[orangebrd72]

I'm going to convert my basement into a game room. I live in Port Jefferson, NY. I have heard some people use steel framing for basements. Living in the area I'm in is the best practice to use wood framing or steel framing? I would think the steel wouldn't be as convenient as using wood. Especially after the sheet rock walls are up and you want to hang stuff on the walls or sink shadow boxes into the wall. Stuff that may be heavy and you want to secure it better. I just would think wood would be better suited, but I don' know which should be use in my environment. Any advice or suggestions would be of great help. Thank you

Mike:vs_worry::vs_worry:

 

[Windows on Wash]

Wood is easier for most folks to work with but I will tell you that you will get straighter walls with steel based on the quality of lumber these days.

Different sets of tools but still completely doable.

 

[Gary in WA]

Welcome to the forums!

Wood stores moisture, steel doesn't. About 1k times more than air in stud cavity, to diffuse (dry) later over time, a great buffer in basements. OTOH, if the wall foamboard is thick enough, steel (on a 1" foam strip if no vapor barrier under slab and slab perimeter foam was installed) will work without worry of capillary draw;http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com...ressure-treated-sill-plates-and-building-code How will you be insulating the walls and rim joists?

Gary

 

[mae-ling]

Steel is also more costly - well here it is.
Easy to carry 10 at a time, easy to cut with snips, can cut a little short and slide it into top and bottom track.

 

[orangebrd72]

I'm going to go with the steel. Most likely use regular rolls of fiberglass insulation. This would be a project starting next year as the wife has me building a shed this week and then a pantry and then install drop down attic stairs and then......

MY PROJECT will be the basement, I'm just planning it out now so I can dive right into it when I'm ready. I the steel will be good and straighter than wood now a days, my concerns were sinking in shelving into the walls or jersey frames that would sit flush if they were sunk into the wall. I don't see a problem if I know in advance where everything would go or hang, but I won't know till after the walls are up or if I add things later. To me ( a rookie DYI guy ) I would think it would be easier to add wood or box out an opening than it would be with steel. If it is a simple thing to do after the walls are up and strong enough to support the weight then I would feel more confident with the steel. Thanks for info.

 

[Gary in WA]

http://www.diychatroom.com/f103/using-fiberglass-batts-basement-362354/index2/

Spray polyurethane the screws where into the bottom/top channel to prevent rust from knocking off the zinc coating at install... start a "project showcase" thread for us. XPS foil-faced or poly wrapped on the wood rims; http://www.diychatroom.com/f103/insulate-rim-joists-canned-spray-foam-roxul-307313/

Gary