Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Finishing a Basement
Handy man in traing here. I have a few questions in regards to
finishing a basement? 1) metal vs wood studs. I've never had a problem with water in basement and was just wondering which would be the better option? 2) How far off the cement walls typically are the studs placed to frame the walls? 3) insulation: What r-value should i be looking for living in Michigan? Is the foam board a better option that the rolls in the walls? 4) lastly would using greenboard be a overkill or should i just use regular drywall. Thanks for any help and advice, Nate |
#2
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Finishing a Basement
|
#3
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Finishing a Basement
nateneu2424 wrote:
Handy man in traing here. I have a few questions in regards to finishing a basement? 1) metal vs wood studs. I've never had a problem with water in basement and was just wondering which would be the better option? 2) How far off the cement walls typically are the studs placed to frame the walls? 3) insulation: What r-value should i be looking for living in Michigan? Is the foam board a better option that the rolls in the walls? 4) lastly would using greenboard be a overkill or should i just use regular drywall. Thanks for any help and advice, Nate FWIW; Having had my basement complete finished and buttoned up for some years not where you are just planning, the one thing I "WISH" is had was access to certain areas behind the walls. I've recently seen several TV ads for a basement finishing system from (I think) Owens-Corning that includes instructions, studs, vapor barrier, wall materials, fasteners, etc. Might be worth looking at for your answers AND the wall panels are removable after installation should that ever be necessary. Good luck. |
#4
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Finishing a Basement
1) metal vs wood studs. I've never had a problem with water in basement and was just wondering which would be the better option? Wood studs, 2x3 would be good. 2x4 if you got the room. I would use pressure treated wood on the sill plates on the floor. Ramset them right in. 2) How far off the cement walls typically are the studs placed to frame the walls? I would be AT LEAST 1" away from the outside wall. 2" would be more comfortable. 3) insulation: What r-value should i be looking for living in Michigan? Is the foam board a better option that the rolls in the walls? This depends too. I used r13 encapsulated insulation down there. It basically provided me with sound and thermal insulation. Worked out OK. 4) lastly would using greenboard be a overkill or should i just use regular drywall. Greenboard is good down there, especially on the lower half if you ever had a flood. Otherwise regular is OK. I used allot of greenboard because at the time is was minimally more money. So I said why not. The only spot your not suppose to use it is on the ceiling (this was according to the manufacturers info) One thing to recommend is MAKE SURE that you do NOT have to put or do any additional work behind those walls. If there is plumbing or something else behind those walls you need to make sure everything is tip top shape before sealing it all up. Thats one of the downsides of drywall. In my case most of my work was against blank concrete walls. Any sort of access areas that I may need to go to I bought oak cabinet doors off of ebay and make a frame. It came ok pretty good. I just need to get my carpet guy in there soon to finish it up. Tom |
#5
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Finishing a Basement
"nateneu2424" wrote in message m... Handy man in traing here. I have a few questions in regards to finishing a basement? 1) metal vs wood studs. I've never had a problem with water in basement and was just wondering which would be the better option? Metal can rust and is not as strong as wood, wiring needs special protection from sharp edges 2) How far off the cement walls typically are the studs placed to frame the walls? 3) insulation: What r-value should i be looking for living in Michigan? Is the foam board a better option that the rolls in the walls? R20, foam is much more expensive but will not absorb water like fiberglass or cellulose. Also foam needs no vapour barrier. Make sure you airseal the walls 4) lastly would using greenboard be a overkill or should i just use regular drywall. Regular Other: You may also want to insulate the concrete floor for comfort. Insulate above the ceiling for sound control and energy efficiency, especially if you heat the basement room independently from the upstairs. I've always regretted finishing my ceiling with drywall, looks better than suspended but NO access! |
#6
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Finishing a Basement
You may not have water in the basement but your walls may get wet and
mold anyway when sealed, I put in remevable panels incase of future issues. Steel has no insulating value, go wood. Foamboard blue or pink is R5 per", Foilfaced polyisocyanurate is R 6.8", fiberglass batt is only R3.5". Im just south of you and used 3" polyiso foamboard. You have little room so foamboard makes a big difference in winter to keep out the cold. |
#7
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Finishing a Basement
Martik wrote: "nateneu2424" wrote in message m... Handy man in traing here. I have a few questions in regards to finishing a basement? 1) metal vs wood studs. I've never had a problem with water in basement and was just wondering which would be the better option? Metal can rust But galvanized metal studs won't. and is not as strong as wood, So? You don't kill a fly with a sledge hammer. wiring needs special protection from sharp edges True, but that's no big deal. 2) How far off the cement walls typically are the studs placed to frame the walls? 3) insulation: What r-value should i be looking for living in Michigan? Is the foam board a better option that the rolls in the walls? R20, foam is much more expensive but will not absorb water like fiberglass or cellulose. Also foam needs no vapour barrier. Make sure you airseal the walls 4) lastly would using greenboard be a overkill or should i just use regular drywall. Regular Other: You may also want to insulate the concrete floor for comfort. Insulate above the ceiling for sound control and energy efficiency, especially if you heat the basement room independently from the upstairs. I've always regretted finishing my ceiling with drywall, looks better than suspended but NO access! |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Preparing concrete basement floor for finishing... | Home Ownership | |||
basement finishing questions | Home Repair | |||
Finishing off a basement Step 1 ? | Home Repair | |||
Basement finishing suggestions? | Home Repair | |||
Finishing exterior basement wall | Home Repair |