Basement Framing – How to Frame a Basement
If you’re finishing your basement, you know that basement framing can be a pain in the neck. If you are determined to finish the basement on your own rather than hiring someone to do it for you, you might be able to take advantage of the tips for framing your basement below.
Tips for Framing –
Level it!
One of the most important tips that you can use is to make completely sure that the floor is level before you begin framing. If you don’t take the time to make sure of this before you begin the framing, you will really be frustrated and discouraged.
A lot of people don’t think of doing this until they realize that it has created problems with the framing. If your floor is not level, you can pour concrete over top and level it out, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself you can hire a professional.
Watch for warping studs!
A friend of mine was finishing his basement, and when he got the basement framing up, he realized that some of his lumber was starting to warp. He was afraid that it would cause problems when it came to the drywall part of finishing. He was right!
While the wood was straight when he bought it, after he had framed it up, it warped. It turns out that the wood was being kept outside at the lumber store, and had excess moisture. As it dried, it warped.
He had to start over with fresh wood. Don’t let this happen to you. Make sure your lumber is dry before you begin the basement framing.
Measure thrice!
Now, you’re probably thinking, ‘Duh!’ You would be surprised, however, how many people will give it a quick look and begin cutting. Make sure you measure more than once to ensure that you have it exactly right.
Not doing this can result in a lot of wasted wood, and spending more money than you want to. This is not to mention the frustration! Make sure you follow the tips above for basement framing, and you should be able to pull it off without a hitch!