How to Frame Walls With Rafters on Top
- 1). Lay out the top and bottom plate side by side along the edge of the floor. These 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 boards will serve as the bottom and top horizontal members of the wall frame. Lifting the wall segments into place requires at least two people, even for the shortest wall segments. Build 10- or 12-foot segments if you have a crew of two or three people. Larger crews can handle longer segments.
- 2). Mark the locations of the studs on the top and bottom plate. If the boards are side-by-side with the ends aligned then both plates can be marked at the same time, saving time and making the marks more accurate. Mark the distance between studs the same as the distance between the rafters. If the wall studs are 16 inches apart, the rafters must also be 16 inches apart. Each rafter should rest on top of a stud.
- 3). Turn the plates on the edge and space them apart to accommodate the studs. Nail through the plates into the ends of the studs to fasten the studs in place. Use two 16d nails at each end of the stud. Precut studs are available from lumberyards and home improvement stores. Builders can also cut construction-grade lumber to the proper length.
- 4). Build headers by nailing together two 2-by-6 or 2-by-8 boards to make a beam to fit over any doors or windows in the wall. Place short studs under the ends of the header to support the header. If the header does not extend to the top plate, place short studs between the header and top plate. This combination of headers and studs supports the rafter when a door or window prohibits placing the rafter directly over a stud.
- 5). Set the wall in place. Nail through the bottom plate into the floor joists with 16d nails. Use temporary braces to hold the wall studs vertical. Place a second top plate over top of the original top plate, avoiding placing any ends of the boards within 4 feet of each other. Nail in place with 16d nails through the top of the double plate. Have at least one worker hold the stud wall upright while other crew members nail the bottom plate and braces in place.
- 6). Mark the locations of the rafters on top of the double plate. These marks should be properly spaced, according to the plans, and directly above a stud or header.
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