Unfinished basement question

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12-25-2014, 15:22
muddywings

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Unfinished basement question

I have an unfinished basement that I don't plan to finish anytime soon. Don't have the funds and finishing it would make it even smaller than it is. The wife has claimed one side (bedroom side) as the workout area. I have a small area (where the bathroom that would be plumbed) that I get to call my own.
I would like to put in some cabinets (hopeful future craigslist finds) and a thin but long bench.
My initial thought was to build a faux wall (not rocked in) to mount everything off of but I would loose a few precious inches I have in the area plus it seems like a lot of wood and I'm trying to keep costs minimal. I'm going for functional not pretty.
The concrete walls have the insulation nailed, with washers, into the walls.
Questions-
Can I just use a ramset nailer to nail some 2x4s into the concrete wall horizontally to make a ledger board to mount the items off of? (Would need two horizontal 2x4s for cabinets.)
Could/should I just nail said ledger boards on top of the insulation and squish it? (Sure I'd loose a tad of insulation factor but it's not overly cold down there anyway)
Would that be enough to hold up cabinets use for reloading supplies? Powder, primers, bullets, brass, misc supplies etc? (what is the weight bearing load of a 2x4 nailed into concrete?
Or should I hammer drill out some holes and anchor bolt them in?
Or any better ideas? How out to lunch am I?

Attachment 54127

Attachment 54129
12-25-2014, 15:48
SideShow Bob

Don't crush the insulation or damage the vapor barrier as much as possible.
Build a 2x4 16"center wall(s) just contacting the insulation and secured to the floor joists on top and ramsetted to the floor, use the moisture treated 2x4s on the floor contact.
Later on if you decide to finish out the basement, the walling will partially done.
12-25-2014, 16:04
huntnfishn5280

If your basement floor is a slab you need to float the bottom plate if you were to build a wall. If you have a structural basement floor (has a crawl space under it) then you can do what Side show said. The easy route would be to install the 2x4's horizontally like you suggested but try to salvage the insulation and vapor barrier as best as possible. Probably best to install under the barrier. I would set the top edge of the top 2x4 at 84inches if you are using 30" upper cabinets. This should put you at the same height as kitchen cabs. This would set you up for a 36" bench height that would seat a bar stool high chair. If you were planning on using an office type chair than you want the bench height at 30". I would install the 2x4's with TapCon screws that are available at Home Depot along with the corresponding masonry drill bits. Add a little construction adhesive to the back of the 2x4's, very simple install.
12-25-2014, 16:18
muddywings

Sideshow's recommendation was my first idea and the basement is on a slab so yes, I would have to float it off the floor. (there is a small section that is exposed wall where the stairs are built off of and that is how they did it)
I was hopping to be cheap but don't want to ruin the insulation/vapor barrier.
I may just do that to avoid any long term headaches.
The whole run is about 16 feet so probably about $50 in 2x4s.
Followup question-if I built the wall, do a just smash it up against the vapor barrier/insulation?
I'll have to ponder over the next few weeks.
Open to any all suggestions though...
12-25-2014, 16:30
SideShow Bob

No, don't smash it up against the insulation, you will lose all the insulation properties of the air space within it. Just set off of, or lightly touching the insulation face. You will lose a few inches of depth, but retain the insulation's rated value.
12-25-2014, 16:32
muddywings

Quote:

Originally Posted by SideShow Bob

No, don't smash it up against the insulation, you will lose all the insulation properties of the air space within it. Just set off of, or lightly touching the insulation face. You will lose a few inches of depth, but retain the insulation's rated value.

yea-figured...you're nothing but good news. haha
figured as much just needed someone to reinforce what i needed to hear.

ETA: there is a good 3-4 inches of fluff in that vapor barrier/insulation. Floor space is pretty limited. Any opinions if I ripped it out and dropped in rigid foam insulation (I know, I know...doing it on the cheap just went out the window)
12-25-2014, 17:49
Great-Kazoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddywings

yea-figured...you're nothing but good news. haha
figured as much just needed someone to reinforce what i needed to hear.

ETA: there is a good 3-4 inches of fluff in that vapor barrier/insulation. Floor space is pretty limited. Any opinions if I ripped it out and dropped in rigid foam insulation (I know, I know...doing it on the cheap just went out the window)

Easiest way to do it. Give your wife the entire basement . Then claim one of the rooms on the main floor for you.
https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.6080...4&pid=15.1&P=0
12-25-2014, 18:56
SideShow Bob

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddywings

ETA: there is a good 3-4 inches of fluff in that vapor barrier/insulation. Floor space is pretty limited. Any opinions if I ripped it out and dropped in rigid foam insulation (I know, I know...doing it on the cheap just went out the window)

If you go this route , might as well rip out the crap, set your walls against the concrete, reinsulate between the studs, re install a vapor barrier and sheet rock,. Don't forget to run electrical outlets. One per 12 feet of linear wall space.