How to Build a Raised Wood Floor Room Divider

Space planning in an open or large area is not an easy task. For example, if you need the living room to serve multiple functions but don't want to block a fabulous view out a wall of windows, you probably don't want to install a wall or room divider. Yet, the room is large enough to need some sort of visual separation. One method of visually dividing a space is to add raised wood floors, or platforms, to define or designate areas within a wide open interior space. A 10-foot-by-12-foot platform is appropriately sized for such a task.

Tape measure
2 12-foot-long 2-by-6-inch boards
13 10-foot-long 2-by-6-inch boards
Drill with screwdriver bit
3-inch deck screws
4 L-brackets, 4 inches long
2-inch screws
Construction glue
2 4-by-8-foot sheets of 1-inch tongue-and-groove plywood
2 4-by-4-foot pieces of 1-inch tongue-and-groove plywood
2-by-8-foot piece of 1-inch tongue-and-groove plywood
2-by-4-foot piece of 1-inch tongue-and-groove plywood

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the room. Determine the height and size of platform needed to designate an area appropriately. For example, consider designating one area of a loft or efficiency the bedroom by building a platform one step up: If you are designing around a queen size bed with a dresser and end tables, your plan should allow at least 2 feet between the bed and dresser plus 3 feet around the perimeter of the bed, meaning you'll want to create a 10-by-12-foot platform.
- 2
  Arrange the 12-foot-long 2-by-6 boards on edge, with the boards parallel and spaced 10 feet apart. Measure and mark every 24 inches on the top edge of the 12-foot boards.
- 3
  Place a 10-foot board on edge between each mark, perpendicular to the 12-foot boards. Center the 10-foot boards on the marks, then at each mark predrill four holes through the sides of the 12-foot boards and into each end of the shorter boards. Screw the boards together with 3-inch deck screws.
- 4
  Add a 4-inch L-bracket to each corner to secure the floor framework to the original floor. Secure the brackets to the floor and the platform with 2-inch screws.
- 5
  Draw a bead of construction glue along the top of the floor framework. Lay the first sheet of 4-by-8 plywood on top of the boards, parallel with the 12-foot side and aligning it in the corner. Predrill through the plywood and into the boards every 8 inches. Screw together with deck screws.
- 6
  Butt a 4-by-4-foot piece of plywood at the end of the first sheet of plywood. Align it with the corner, then predrill and screw down.
- 7
  Insert the next piece of 4-by-4-foot plywood next to the first sheet, tapping the side to fit the tongue and groove together tightly. Predrill and screw down. Add the next 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood, again tapping together, predrilling and screwing down.
- 8
  Add the 2-by-8-foot piece of plywood next to the third piece, tapping it to fit, predrilling and screwing down. Repeat with the 2-by-4-foot plywood to finish covering the 2-by-6-inch framework.
- 9
  Install carpet, engineered wood or laminate flooring on the raised platform. Wood or laminate flooring should be installed perpendicular to the plywood subfloor. Glue and nail a step nose to the edge of the raised floor to create a finished edge.

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