I'm in the process of planning my basement. This is the first time for me and I have some basic question about framing to start off with.
1.) I've seen a lot of people recommend placing a piece of composite decking under the bottom plate. Is this necessary even if the bottom plate is pressure treated? I assume this is to prevent water from wicking up the wall in the case of moisture but i think my baseboards would do a good job of that anyways...thoughts?
2.) I have to build a bulkhead in the center of the room to cover supply/return trunks and a steel beam. The bulkhead will be about 4' wide and 10-15' long and I'd like to have a light in this bulkhead since it will be kind of a hallway. My approach to this would be to build sides out of 2x4 with top & bottom plate and cripple studs except every other or third stud would extend past the top plate and screw onto the floor joist. The bottom plate of the bulkhead side would extend down long enough for me to put a box under the ducting for a light and I'd have to fasten 2x4s across between the two bulkhead sides. Could I fasten these 2x4's with L brackets since I'd have to nail/screw across the width of the 2x4 or risk bringing the whole thing down by trying to toe nail into the sides. Part of this bulkhead will be supported under the strapping with a partition wall...thoughts? I think my only other option here is to enclose the part of this that isn't over the partition wall in drop-ceiling and have the hall light in a wall.
3.) We have to upgrade our electrical service panel since the current one is still fuses. Currently it's attached to a piece of plywood that's attached to the slab concrete wall. Can I insulate and frame behind the new service panel or does this have to remain the way it is?
Sorry this is so complicated. If I didn't explain myself well enough in question 2 then i can take some pics and try again.
Any thoughts, suggestions, or experience would be greatly appreciated!
1.) I've seen a lot of people recommend placing a piece of composite decking under the bottom plate. Is this necessary even if the bottom plate is pressure treated? I assume this is to prevent water from wicking up the wall in the case of moisture but i think my baseboards would do a good job of that anyways...thoughts?
2.) I have to build a bulkhead in the center of the room to cover supply/return trunks and a steel beam. The bulkhead will be about 4' wide and 10-15' long and I'd like to have a light in this bulkhead since it will be kind of a hallway. My approach to this would be to build sides out of 2x4 with top & bottom plate and cripple studs except every other or third stud would extend past the top plate and screw onto the floor joist. The bottom plate of the bulkhead side would extend down long enough for me to put a box under the ducting for a light and I'd have to fasten 2x4s across between the two bulkhead sides. Could I fasten these 2x4's with L brackets since I'd have to nail/screw across the width of the 2x4 or risk bringing the whole thing down by trying to toe nail into the sides. Part of this bulkhead will be supported under the strapping with a partition wall...thoughts? I think my only other option here is to enclose the part of this that isn't over the partition wall in drop-ceiling and have the hall light in a wall.
3.) We have to upgrade our electrical service panel since the current one is still fuses. Currently it's attached to a piece of plywood that's attached to the slab concrete wall. Can I insulate and frame behind the new service panel or does this have to remain the way it is?
Sorry this is so complicated. If I didn't explain myself well enough in question 2 then i can take some pics and try again.
Any thoughts, suggestions, or experience would be greatly appreciated!