Basement Framing: How to Evaluate Your Basement Part 2

Evaluating your basement before beginning the basement framing project can save you hours of frustration later. It is much easier for you, as the homeowner, to fix any damage to the foundation and any warping that may have occurred, before the framing studs are in the way. In part 2 of this article, we will discuss how homeowners can evaluate their home's basement frames for cracks, chips or damages to wood or the levelness of foundation walls on their own.

Step 1: Look for Foundation Damage

Walk around the inside of the basement and look for any cracks or chips in the outer foundation wall. If you find any, repair them by first clearing the area out with the hammer and chisel. Make sure that all the loose cement is removed, then fill and seal with the foundation repair product that you have chooses. If your foundation is made of brick or masonry, then follow these same steps but use a masonry sealant instead of cement sealants.

Step 2: Look for Damage to Wood

After the foundation has been evaluated and repaired, check all of the wood inserts on the windows and doors that have been installed. If there are any large gaps or cracks, fill them in as with the previous step. If the cracks or gaps are small, then fill them in with a silicone caulking compound. The point here is to make a water tight seal that will not allow the weather into the basement.

Step 3: Mark Unlevel Areas

The final step that has to be completed before framing the basement in is to evaluate how level and plumb the foundation walls are. If there are any areas that are indented, or protrude outward, then they need to be marked. This will allow you to glance at the wall and know how many shims need to be placed between the foundation and the framing in order for the basement walls to be level. If you have any sections of the foundation that are sticking out, simply extend you’re framing outward slightly more than planned, rather than trying to chip the pieces of the foundation down until they are level. It is much easier, and safer, to just simply bring the framing out another one to two inches until the foundation problem has been bypassed.

Tip : Evaluating the entire foundation within the basement is an important step in the preparation of framing. It allows you to visually see any problems that may exist, and gives you the push ahead that you may need to fix the problems. Framing a basement can add substantial resale value to a home, as well as maximizing the space of basement.

Proper evaluation and repairs is the first step to successfully framing in your basement.