Basement Storage

How To Build A Closet

If you can afford the room, build a minimum size closet of 2-½ feet by 6 feet. (3’x 6’is even better). For this purpose though, I will use a 2 feet deep by 4 feet wide closet construction and diagrams. Basically the framing method is the same for all dimensions.

Assuming that the room is square (see framing basement walls) lets build a corner closet.

Start by building the face of the closet, then the side. The face of the closet framing should be 4 feet .The side of the closet wall should be 2 feet three and a half inches wide, from the room wall to the outside of the closet face.

The rough opining for the bifold closet doors must be at least 2 inches wider then the bi fold closet doors This extra width will allow for the drywall and a ½ inch extra to allow the bifold closet doors to open and close. The height of the rough opening will depend on the type of flooring to be installed and the height of the basement floor to the main floor joists . Leave a minimum of 3 inches from the height of the closet bi fold doors to be on the save side.

Cutting The stock.1) cut two pieces of 2”x 4”x 4 feet long for the top and bottom plates of the closet front. (use pressure treated lumber for the bottom plates if they are to be laid on a cement floor).

2) cut eight pieces of 2”x 4”x the distance from the floor to the bottom of the main floor joists less 3-1/4”ins. (cut the studs a ¼ of an inch shorter so that the framing wall will fit easier without having to use a heavy hammer).

3) cut two pieces of 2”x 4” to the height of the bi fold doors plus the height of the finished floor plus 2’’ inch for clearance. (These are for the jack studs).

4) cut two pieces of 2”x 4”x 29 inches long, for the header.

5) start by framing the face of the closet. (Go to Basement Walls for instructions on how to frame wall with and with out an opening).