A floating wall is a type of basement wall construction where the walls do not sit directly on the foundation.
Floating walls, particularly common in basements, are designed differently from standard load-bearing or partition walls. The term "floating" refers to a specific construction method: the basement walls do not sit directly on the foundation. Instead, they are hung from the first-floor joists above.
Key Characteristics of Floating Walls
Based on their construction, floating walls have distinct features:
- Detached from Foundation: Unlike typical walls, they have a gap at the bottom and are not anchored to the basement floor or foundation slab.
- Hung from Above: Support comes from being hung from the first-floor joists.
- Anchored to a Floor Plate: They are anchored to a floor plate, often using extra large, 60D nails.
This method of construction is often used in areas where soil expansion and contraction could potentially lift a standard wall, causing damage. The gap at the bottom allows the floor to move slightly without pushing up on the wall structure.
In summary: A floating wall in a basement is a non-load-bearing wall that is suspended from the floor joists above and anchored at the bottom plate with specific fasteners, rather than resting directly on the foundation or floor slab.
