Things You'll Need:
- 6 mil thick plastic sheeting
- Construction adhesive
- Pressure treated 2-by-4 lumber
- Wood shims
- Carpenter's level
- Powder actuated nail gun and galvanized nails
- Rigid foam insulation
- Oriented strand board
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Step 1
Thoroughly clean the basement floor by sweeping and vacuuming with a shop vac.
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Step 2
Lay the 6 mil thick plastic on the basement floor. The plastic should also go up the walls by about 4 to 6 inches. Use construction adhesive to adhere the plastic to the foundation walls. If it is necessary to piece together enough plastic to fit the room, secure the seams with construction adhesive.
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Step 3
Install pressure-treated 2-by-4 lumber on their wide, flat side around the perimeter of the room. Secure them to the concrete floor using a powder actuated nail gun.
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Step 4
Lay out the pressure-treated 2-by-4 lumber with the larger side face down on the concrete. Space the 2 by 4's 16 inches apart on center. This means that it should measure exactly 16 inches from the center of one 2 by 4 to the center of the next 2 by 4. Use shims under any boards where the concrete floor is lower than the surrounding area. Periodically use a carpenter's level to ensure that the grid of 2-by-4 lumber is level.
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Step 5
Install rigid foam insulation between the 2 by 4's.
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Step 6
Install oriented strand board as your new, higher basement floor. Attach the OSB to the 2 by 4's using the nail gun.











