Quote:
Originally Posted by zarrell
Actually, unless you're talking 2" variations building basement walls is petty easy. First you mark out all your walls. Then you nail down treated 2x4 to the concrete where your walls go. Then, for each section of wall you build measure the height so that the wall will fit in between the treated 2x4 and the ceiling, taking the smallest measurement and subtracting maybe a 1/4". Then when you nail the walls in place you nail it tight to the ceiling and leave it "float" over the treated 2x4. Do however nail the bottom in place every foot or so. This solves two problems. First, you can cut all your studs the same length. Secondly, the walls are not fixed rigidly to the concrete floor, leaving room for expansion up and down.
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That's a good point. Basement framing is not load bearing.
When I was working in Denver, that's how all basements were framed, as the bentonetic (sp?) clay soils there would expand and contract so much that, that was part of the building code. They used 6 or 8" spikes every 2' or so to secure the bottom plate. I think they were floated 2 or 3" there, though.