How to Build a Wall Using Studs
- 1). Measure out from an existing wall to determine placement of the stud wall, using a tape measure. Mark the desired location on your ceiling with an X placed every 8 feet as needed. Consider the location of your ceiling joists while mapping the wall; you will nail the stud wall to these rafters. Run the wall either perpendicular to the rafters or parallel to a rafter. Adjust the wall location to rest directly under a parallel rafter as necessary.
- 2). Hold a two-by-four up to the ceiling and draw a straight line, connecting the marks, to represent the top of the wall. Drop a plumb bob from this line and ask a helper to mark the exact spot the plumb bob indicates on the floor with an X. Measure over every 8 feet and repeat. Draw a straight line between these marks to represent the bottom of the stud wall.
- 3). Measure the distance from the floor to the ceiling every 2 feet. Save the shortest measurement. Subtract 3 inches from this figure to represent the height of the bottom and top plates. Cut all your studs to this measurement, using a circular saw.
- 4). Place two two-by-four boards, which will be your head plate and floor plate, flat side down, together. The edges must be perfectly flush. Measure over from the edge 15 1/4 inches and mark, representing the inside edge of the second stud you will place (the first will be at the end of the plates). Use a square to extend the line through both plates.
- 5). Measure over another 16 inches to indicate the edge of the next stud and mark. Repeat every 16 inches along the wall length until done, remembering the last stud will line up flush with the pate ends.
- 6). Place the bottom plate so that the thin edge is against the floor. Line up your first stud at the beginning of the plate and use two 16d nails and a hammer or nail gun to spike through the plate and into the stud end. Repeat with each stud, lining up with the marks and securing the end of the stud to the wide side of the plate. End with a stud flush with the plate edge.
- 7). Line the top plate up with the stud ends, keeping the plate flush with the beginning and end stud already attached to the bottom plate. Nail in through the top plate, driving through the plate and into the stud ends to secure. You now have a stud wall with a top and bottom plate, along with studs spaced every 16 inches.
- 8). Lift the stud wall into place, lining it up with both the mark on the floor and the ceiling. Wedge shims underneath the wall to lift it up against the ceiling and create a snug fit, if needed. Place a level along the wall, vertically, on both the side and end of the wall. Verify it is level before securing.
- 9). Attach the wall to the floor, nailing between each stud section with two nails. Secure the wall at the top with two nails every 16 inches if your wall is running directly under a rafter; drive two nails into the rafters when the wall intersects the rafters, if your wall is perpendicular to the rafters.
- 10
Build and erect each wall similarly. Attach walls to each other by nailing through the end stud of one wall into the adjoining wall end stud, creating an L shape with the walls. Extend walls longer than 8 feet by securing the end of one wall to the beginning of the next. - 11
Measure the distance required on the header and footer for an interior door, instead of the standard 16 inches. Place studs on either side of the marks indicated (which will be the door width). Nail a header above the door opening, making it parallel to the floor and perpendicular to the studs. Secure the header to the studs on either end, nailing through the stud into the header board. - 12
door frame image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
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