How to Nail a Wall to Concrete

Finishing a basement will add comfortable ambiance to the area and add value to a home. Covering the cement with drywall allows for the addition of insulation and makes an area feel more like a finished room as opposed to a prison cell. Attaching a wall to concrete requires the use of furring strips -- boards attached to the concrete in vertical strips. Putting drywall over concrete takes some preparation but will dramatically change the look and feel of an unfinished basement .

Measuring tape
1-by-3-inch boards
Drill
Carbide masonry bit
Heavy-duty vacuum with hose
Concrete screws
Screwdriver
Hammer
Drywall nails

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the 1-by-3-inch furring strips to the height of the concrete wall. Place them on the floor along the wall 16 inches apart. You will create vertical stripes along the wall with the pieces of wood, each stripe 16 inches from the previous.
- 2
  Drill holes every 24 inches from top to bottom along where each strip will go. Each hole should be about 1 1/2 inches deep. Use a carbide masonry bit on the drill to get through the concrete.
- 3
  Vacuum out each hole thoroughly before proceeding. Excess debris weakens the hold between the concrete and the new wall.
- 4
  Attach the furring strips to the concrete with the concrete screws. If you use screws that come with anchors, put the anchor through the wood as well to create a strong bond.
- 5
  Nail the drywall to the furring strips using 1-inch drywall nails. You can use drywall screws and a screwdriver if you prefer. Then tape, mud and finish the wall as desired.

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Walls