How to Frame a Basement Support Post

With the right tools and a little carpentry experience, it's easy to frame a basement support post.

Many basements have metal columns, called Lally columns, which provide structural support for the floors above. These support posts are very effective at supporting heavy loads, but they aren't very attractive. If you're remodeling or finishing your basement, you may decide to frame around the support posts to hang drywall or paneling for a finished look. It's not difficult to frame a support post, but it does require some preparation and experience with carpentry.

Things You'll Need

• Framing square
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Pressure treated 2-by-4-inch lumber
• Saw
• Concrete nails
• Hammer
• 2-by-4-inch lumber
• Level
• Framing nails

Instructions

1. Decide what size frame you want to build around the support post. Use a framing square to draw a square the size of the finished frame on the floor around the post.

2. Cut two pieces of treated 2-by-4-inch lumber the same length as the sides of the square. Lay the pieces on opposite sides of the post with the ends and outer edge of the lumber lined up with the pencil marks. Fasten the pieces of lumber to the floor by driving concrete nails through the lumber while holding it in place.

3. Cut two pieces of the treated lumber to fit on the other sides of the square, between the longer side pieces. Place the pieces in the spaces between the first two boards with the outer edges lined up with the pencil marks. Secure the pieces with concrete nails.

4. Cut four pieces of the untreated lumber long enough to reach from the treated square on the floor to the ceiling joists. Stand one of the pieces on a corner of the treated square.

5. Drive a framing nail at a 45-degree angle through the edge of the upright, into the treated square on the floor. Drive another nail at a 45-degree angle through the front of the upright into the treated square.

6. Use a level to make sure that the upright is plumb, and then nail the top end of the upright to the joists. Use blocking to attach the uprights to the joists if they don't align properly. Repeat this process for the other three corners of the frame.

7. Cover the frame with drywall or paneling and paint it to match the rest of the room.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're planning to mount switches or receptacles on the frame, be sure to make the frame wide enough and deep enough to accommodate wire boxes. Chalk a straight line along the floor to square multiple posts to. This will help you make sure that all the frames have the same orientation. If you have access to a hammer drill, masonry screws can make the installation easier.

• Concrete nails can shatter or throw chips of concrete. Always wear eye protection when driving them. When nailing the framing to the joists, be careful to avoid hitting wires or plumbing with the nails.

References

• Finish a Basement.com: How to Frame Basement Poles
• Finish a Basement.com: Framing Support Poles
• Google Books: "Smart Guide: Basements: Step-by-Step Projects"; Mark Freier; 2003
• HomeTime.com: Lower Level Framing
• "The Family Handyman Magazine"; How to Finish a Basement: Framing and Insulating; May 2004
• Home Addition Plus; Boxing in Lally Columns; Mark J. Donovan; 2011