How to Join Sill Plates Together

Sill plates are the pieces of lumber that serve as the connection between the foundation of a building and the first floor or knee wall. Installation of these plates involves a collaboration between the contractor in charge of pouring the foundation and the carpenter in charge of framing the structure. When the foundation is poured, anchor bolts are inserted into the cement and become stuck in place once the concrete sets. The carpenter then puts a sill plate over the bolts and tightens it into place. In some instances, though, the span is too great for one piece of lumber so the sill plates need to be joined.

Hammer
Nails
Saw
Sill sealer
Washers
Nuts
Nail gun (optional)
Socket wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Mark where the sill plates should be placed on top of the foundation. Use the 3-4-5 method to make sure they will be square when installed.
- 2
  Install a layer of sill sealer on the foundation. Use pressure or a utility knife to poke holes where the anchor bolts are located.
- 3
  Transfer the locations of the anchor bolts onto the sill plates and then drill holes so the plates will be able to rest over the bolts and flat onto the foundation.
- 4
  Drop the boards into place, butting the sill plates against each other in the corners and on spans where one board is not long enough. Measure carefully so the gap between the boards is minimal.
- 5
  Toe-nail the pieces of sill plates together so they are attached as one continuous piece. Use either a hammer and nail or a nail gun to nail from one board into the other at an angle. Toe-nail from each side possible: that would be four nails on a span and three nails in a corner.
- 6
  Finish installation of the sill plates by attaching placing washers over the bolts and securing the plates into place with nuts tightened down over the washers.

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