Basement wall

I want to finish a section of my basement but I have a question before I start putting the wall frame up.

My basement floor there is a 1/2" gap between the floor and the foundation... what is that for? I do have a sump pump in the basement is that gap related to the sump pump? I looked all around and doesn't look like there is a connection to the sump pump at all.

Here is a photo of what it look likes.


My question is, can I just put the wall frame over this gap? Or can I close the gap?

Thanks,

 

Welcome to the forums! Anyway you can stand back and take pix? Close ups don't show us anything. No relationship to walls, floor, footing, etc. Need it all.

 

Judging on your location, the "trench" is a cheap way used years ago in your area to collect water that has already leaked into the living area and it also collects dirt and bugs. Often, the trench runs to exit into the sump pit.

Your sump and possibly drain tile may have been added later to eliminate leakage into the living area and obscured any drainage into the sump since the drain tile may have worked well and there may never have been any water in the trench recently.

Do a little detective work to see if you can find any reason for filling it if you choose.

Dick

 

here are some more photos.

 

The basement is really dry, never saw water in the floor or in the walls... the only place that I can see what when it rains, is in the basement stairs that goes outside to the backyard...