Nailing Hardware To Sill Plate of Foundation
Hi!
We hired a helper who built “Closetmaid” or “Elfa” type shelving in the interior of our new basement. Unfortunately, the person screwed the top horizontal bar of the shelving directly to the sill plate of the foundation on that side of the wall. The foundation wall is concrete block. This horizontal bar is made of metal, and has screw holes in the center of each bar. The bar supports the vertical “standards” to which the shelf hardware is attached.
I have never seen anything attached to the side of a sill plate in this manner, and I’m worried that the screws have damaged the sill plate. Can moisture get in where the screws penetrate the side of the sill plate and cause the wood to swell? What effect would the eventual weight of items put on the shelving have on the sill plate?
The same helper proposes to screw the vertical “standards” of the shelving directly to the bare concrete block. I think that furring strips should be screwed to the concrete block, and then plywood or OSB should be screwed to the furring strips. Then the shelving should be entirely mounted on the plywood or OSB surface. Would either method work? Is one method better than the other?
I will try to post a photo showing my problem.
Thanks very much for any advice.
Bob Cochran
Greenbelt, Maryland
Replies
I can't see any problem with screwing to the sill plate like that. And drilling holes in the CMU and driving anchors for the verticals is legitimate.
But if you want everything on furring then that's your call (assuming you're paying for it.)
don't see any apparent problems
Your basement appears largely unfinished and your CMU wall and sill do not appear to be compromised with the shelving system work shown here. A few track fastening screws aren't going to have any effect on the bearing capacity of your sill plate and those screws and the inside edge of sill are not going to be seeing any weather from the inside (one should hope).
I believe what your helper has done (and proposes to do) is fine as long as appropriate fasteners that coordinate with hardware, base material, and loading conditions are used. I suggest using stainless steel for shelving ledger if your sill is P.T. Whatever you do, don't allow the use of regular drywall screws.
Bob
no problem with the current method, however
as has been mentioned, no drywall screws and that's what appears to have been used.
Many Thanks!
Many thanks to all of you for your thoughts. You have put my fears to rest. I will tell the helper he can't use drywall screws.
Bob