We are framing a walk out basement wall for my mothers sectional home. The wall is a partition wall because there are posts on the inside of the basement set in from the wall that bear the load of the trailor. I believe that it would be alright to frame it as a non bearing wall and just use the double 2x4's with cripple studs for headers over door and windows. Now if this were an interior wall I would know this was the way to do it.But as it is an exterior wall, and I cant think of any other sort of exterior wall that wouldnt be load-bearing, I wonder if there is some weird thing in the code books about all exterior wall headers being 2-2x12s or something. We have to have it inspected, as it is in town. The inspector is a pain anyway(I know him from being our tax assessor and we wont even go there on this thread.)

The other thing that I am wondering is that on the footing -at the bottom of the wall I imagine there will be anchor bolts to secure the wall. What do we use on the ends of the wall-the vertical portion to secure it to the vertical end of the basement wall. Do we drive in concrete spikes or is there some sort of bolt there too? I framed a house, but didnt have a walk out to deal with-havent learned that yet. Thanks for the help, Tami in WI

-- Tami Bowser (windridg@chorus.net), August 03, 2000

Answers

Building codes are there for a reason - so you don't repeat the mistakes of other. They are an absolute minimum, so it is OK to overbuild. Headers normally have plywood between the boards so they match the width of the wall. If anchor bolts weren't put in when the slab was poured, a common practice is to use a large nail gun which uses .22 blanks to fire bolts into the concrete. Another method is to drill holes and then use special bolts which tighten in the hole as they are snugged up. Don't try to scrimp on a foundation wall. Question I've wondered about. How will the units be placed on top of the completed foundation?

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), August 03, 2000.

Ken, when they put the sections on they bring out some machine that they put up next to the foundation and roll them into place across the top of the foundation.

They did put anchor bolts on the bottom of the wall or rather on the top of the frost wall. I am wondering about the ends of the wall where they meet the concrete walls. Are you still anchoring them with the bolts, to join frame wall to concrete wall? Thanks, Tami in WI

-- Tami Bowser (windridg@chorus.net), August 03, 2000.

As a civil engineer, I know that many codes are written to keep the lecherous lawyers away. (Sorry, lecherous lawyers!). Anyway, you probably have no problem. However, e-mail direct, and we can get more specific. If you prefer, I will give you my phone #, and we can discuss it, should you desire. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 03, 2000.

Go to the library,get the uniform building code book, or request it from the inspector to borrow briefly.In it you'll find all your answers.

-- Dan Urban (lyndadan@cyberhighway.net), August 07, 2000.