Learn How to Build a Wall

You may end up with a remodeling project that involves learning how to build a wall in the interior of your home or another similar building. Building a nonbearing interior wall is actually a relatively easy process. If you have basic carpentry skills and a good set of working tools, then you are already halfway there. Here is how to build a wall in your home:

- Plan to peel away surface materials so that you can provide for secure attachment of your wall at the top, the bottom and the ends of the wall. If you cannot butt the wall into studs at the connecting wall, or if the wall does not fall directly beneath a joist in the ceiling, then you need to plan on installing nailing blocks between each framing piece when learning how to build a wall.

- To begin, you should mark the new wall's center line along the ceiling. At each end of this line, you should measure and mark half of the width of the top plate of the new wall in one direction. Place a stud at each of the ends from the end meeting the wall.

- On the floor you should lay the top plate and the bottom plate side by side, carefully measuring where each of the wall studs is going to do. Mark each with a perpendicular line across each plate. Make sure to use a combination square or similar measuring tool to ensure that the studs will align perfectly upon installation.

- Next you should locate the ceiling joists. Hold the top plate in position along the guide that you marked in the ceiling, nailing it in place using 3.5 inch nails.

- The next step is to hang a plumb bob from each of the top plate's ends up on the ceiling, marking the floor to establish where the bottom plate should rest below the top plate. Snap a chalk line along the floor between these marks to use as a guide for the edge of the bottom plate. Nail the plate into place using 3 inch nails, staggering them and spacing them out to every 16 inches or so.

- Now use stud framing clips to install each of the wall studs. Lift each of the studs into position, lining them up with their marks. Check plumb using a carpenter's level, and then nail each one into place.

- Where one wall intersects with another wall, you should double up on studs to receive the intersecting wall properly. If the wall turns a corner, you should frame it with two full length studs with blocks sandwiched in between them. Alternatively, you can also toenail each of the studs to the bottom and the top plates using 2.5 inch nails for good results.

These are the first steps to learning how to build a wall. From this point, you need to make some decisions about the type of wall you want to build before you proceed much further.

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Originally posted 2009-01-06 05:36:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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