I realized that I framed my basement using Douglas Fir lumber for the bottom sill plates instead of pressure treated wood, which is not ideal for moisture-prone areas. I'm trying to figure out what my best options are to correct this mistake. I'm considering cutting 2 inches off all the walls to add a double sill plate or maybe demoing the walls to redo just the bottom sill. Another idea was to remove the nails, raise the sill plate a half inch, and put foam underneath. Since I used powder actuated nails for everything, I'm also curious about the best way to remove those. I've heard there might be some kind of liquid sealer I could apply as well, but I still need to pass an inspection from the city. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
For the nails, a Sawzall should do the trick! Just remember, regular lumber could soak up moisture and start to rot, so be careful. I have kid walls in my basement that were framed similarly, and somehow they're still holding strong after many years, even in a not-so-dry area.