Do It Yourself Carpentry Framing Additions

Framing Walls

• 1

  Cut the top and bottom plates based on the wall’s intended width. Use 2x4-inch stud-grade lumber. Place the two boards together and mark off every 16 inches.

• 2

  Cut the studs, which fit between the top and bottom plates. Make the length of the studs the total height of the wall minus 4 1/2 inches to compensate for the combined thickness of the bottom plate and double top plate.

• 3

  Assemble the wall on the floor. Place a stud between the ends of the top and bottom plates. Secure the studs in place with 16d nails. Install the other studs.

• 4

  Create a double top plate by securing 2x4-inch lumber on top. Measure diagonally, from corner to corner, to ensure the wall is square. Make adjustments until the measurement matches.

• 5

  Raise the wall and bolt it to the foundation with concrete anchor bolts. Brace the walls in place with 2x4 inch lumber until completion of the roof structure.

Window and Doors

• 6

  Build the rough openings for windows and doors according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Begin framing the rough opening for the window or door at the king studs – the last full-length stud – extending from bottom plate to top plate on each side of the rough opening.

• 7

  Nail 2x4-inch blocks between each king stud and adjoining stud. The wooden blocks provide extra strength for the opening.

• 8

  Cut two boards to fabricate the header. The header supports the weight above the opening and forms the upper edge of the rough opening. Use 2x4-inch lumber for openings up to 4-feet wide, 6-inch lumber for 6-foot openings and 8-inch lumber for 8-foot openings. Make the width of the header boards the width of the rough opening plus 3 inches. Cut a piece of plywood and insert it between the two boards and nail it all together with 10d nails.

• 9

  Measure the sill -- the bottom edge of the rough opening. Secure the sill between the king studs. Measure the area from the bottom edge of the header to the upper surface of the sill. Cut two trimmers to this length out of 2x4-inch boards. Secure a trimmer to the king stud on each side to form the exact dimensions of the rough opening.

• 10

  Measure the area from the top edge of the header to the top plate. Cut cripples (short lengths of studs) and install them. Install cripples from the bottom edge of the sill to the bottom plate. Follow these basic techniques for framing the door, but without the sill and cripples component when framing doors.

Roof

• 11

  Check the wall with a carpenter’s level to ensure it is straight and plumb. Frame the roof structure with trusses. Trusses are triangular-shaped components design to support the roof and their loads, such as roofing shingles or snow.

• 12

  Mark the position of the trusses on the top plates - 24-inches on center. Secure the first truss to the end. Nail it to the top plate with 16d nails. Place the remaining trusses in place and secure.

• 13

  Place the carpenter’s level against each truss to ensure a straight and plumb fit. Install additional bracing as planned in the design.