DIY basement walls

JJP12

What is the best wallboard for a damp basement. Making a bedroom for my 5 yr.old twins.

oh'mike

There is a mold resistant drywall---purple I think---but mold will invade the insulation and grow on the studs----

Is there any way to condition the area?

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scottktmrider

I would just use regular white board except for bathrooms and in direct water.
If you have that much mosture in a bedroom you will have worse problems than drywall.
Just hold the drywall off the floor when you hang it.

mae-ling

My preferred basement drywall method is -
Keep the drywall 3" off the floor, put a strip of treated plywood in that is 2.5" keeping it 1/2" off floor.
Cover with 4" baseboard.

That way water does not get at the bottom of the drywall.
Also use 2" of Styrofoam in the bottom of the wall if it has fibreglass insulation. It won't wick up water.

mikegp

You sure you want to put anyone, let alone 5 year olds in a damp basement? I developed a very bad cough that I'm pretty sure would have killed me eventually when I lived in a basement for a couple of years.

Blondesense

My parents "framed in" a bedroom in their unfinished basement. Two years ago, when DH and I stayed down there he ended up with significant breathing problems by the time we left. It cleared up once we got home.

The last time I was there (without DH) you could see mold spots on the door and walls. I slept upstairs in the den.

Get rid of any moisture problems/issues BEFORE you even consider letting anyone sleep down there permanently.

mikegp

Are you a member of the bump or other maternity forums? What is dh? Dear husband? I always wondered that.

Blondesense

Answer is No to the other forums.
And yes, DH = Dear husband.
DW = Dear wife.
SO = Significant other, etc. etc.

scottktmrider

Just a guess;dehumidifier?