Building Closet in Basement

Greetings

I would like to build a closet in my basement as part of finishing the basement and I have two questions.

First to put up the frame could I just use and adhesive to attach the frame to the cement floor instead of using wall track which I would need to hammer in? I don't have an airgun and I think for just a closest something like Liquid Nails would work.

Second I have a three-foot high and two foot deep ledge around the basement. Along the bottom foot and a half of the wall is some type of plastic barrier that goes into the cement floor. I removed a piece to see behind and it is solid cinder block but it is unpainted or perhaps just not covered with a water blocker. I also have a sump. My question is can I remove this barrier and just paint/water proof the block behind it or is it designed to funnel water to the floor and then perhaps to the sump? Will I cause problems if I remove it and waterproof the blocks?

Thanks
Scott

 

I would recommend using liquid nails rather than hammering into cement. If you read the instructions with liquid nails, you can apply it like a contact cement, which adheres better.

The plastic you're refering to is probably installed under the cement floor to prevent water from seeping up from under it, which is very good. Not too many contractors go through the trouble. They probably never trimmed off the excess. So cutting it off at the floor does not make a difference.

 

Thanks for the help on the liquid nails. As far as the plastic barrier I just want to make sure you know what I mean. It is a hard plastic (about 1/4 inch thick) that comes out of the floor and goes up the cinder block about a 1.5 feet. I broke off a piece and noticed that there are small 1/4 inch diameter holes in the bottom cinders. I was worried that water was meant to come out of these holes and hit the plastic wall then run down into the edge of the floor and find its way to the sump. I want to carpet the basement. Do you still think I can remove this hard plastic wall without worry of water. I have only owned the house for two months and so far I have not seen any hint of moisture and I never heard the sump turn on.

Thanks
Scott

 

I'm not certain why the 1/4 inch hole is there. The plastic could not act as a aquaduct to the sump pump, it just wouldn't work and putting a drainage hole above the floor is down right stupid. I would check behind the plastic around the basement to see if there are any more holes.

Since you intend to frame the walls, it really doesn't matter is you take down the plastic. In fact, I would recommend leaving it.