How do I frame a wall with recessed arreas?
I’m about to start finishing my basement, the problem is that some of the walls have recessed areas, someting like below:
___|———-|_______ (not to scale)
[] [] [] [] [] [] [] []
the ——— area is the recessed area, [] are the studs as seen from above.
One one would be to frame one section with 2×4 (____| and |______ areas in the diagram, each are about 1.5ft long) and use 2×6 or 2×10 in the |———-| area which is about 8ft long.
The other way is to fram with 2×4 all the way across and just pack it with insluation (btw, some are exterior walls and one wall is the garage wall) and then have the vapor barrier on the fram.
The problem with the first option is that it requires a lot of studs to frame it that way and there will be lots of corners (drywall, corner beads, mudding, etc).
What do you recommend?
Thanks
D.
Replies
Knowing the purpose of the recess and whether these are load bearing walls would be a big help - decorative art niches?
Generally speaking - frame it just like a window, then trim it out the same way. If you are concerned about too much material and tooo much work, you shouldn't be doing this - do it right or don't bother
These are basement walls, they are concrete and the depth is only 4-6 inches, a niche wouldn't really work.
The areas that are sticking out are "columns" in the foundation and the I beams are resting on them.
I'm not a preofessional but i finsihed another basemt about 2 years ago but the walls were straight.
I was just wondering if the pros here recommend just framing the wall all the way across in a straght line or go around corners for sections that are 1.5ft long.
I'm not sure if this is a mater of doing it righ tor wrong, I think it's more about educating myself and them making a decision.
Having said that, i agree with you, when you do someting do it right.
As for too much work.... I wished I had the time to spend on finshing my basement the way I want it but, as you probably know, life gets in the way.
Thanks
The diagram is confusing to me. Your words I think made it clearer---you've got some bumpouts in the foundation that a beam sits on. These protrude into the room?
If so, either you like a long straight blank wall that will certainly bounce sound off real well.
or, you incorporate those protrusions into an interesting break in that long wall. Each time you bump out you give sound a chance to break up. Might help slightly the echoing of a hard surface basement.
If you have a drop ceiling you might figure out if those bumps will do something goofy to the layout of the tiles.
If I'm mistaken, don't believe a word I've written.
thanks.
Hey Calvin, that's exactly what it is. I guess I should've worded that better but made it clear.
These columns that the metal I beam sits on protrude into the room, they are about 8 ft appart and I have about 8 of them on various walls.
My basemed is not that big and it will be divided as well so the biggest (open) room will be about 17ftx15ft, this room will have 4 "columns"
Thanks
D.
OK, I misunderstood what you were saying about 111% from the first description.
It is a matter of personal preference what you want to end up with, IMO
No worries.
I guess I should've attached a picture but I'm at work and I have no pictures of the wall(s).
If you post a picture, please include the wife or girlfriend in it. To often one or the other isn't in the shot and they really should be part of the discussion.
thanks.
So Now I'm only semi confused. The column which is a foot and a half wide drops back 4 or 5 inches. Got it.
Piffin is correct, personal preference of the outcome sounds like the deciding factor.
But, if you bowl and need a space for your trophies............sounds like there it is.
Or, equally utilitarian yet possible cool
Columns of light.
OK, I'll try to get a picture. Not sure about the wife, if she doesn't wnat ot be part of this then I'll have to talk to my girfriend, see what she says, lol.
I think you guys are right, it comes down to resonal preference. I guess I wanted to see if there are other way around it like the foam idea.
D.
You might want to run down your ideas for how you're going to insulate the basement.
Over the years there have been changes in the way people are thinking you should insulate and what material to use.
One more recent idea involves "gluing" foam panels to the foundation effectively insulating and sealing it from condensing moisture. Then either no more in the walls stud spaces or perhaps just fibreglass. No more vapor barrier on that wall. Anything that passes through the wall finish will be able to dry towards the living space.
But hey, others will certainly do it a different way.
They are about 1.5ft wide and about 4-6 inches in.
It's not the outside corners that freak me out, it's the inside.
I agree with you, I will lose about 0.5ft on each side of the the room just going flash.
I'd have to use foam just to provide some sort on insulation to avoid condesation on the inside of the drywall.