How To Install Furring Strips to Concrete Walls

If you are planning to finish a basement you will most likely need to install furring strips to the concrete walls so that the walls can be sheetrocked.

Attaching furring strips to concrete walls can be easily done using 2"x2"s or 2"x3" kiln dried wood studs, liquid nail glue, and some fluted concrete nails.

Due to moisture in the basement, I prefer to use a 2"x4" pressure treated stud laid flat along the bottom of the wall. Lay the stud on its flat side up against the wall. The furring strips will sit on top of the pressure treated stud, such that there is effectively a moisture barrier between the basement floor and the kiln dried studs.

The kiln dried studs should be placed on 16 inch centers along the wall, again resting on the pressure treated 2"x4". The kiln dried studs should run the entire height of the concrete wall.

To secure the bottom plate and studs to the wall, I first run a bead of Liquid Nails (designed to adhere to concrete and wood), along the entire length of the bottom plate/stud. If you are using 2"x3"s for the furring strips, the glue should be applied to the wider side, such that when the stud is installed, you effectively have the flat side of the stud attached to the wall.

Start with the application of glue on the pressure treated bottom plate.

Next, using a drill and a masonry bit, drill pilot holes into the bottom plate. The holes should be placed every 16 inches along the length of the plate and should penetrate the concrete walls approximately 1.5". Then using 3" fluted nails and a 3-5 lb sledge hammer, pound the nails into the holes. Note: I prefer to drill and pound a nail, one hole at a time to eliminate alignment problems.

Once the bottom plate has been installed, repeat the process on the vertical kiln dried studs. Install one stud at a time, again on 16 inch centers. Make sure they stand straight and level.

To help hold the vertical stud in place while you are drilling holes and pounding in concrete nails, I like to toe nail the bottom of the stud into the bottom pressure treated plate first.

Once the glue has set up, the furring strips will be strongly fastened to the wall and ready for drywall.

Note, however, you may want to apply pink board insulation in between the studs to provide some level of insulation between the concrete walls and the finished sheetrocked wall. Simply cut the insulation to the proper width, apply some Liquid Nails to the back side of the insulation board, and then press the insulation in-between the studs.

See more of pressurized walls.

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Classic Pressurized Walls

Some images of a Classic Pressurized walls for your home or in your office.

Considerations For New Business Owners and Office Space

Among the myriad of other important decisions involved in running a business, the location and layout of your office space is of top importance. Your location decided your daily commute every day. If you have other employees, it decided their commute as well, and can even determine the demographic of employees you are likely to have.

There are two sides of the coin when considering the decor and atmosphere of an office. The self gratification side of us tells us that we are going to spend more waking hours of our life in this office that in our own home, and it ought to be designed accordingly. With this mentality, you might as well make room for the pool table, break room with a surround sound theater, and penthouse views from your office desk. Oh, and remember to hire a maid to come daily as well as a massage therapist to make daily visits. You will need a relief from stress caused by all that hard work.

OK, I was joking. With that mentality, you will be out of business before you take your first step. The only thing you will succeed at is racking up the credit card bill. My recommendation, when considering the upscale-ness and decor of your office, is to focus on functionality. Ask yourself the question, "will this really increase my productivity or an unnecessary luxury?" Another question: "Do I really need enough space in my office to play nine holes of miniature golf... or will a room that holds my desk and other important furniture suffice?"

It all comes down to a choice. Are you trying to satisfy your ego, or succeed in business. You will have plenty of time to improve the luxury of things, but let success bring that about. I suggest leasing used office space. I point that out because I know how tempting it can be to start in a brand new location, choose your own build out and upgrades. Let us turn a profit first. When you decide on a place, keep in mind that commercial landlords are willing to bargain. Have them throw in the costs for necessary build out. I would even consider using temporary wall feature where necessary. You will find that the use of temporary pressurized walls in New York have become commonplace.

Finally, with all the importing our nation does from China, you should be able to easily make your office look like a million bucks, on a budget of a couple hundred. Seriously, the same clock that one store is asking four hundred dollars for, can be found at Ross for forty.