Wood Wall Techniques

Corners

• Carpenters use two techniques for the inside corners and outside corners of wood-framed walls. Inside corners, where partition walls meet, need three studs, typically 2-by-4s, connected to each other to form a strong, unified framing member. Outside corners, the corners that involve the exterior walls, need one stud at the end of one wall and three studs facing each other at the end of the other, creating a corner that contains 4 studs in total.

Doors and Windows

• The openings in doors for walls and windows should measure no more than 1/2 inch to 1/4 inch wider than the unit that will be installed. Making the opening wider than this leads to excessive shimming, using small wooden pieces to fill in gaps. Too much shimming may weaken the connection between the wall and the opening for the unit. The manufacturer of the door or window should give you the appropriate measurements in the paperwork that accompanies the unit.

Headers

• Headers, the wooden pieces at the top of the framing for the door and windows units, consist of two sections of dimensional lumber with a 1/2-inch-thick block of plywood in between. After the lumber, usually 2-by-4s, has been cut to size, you cut the plywood piece to fit and nail all three pieces together with 12 12d nails. Proper spacing for the nails is 12 to 16 inches apart.

Larger Lumber

• Although wooden walls in residential construction usually consist of 2-by-4 lumber, in some cases, builders use 2-by-6s instead. The larger size of the 2-by-6 provides greater space in the wall cavities. An exterior wall framed with 2-by-6s gives builders more room to install insulation between the studs. The larger size also comes into play when you need space for plumbing pipes in areas of the house such as kitchens and bathrooms.