Quote:
Originally posted by Bend it like Bourgeois@Jun 24 2005, 02:05 PM
Did anyone use metal studs? The builder used them on the outside walls in my basement already so I figured I'd use them on the inside walls too. Now I'm wondering how I'd attach baseboards to them.
Frank or anyone else: what did you use to insulate the ceiling? Seems like a good idea.
One last question: where'd you shop? Home Depot, Rona, Construction supply stores? Does it matter?
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I used metal studs for part of the project. I had to skirt around the back of my furnace and water heaters and was too close to use wood. By code, you have to leave 1 meter clear with any combustable material. Couple of points on them:
* They were exactly the same price as wood when I bought them; both $3.49 a stud.
* I liked working with them because they're always straight, and a lot lighter to install yourself. They go together really quick with a good cordless drill and a pack of self-tapping wafer screws.
* The drawback is that you have to use armoured cable (aka BX cable) to do any wiring within them. It's more expensive than Loomix (regular 14/2 wire) and a bit harder to work with. You have to strip the cable off the portion of the wire that's in the electrical box and protect against the cut end of the shield with these little red plastic insulators they sell in the electrical section.
* Baseboards should install pretty much the same as they would with wood. They don't have to be structural, just tacked and held to the wall. You can use a brad nailer or small recessed screws. Either should work. I use a nail gun.
For the ceiling I'm using an Insulation product called Safe and Sound. It's a sound deadener and fire block in one. It looks a lot like the regular pink insulation and costs about the same. It comes cut to fit regular floor joists at 16" on center and I'm holding it up there with some bailing twine stapled accross the joists until I get the vapour barrier and drywall up.
As far as shopping I've bought almost everything at Home Depot. Great store for everything I've needed, and they have a credit deal where in if you spend $450 you get six months no interest to pay the bill off. Free money as long as you pay it off on time. Further they've had a few promotions where you get a full year to pay. Set up your bank to make 12 reasonably sized monthly payments and forget about it.
I've spent probably $12,000 there the past two years, so the extra time to pay is great.