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Install beadboard in concrete basement
Hello,
An association I am a part of is considering renovating a basement space of about 80 sqm. The goal is to do something about the white-painted concrete walls and create a warmer feeling in the room. The hope is to keep costs down by having the members (read: me) do a large part of the work themselves. The association is the sole owner of the property.
One idea that has been raised is to cover the walls with tongue-and-groove MDF paneling (for example https://www.bauhaus.se/panel-moelven-regina-parlspont-vit-6x620x2435mm). I am not particularly experienced in woodworking below ground, but I understand that the concrete walls facing towards the ground as well as the base slab need to be able to breathe. So, attaching MDF directly to the wall seems like a bad idea - is that correct? The floor is ventilated with plenum flooring, with exhaust air ducts mounted below the floor and a gap against the walls all around for circulation.
If the concrete walls require an air gap to the MDF paneling, I have a few questions on the best way to proceed:
1. Is it enough to use steel studs against the concrete and mount OSB+panel (possibly plasterboard) on top, or is anything else necessary?
2. Is passive ventilation sufficient, or should a fan be installed somewhere?
3. Does it work to adhere and glue the steel studs to the concrete, or must each stud be fastened with plugs and screws?
4. Do even concrete walls between rooms in the basement need to breathe, or only walls facing the street?
5. For those who have renovated basements before, does this sound like a reasonable project for a handy amateur, or am I in over my head?
Thanks in advance!
An association I am a part of is considering renovating a basement space of about 80 sqm. The goal is to do something about the white-painted concrete walls and create a warmer feeling in the room. The hope is to keep costs down by having the members (read: me) do a large part of the work themselves. The association is the sole owner of the property.
One idea that has been raised is to cover the walls with tongue-and-groove MDF paneling (for example https://www.bauhaus.se/panel-moelven-regina-parlspont-vit-6x620x2435mm). I am not particularly experienced in woodworking below ground, but I understand that the concrete walls facing towards the ground as well as the base slab need to be able to breathe. So, attaching MDF directly to the wall seems like a bad idea - is that correct? The floor is ventilated with plenum flooring, with exhaust air ducts mounted below the floor and a gap against the walls all around for circulation.
If the concrete walls require an air gap to the MDF paneling, I have a few questions on the best way to proceed:
1. Is it enough to use steel studs against the concrete and mount OSB+panel (possibly plasterboard) on top, or is anything else necessary?
2. Is passive ventilation sufficient, or should a fan be installed somewhere?
3. Does it work to adhere and glue the steel studs to the concrete, or must each stud be fastened with plugs and screws?
4. Do even concrete walls between rooms in the basement need to breathe, or only walls facing the street?
5. For those who have renovated basements before, does this sound like a reasonable project for a handy amateur, or am I in over my head?
Thanks in advance!
1. YesH Hemmameckarn said:Hi,
An association I am part of is considering renovating a basement space of about 80 sqm. The goal is to do something about the white-painted concrete walls and create a warmer feeling in the room. The hope is to keep costs down by having the members (read: myself) do a large portion of the work themselves. The association is the sole owner of the property.
One idea that has been suggested is to cover the walls with a beadboard panel in MDF (e.g. [link]). I am not very experienced in carpentry underground, but I understand that the concrete walls that face the ground and the slab need to breathe. Placing MDF directly against the wall, therefore, seems like a bad idea - is that correctly understood? The floor is a ventilated Platon floor, with exhaust channels mounted under the floor and a gap along the walls all around for circulation.
If the concrete walls require an air gap to the MDF panel, I have a few questions about how to best proceed:
1. Is it sufficient to frame with steel studs against the concrete and mount OSB+panel (possibly gypsum) on top, or is something else required?
2. Is passive ventilation enough, or should a fan be installed somewhere?
3. Is it okay to glue and a few screws for the steel studs to the concrete, or must each stud be fastened with a plug and screw?
4. Do interior concrete walls in basements also need to breathe, or only walls that face the street?
5. For those who have renovated basements before, does this sound like a reasonable project for a handy amateur, or do I risk getting in over my head?
Thanks in advance!
2. Passive is enough.
3. Glue, plus 1-2 screws are fine.
4. Yes, even interior walls.
5. You can handle it if you are reasonably handy.
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