Nailing a Sole Plate to the Floor

Sole plates are typically two-by-four studs. They are used to secure walls, panels, island peninsula cabinets or anything that requires permanent attachment to the floor. When walls are framed for new homes, vertical studs are typically nailed to the sole plate before the frame is raised and attached. If the sole plate is nailed to the floor first, the studs are then nailed to the sole plate using a toenail angle. Other sole plate applications are for cabinets or built-in furniture, using the sole plate as an anchor to join the unit to the face or sides of the plate.

Miter saw
Chalk line
Hammer
16d nails, 3 1/2-inch

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the floor where you wish to place the sole plate to determine the length. Cut the sole plate to length using a miter saw.
- 2
  Stretch a chalk line along the floor indicating the length and position of the sole plate.
- 3
  Mark each floor joist on the chalk line. Recognize the floor joists by parallel rows of nails in the subfloor running perpendicular under the chalk line. If the sole plate is to be positioned on top of a joist running parallel underneath the sole plate, you do not need to mark the floor joists. In this instance, mark the sole plate every 16 inches for nails.
- 4
  Place the sole plate on the floor and align it with the chalk line. Use a hammer to drive two 16d nails (16 penny) vertically through the sole plate 3/4 inch from each side at each mark.

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