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Basement Finishing System Installation

An Owens Corning "Basement Finishing System" is being installed at the sister project house. Bob takes us through the framing process, which begins with steel studs. Metal studs are used in the basement in part due to their resistance to moisture and fire. The wall and ceiling support system are measured and installed first. A high-tech laser transit level is used to guide the installation of the upper wall panel and trim support pieces. A companion low-tech 45-degree plywood angle is then attached as a guide for joining corner pieces. Around windows, the crew assembles and secures custom framing. A suspended ceiling hides the plumbing and electrical systems typically found in basements while still allowing access to the home's mechanical systems. Finally, the wall panels are installed. The panels are constructed from R-11 insulation covered with a permeable finish that allows the foundation to "breathe." The wall panels, which do not contain any cellulose products, will not support mold or mildew growth.

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Clip Transcript For:

Basement Finishing System Installation

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" What's going on here in a little bit under two weeks is the installation of this basement finishing system which all relies on components that are steel studs. Pre manufactured paneling and everything comes together very nicely but let's take a look at the beginning stages. We began with the unfinished concrete walls and floor of the basement. The Owens Corning installers first cut metal studs to length. Next they double up the studs for extra rigidity and frame in the utility area. Metal studs are easy to work where there are good choice in potentially moist areas like the face. The studs are attached to the top and bottom plates at the ceiling and floors. Walls only need to be framed for new partitions not around the perimeter foundation walls. When the framing is complete metal stud wall is very strong and resistant to fire and water damage. A laser transit provides a level line for the installation of the white plastic lineals that will receive the rest of the system. After trimming the lineals to size the crew attaches them to plywood and around the walls to receive the ceiling -- the same lineals are also attached vertically to studs and to the foundation walls to receive the wall panels. 45 degree plywood angles serve -- time saving guides for joining the lineals at the corners. Plywood is used again to assemble frames to fit the basement windows. And the suspended ceiling provides a way to hide plumbing and electrical work while still allowing access later. To build the -- the installers first set the horizontal supports and attach them to the ceiling strapping with a system of wires. Finally a window frame is attached to the foundation wall with cement screws and the room is ready to receive the wall panels."

" Jeff fence -- is here from Owens Corning -- I'll tell us a little bit about all the ingredients if you will what are the panels made out. -- the main component of the basement finishing system is our 112 and a half inch thick insulation panel with a polyolefin fabric covering on. The system's designed to let the foundation breathe. So the moisture can come into the room that's correct any moisture that would be in the in the earth outside in the ground. Is eventually gonna migrate in in the summertime it -- migrate out. Depending on the climate. And that's allows that to happen naturally state and they perform. It never turns and that's not a problem from the point of view of letting this kind of -- delaminate or detach no in fact everything in this system is designed to be. With no cellulose and it's there's nothing that can support mold growth. It all is not affected by water. And so it comes through and it is that goes into the goes into the air into the atmosphere now what's she doing here he's attaching. Moldings at the top there what Kevin's done here is before. We put the panels up we put in a structural. Let me write that holds the panel in place disease and then all the panels are actually held in place by. A snap together system which is battens and trim components. So the beauty of this is that you never lose access to your foundation -- you can always remove a panel -- behind it easily exactly. And then the finishing touch in between the -- houses basically a batten right that's correct. The fact he's -- three different form and a bit of formats the fabric which you see here. -- don't forget them in white to match the -- and we have a wood grain trim as well. Now what about the ceiling system is that part of the whole package troops to part of our package includes a ceiling we want to come in and complete your basement. I'm it's as much as we can this is an Armstrong ceiling tile OK so we actually have two different versions of this that we offer. This is what's called the Sahara and it's a two by two configuration we think it looks best in basements okay does a great. Very nice and very bright the lighting is included in the package yes lighting the electrical. Bringing up to code and we walked out we finish the room and in some cases we'll put a floor in the a lot of times the homeowner will do -- their."

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