Finishing a Stone Wall Basement – First Room Done

Mon, 02/28/2011 - 19:25

I’ve had some people email me questions about my basement project. Specifically, how I decided to frame walls over a stone wall foundation. Well the project is not complete yet, but I have at least one room that is 95% finished. I wanted to post a couple pictures and explain what I did.  So far, I’m very pleased with the results. It took a long time, but it was primarily me doing all the work (occasional help from friends) when I could find time.

First off, when I bought the house the basement was a completely open chamber. It had a semi-finished ceiling, but otherwise no walls, outlets or anything. It was cold, dingy, and full of cobwebs. When we looked at the property, I saw through it – and knew I could make something of it.

Pic 1 (Above) – The basement just before we purchased. It’s a blurry picture (cam phone), but I think it gets across the basic feel and layout. The window in the near-center of the room is important, use that as reference.

Pic 2 (Above) – I started framing walls around the exterior of the basement. The walls do not contact the stone wall at all. There is a cavity ranging from 4inches to 8inches all the way around the room. I did this because I’m installing a ventilation system (fan) near one of the windows that can be switched on to move the air and vent the airspace between the stone and insulated wall. It should be noted that I do not get any water in my basement. In three years, I’ve had one minor “seepage” and addressed that issue.  I just want to be able to let the stone wall foundation breath, and change the air out every now and then. The window in this picture is the aforementioned window above.

Pic 3 (Above) – The nearly finished studio room (230 square feet). The walls and ceiling are insulated with r-13 (with vapor barrier), and both have 5/8 firecode drywall. I did all this because of the sound-insulating properties. I wanted to be able to play music in this room, so I planned ahead. Wiring includes 7 outlets, and  two switched recessed lights. The flooring is a sheet of poly (6mil) with carpet padding and cheap carpet. After all said and done, the floor is soft, the lights are bright, and the room holds heat VERY well.

Good Stuff!