Building a temporary wall

If you have a concrete slab you need to float the wall. This is a must to meat code. It also allows the floor to move up without destroying your house.

Good Luck.

Michael

Meet code

Michael

Vegasears,

In my area Colorado depending on where you are at the float has to be 1.5 to 3 inches.

Vegasears,

Having been a carpenter. I have the 97 UBC at my fingertips as that is what we used to use here. We may now be using the IBC I dont know as I have since moved on to a desk job. The nice thing about using steel studs for basement framing and a floating wall situation is they make a special track, the bottom section ramsets to the floor and the top section gets screwed into the studs. If I remember correctly there is a spring mechanism between the two plates. Having never used this piticular construction method. I have always framed in wood for basement construction except for steel soffits.

It is not about the fact that it is a non-bearing wall. The float is required because of expansive soils. It allows the concrete floor to move up and down without basement walls stressing the house above them.

Michael