Hi - As per the photo, 1/5th of the wall is block below grade. In order to finish this wall, I was thinking of attaching a vapor barrier over the entire wall surface (above+below grade portions) and then attaching furring strips (1 1/2") to the existing studs and running them the entire length of the wall, insulating between furring, then dry walling. Any thoughts on this approach? Anything I missed?
Thanks in advance!

 

Welcome to the forums! Hopefully the moisture problem that is evident on the blocks has been rectified from the outside. Why is there Durock on the floor? Back to the wall. Since you will need to install electrical in the wall you may want to consider building a 2x4 stub wall across the block, not attaching it to the wall at all. Your furring strips will require you to poke holes in an otherwise non leaking wall, so I wouldn't do it. Building the 2x4 will will allow you to install electrical, and proper insulation, but will leave a slight shelf at the sill plate area. Not insurmountable, but still there.

 

Thanks for the welcome and the response!
Durock is on the floor as I'll be putting tile on top of it - the floor is a 5x9' entryway.
Moisture problem is alleviated - the house sat vacant for a couple of years, so no gutters cleaned, etc. I also re-graded that section of the yard from foundation (block) to 12' away.
In the interest of not punching holes in the block, my idea has been to run furring strips on top of the existing stud wall, and have these strips extend down past the plate to the floor - this distance is 20". Is that too great a distance to have furring be unattached to the block? If not, then there's no need to build a wall, correct?
Thanks again-

 

I'd be leery that pressure treated furring strips not secured on the end like that would warp.

Larry knows a lot more about tile than I do but you aren't supposed to put wonder board on top of concrete ... and concrete is a good base for tile by itself.

 

So you only have 3 sheets of Durock on the floor? How is it fastened? I know this doesn't have anything to do with your question, but I would be remiss if I didn't question you on it and offer advice. If you do anything like extending strips on the existing wall, use 2x2 lumber, fastened securely to the studs from the ceiling and use PL8X or equivalent as an adhesive on the back of the extension that will be sticking down. I would also use 2x2's, or even a 2x4 along the bottom vertically to form a base between your strips, gluing it to the wall as well. It will help keep your 2x2's spaced out

 

Ok, that is definitely food for thought re:furring. I may end up going w your initial suggestion of a stub wall. That one's starting to appeal to me, esp given the need to run electrical, etc.

So its 3 full sheets of durock, plus what I ripped down (abt 3.5" wide) for the space by the threshold.
The durock is on top of 1/2" plywood, which is on top of 3/4" advantech. Durock was set in thinset and screwed down, then taped/seems fill w thinset.