man cutting the grass
Floating walls are walls built to move slightly when the floor or ceiling within the space expands or contracts. Although it looks like any other type of wall, a floating wall is equipped with plates along the bottom of the frame. The plates allow the structure to move slightly up or down to accommodate contraction or expansion without creating cracks in the wall surface. Such a wall is often used in basements or other spaces where a concrete slab is used for the floor.
In all situations, the floating wall is never a bearing wall. Instead, their function is usually to properly enclose an area of space for aesthetic purposes. The surface of the wall can match that found in the load-bearing walls of the room and will not be detected by all except professionals who know how to distinguish a strong wall from any other type of construction.
When learning how to build a floating wall, one of the first steps is to understand how the wall can adapt to changes that affect the ceiling and floor. To allow for any expansion or contraction that may occur at the top of the bottom points where the wall connects to the floor or ceiling, two horizontal plates are used in the floating wall construction. The plates are normally located at the bottom of the wall and have the ability to adapt to any changes caused by weather or humidity. The plates adjust along with the contraction or expansion activity of the ceiling or floor, without causing any structural or cosmetic damage to the wall itself.
It’s often a good idea to build a floating wall when building any space that has a concrete floor. As the concrete changes slightly with changing weather, the wall continues to provide buoyant support to the roof, even as contractions slightly shift the floor. Thus, the wall is always in direct contact with the floor and the ceiling, regardless of the level of humidity or ambient temperature. This makes the use of the wall especially useful in areas like garages or basements where concrete floors are common.
Both the garage and the floating basement wall are both practical and decorative. They provide an enclosure for the space, giving the area a finished look. The walls can be equipped with shelves and storage racks, which makes it easy to organize the items stored in the space. In terms of practical use, as well as the ability to paint, wallpaper, or even veneer a floating wall, a floating basement wall is as versatile as any load-bearing wall.
