DIY Network

Framing Finished Walls in a Basement Work begins on transforming a plain basement into a dream-come-true man cave. From "Man Caves" episode DMCV-101

The Man Caves team turns a raw basement into a combination home gym, poker room, home theater and a Boston Celtics-inspired bar. Their first step is to frame the walls.

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Materials:

Douglas fir lumber (2 x 4 x 8's, 2 x 4 x 12's, 2 x 6 x 8's, 2 x 6 x 12's—studs and top plate)
treated lumber (2 x 4 x 12's, 2 x 6 x 12's—bottom plates)
1/4" x 3" Tapcon concrete screws
3" 10d ring shank nails for framing gun
hammer drill
impact driver

1. Using a chalk line, mark your wall plan onto the concrete floor making sure to note where the doorways or openings will be. Double check the measurements.

	Figure A - An impact driver is used to install the floor plates.
	Figure B - Side-wall framing installed along the basement walls.

2. Walls need to be built from the ground up. Install the treated-lumber floor (bottom) plates along the lines, using a hammer drill with 3/16" concrete drill bit, 3" Tapcon concrete screws.

3. Use an impact driver (figure A) to insert the screws all the way down into the concrete. (An impact driver not only turns the screw in, but it impacts it all the way in securely.) Steady pressure is the key to drilling the screws properly.

4. Be sure to zigzag the screws every 12" to 16" along the bottom plate. This will prevent it from warping. Also, be careful not to put any screws in the bottom plate where an opening or doorway will be.

5. Once the bottom plates are done, it's time for the sidewall studs to go up (figure B). How you attach the studs depends on which direction the bottom plate is running in relation to the floor joists above.

• A. If they are running perpendicular to the bottom plate then simply nail the studs to the floor joists. Using a straight 2 x 4, plum the bottom plate to the above floor joist and mark a line. Do the same at the other end of the bottom plate. Connect those two marks with a chalk line. This line is now plum with the bottom plate. Cut your studs 4 - 6 inches longer than the distance between the bottom plate and the floor joist. Using a pneumatic framing gun with 3" nails, attach each stud to the floor joist at the mark then to the bottom plate and level as you go. Floor joists are spaced 16" on center, so this works well for studs.

• B. If the bottom plate is running parallel to the floor joists then you will need to use 2 x 4 blocking every 16" between the floor joists to attach the studs. After installing all the blocking, use the procedure in Step A for marking, cutting and attaching the studs.

6. Install 2 x 4 blocking between the studs about 4' from the floor.

7. Each stud will require a joist brace, which means you'll have to measure carefully. The braces will connect the studs to the floor joists. This is an easy but crucial step.

8. Tack in the studs and make sure each one is level.