Hi,

I'm finishing my basement and am unsure how to deal with the area at the base of the stairs. This is a multi-step question.

1) The porch has leaked into the basement once when I powerwashed outside so I think I should put some kind of waterproofing or sealer before anything else - any suggestions? I've already had an interior weeping system installed due to seepage elsewhere.

2) The ceiling/porch slab drops down 2 inches lower than the rest of the space. The ceiling is only 6'9" so I can't bring the rest of the ceiling down to make is flush. I'm guessing I'll need some kind of decorative molding to cover the transition- has anyone dealt with this before?

3) The slab is cement so I can't put drywall directly on it. Some kind of super thin thermal break...? And how to fasten it - construction adhesive or...? (Someone sprayfoamed around the edge at one point.)

4) Will the drywall be sufficiently secured in place if it is only held in place along the edges? I'm thinking once the thermal break is in place I'll make some kind of frame around the outside edges. Or will I need to drill into the cement in the middle to keep it from sagging?

5) You can see I stopped framing once I came to this area. I guess I'll have to drill the header into the slab? And the along the wall where the stairs are, there's only 2 inches to the inside edge of the stringer so no room for 2x4s. I guess furring strips with the stair stringer as the baseplate. And I'll somehow use that bit of molding along the top as a header. I can put a gasket to keep the furring strips off the cement and maybe get some styrofoam as insulation for that area. (The rest of the basement is getting Rockwool.) Suggestions welcomed!

Whew - sorry to bombard you with some many questions!