If you’re looking to finish your basement, one of the most important steps is framing the walls. Basement walls are not only unsightly, but they also lack insulation, which can make for a chilly living space. This guide will walk you through how to frame an interior wall in a basement so that you can increase your property value and enjoy your newly renovated space!
A step-by-step guide to framing the basement walls on your own!
With this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to frame a basement wall frame on your own!
- Use a step-by-step guide to framing the basement walls on your own! Build the top plates of each new wall frame and nail these into place. Work from one end of your wall frame to another, attaching each stud you cut into place at 16” intervals along both plates, then use shims where necessary in order to square up the frame.
- With this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to frame a basement wall frame on your own! Use shims where necessary in order to square up the frame and make sure it’s level before nailing it together with 2″ galvanized nails or screws depending where you live (check out our map).
Framing basement walls: the materials you’ll need for this project
- You should measure and mark the ceiling joists to make sure that your new wall won’t intersect with any of them.
- Use a hammer and nail bar to remove the baseboard molding.
- Outline where you are going to build your new wall on the floor of your basement using chalk, then remove any obstructions inside this space (e.g., ductwork or electrical outlets).
How to frame an interior wall in a basement
The first step to framing an interior wall is to decide on the height of your basement. This determines how high you will frame the ceiling joists, as well as what kind of header you need for your floor joists.
With a pencil and a tape measure, mark off 3′-0″ (900mm) from the ground along one side of your basement. This is where you will place your first course of floor joists. On standard 16-inch studs, this would be two studs high (1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″). Then continue marking every other stud with another line so that each course is separated by 2 inches (50mm). Once all lines are marked off and spaced properly, you can go ahead and cut them down using your circular saw or hand saw according to those dimensions.
Next up: walls! Use some tape measures and pencils here too because we’re going to get into some complex math here (just kidding). You need to know how tall each wall needs to be based on its location in relation to adjacent walls; whether there are windows above or below them; what type they are—exterior doors maybe?—and more importantly…what kind of door hinges do we want? Just kidding again–you can just wing it if that’s more fun for you!
Before building out the basement wall frames, measure and mark the ceiling joists to make sure that your new wall won’t intersect with any of them.
Before building out the basement wall frames, measure and mark the ceiling joists to make sure that your new wall won’t intersect with any of them. Use a laser level to make sure your new wall is level. With a stud finder, find the studs in the wall. This will allow you to know where to place your framing nailers for attaching the drywall or plasterboard to the frame once it’s built out.
Use a hammer and a nail bar to remove the baseboard molding.
Use a hammer and nail bar to remove the baseboard molding. This can be done by simply lifting up the nails with a nail-pulling pliers or pry bar, then tapping them back into place so they stick out at an angle. This will allow you to save them for reuse when you are ready to install your new baseboards or another type of trim around your basement walls.
Outline where you are going to build your new wall on the floor of your basement using chalk.
Once you have the measurements for the wall and know where on your basement floor you will be building it, it’s time to outline where you are going to build your new wall on the floor of your basement.
To do this, hold a piece of chalk in one hand and place it flat against the wall. Turn 90 degrees so that your arm is at a right angle with the piece of chalk still touching the wall (this will make sure that your line is square). Now draw a straight line until you reach where you want another corner of your new room to be located; then turn 90 degrees again so that once more, both arms are at 90 degree angles with each other but now facing away from each other and towards opposite walls (in this case two opposing corners).
Once again hold out your arm but this time raise it up above waist level so as not to touch any part of either side or ceiling/floor surfaces or anything else within reach which could possibly cause an inaccurate alignment or measurement error when drawing lines parallel across them later on during construction stages later down-line from here once everything else has been done firstly correctly before proceeding further towards completion stages after finishing initial tasks successfully beforehand without any major setbacks occurring along way otherwise…
Start by building out the top plates of each new wall frame and nail these into place.
When you start building the frame, it’s important to make sure that the top plate is straight and square. One way to do this is by using a carpenter’s level.
Build out the bottom plates of each new wall frame, and nail these into place as well.
If you are building out the bottom plates of each new wall frame, and nail these into place as well. Use a level to ensure that the wall is square. If necessary, use shims where necessary in order to square up the frame. Secure the frame to the concrete floor with additional screws or nails where there are studs touching concrete floors (the bottom plate will be secure). Attach each stud you cut into place at 16” intervals using 3-8d ring shank nails or 16-gauge galvanized box nails (do not use roofing nails for this step). Start at one end of your wall frame, and work from one end of your basement to another until it is complete! Note: Notch out sections of two studs so that they fit around any existing pipes or wires you have in your basement – this should be done only by an experienced professional contractor
Work from one end of your wall frame to another, attaching each stud you cut into place at 16” intervals along both plates, then use shims where necessary in order to square up the frame.
- Work from one end of your wall frame to another, attaching each stud you cut into place at 16” intervals along both plates, then use shims where necessary in order to square up the frame.
- Attach the top plate first using two 2-1/2″ screws through each joist and into the ends of the top plate. Next, attach a single 3″ screw through each joist and into its corresponding bottom plate hole. Ensure that all screws are snug but not too tight as they can warp if over-tightened.
- Now measure up 16 inches from this point around both frames and mark out every third stud with a pencil line on both plates (you may be able to feel them with your hand). Repeat this step for every fourth stud along both frames until you have an equal spacing between all four walls; then drill pilot holes at these points before screwing them into place with three 1-5/8″ screws per end (two per side).
Attach drywall sheets to one side of each new wall frame. You may need help holding them in place while you attach them with drywall screws every 8” or so around their edges and every 12” across their surface.
You’ll want to make sure you attach drywall sheets (also known as wallboard) to one side of each new wall frame. Drywall sheets are available in 4×8 and 5/8 x 4′ lengths, so you can get them cut at your local home improvement store if necessary. They come in a variety of thicknesses: use 1/2” for ceilings and 3/4″ for walls.
Attach drywall sheets to one side of each new wall frame
Attach drywall sheets to the other side of each new wall frame
Attach drywall sheets to both sides of each new wall frame
Conclusion
We hope that you found this guide helpful in getting started on building a wall frame in your basement. As always, please leave us any comments or questions you might have below.
