cinderblock basement walls and sheetrock

can sheetrock be glued to cinderblock walls in basement?

 

Sheetrock is typically installed to firring strips or studs. Check with your local building inspector regarding building codes, permits, and inspections before beginning your project. Codes tend to vary from area to area.

Some items that are addressed in code requirements may include the following:

Emergency Escape Window and Egress, Minimum Ceiling Height,
Smoke Detectors, Stairway Fire Protection, Heating and Return Air, Combustion Air for gas furnaces, water heaters & dryers, Bottom Plate of a wall in contact with a concrete floor should be of treated material, Clearances for Electrical Service Panel, Furnace, Water Heater, and the usual plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits and inspections.

Changes to structures require permits and inspections.

 

thanks for the info, although, if i would prefer not to use furring strips and wish to glue sheetrock using liquid nails or something of that nature, is it common or are there drawbacks to do so??

 

Many forum posts here deal with sealing basement walls, firring or studding walls and installing insulation and vapor barrier. You indicate that you are from Michigan, a cold climate. These issues need to be addressed. Contacting your local building inspector for how your should proceed according to codes is very important. Gluing sheetrock to masonry basement walls will not address issues of vapor and moisture and insulation. We have had forum posts where basements were not finished according to code and realtors were informed that the basement living areas had to be ripped out before the house could be put on the market. If you are going to the expense and labor to finish out your basement, you need to do it according to code to safely add value to your home and to assure that you have no problems with your investment.

 

The gypsum core of drywall dissolves in water. And the face is just paper. If you attach the drywall directly to the block, it will probably absorb enough moisure over time to disintegrate (even if the walls seem dry to you, they are constantly passing moisture).

You might be able to use greenboard (with the greenside towards the block), or maybe Denshield (which is even more water-resistant). However, it would be difficult to anticipate what other problems might develop since this is not a normal method of installation. I'd say go ahead and try it and report back in five years how it holds up. You can be a pioneer. Might work, might be a disaster. That's the problem with being a pioneer -- there isn't a lot of prior experience to go on.

By the way, you will have a difficult time meeting other codes, such as the code for electrical receptacles. You'll probably have to surface-mount the boxes and use wiremold or some other surface raceway.

 

tks for the responses,
here in waterford, mi. from what i learned from the city folks,
they do not inspect homes when they are up for sale.
they do issue permits and do have code inspectors.
i think i will have to do it the ''normal'' way to insure i do not
have to do it all over again, really hate doing things twice.
thanks again
randal