the basement light that really brightens the room.

If you are anticipating finishing a basement I recommend the use of ¼ inch plywood instead of sheetrock on the walls. It is easy to work with, paints up well, and does not absorb moisture as sheetrock does.

Basement Floor Insulation

Basement Moisture Problems

Basement Lighting

Building a Half Wall

Framing a Finished Basement

How to Prevent Basement Flooding

Installing a Dehumidifier

Insulating Finished Basements

Painting Basement Concrete Walls

Removing Floor Joist Cross Braces

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