Finishing a basement not only adds valuable living space but costs less than putting an addition on your home. Planning to tackle this project? Make allowances for basement poles. These poles are integral to the structure and can't be removed. However, there are steps to follow to finish around basement poles so that the space can match your basement walls.
Instructions
Frame the Pole
1. Draw a square with a pencil on the floor around the pole's base. The square can be any size you want, but to save floor space, you might want the sides to extend only an inch or two from the pole. Also consider the basement walls before drawing the square. The sides of the square should be parallel to the walls for a professional look.
2. Hold a plumb bob over the square drawn on the floor. The tip of the plumb should almost touch a line of the square. The string should extend to the basement ceiling. Use a pencil to carefully transfer the square onto the ceiling.
3. Cut framing studs with a circular saw to fit the square on the basement floor and its corresponding square on the ceiling.
4. Attach the floor frame with a drill and concrete screws. Use wood screws or a framing nailer to attach the ceiling square to the joists.
5. Measure and cut four framing studs to fit between the floor and ceiling squares. Position each stud at one corner of the square, with one wide side of each stud facing out on each side of the square.
6. Attach the studs to the floor and ceiling frame with a framing nailer, shooting the nails at an angle, half an inch from the end of the stud and into the square frames. Use two nails to attach each end of the stud.
Cover the Frame
7. Measure and cut four long, narrow sections of drywall to fit over the wood frame surrounding the basement pole.
8. Attach the drywall panels to the frame using drywall screws, inserting one every 12 inches into the studs beneath.
9. Cut four pieces of drywall corner bead 2 inches shorter than the height of the drywall box. Attach one over each corner with drywall nails, inserting one nail every 12 inches.
Finish the Frame
10. Apply joint compound to the corners of the new drywall box, smoothing wet compound with a 6-inch taping knife. Work the compound evenly into the holes of the drywall corner bead.
11. Switch to a 10-inch taping knife, and smooth the compound flush with the sides of the drywall box. Excess compound will build up on the corners of the box. Remove large clumps with your knife, but don't worry about clumps that are less than 1/4-inch thick.
12. Let the compound dry and sand it smooth with a drywall sander. Sand away corner ridges at this time.
13. Apply two or more additional thin coats of joint compound over the corners, in the same manner, letting each coat dry and sanding smooth before applying the next coat.
14. Sand the drywall box smooth after the last coat and paint the box to match your wall.
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