How to Frame Two Walls

When framing for two walls that will come together to form a corner, the job is almost as simple as building two separate wall frames, then joining them together. However, since the drywall needs to hang from both frames, you must add a little bit of extra surface area at the corner -- if you were to just build two frames next to each other, you would lose one of the end studs from one of the frames. This is easily fixed by adding extra studs to one of the frames.

Measuring tape
2-by-4 lumber pressure-treated
2-by-4 lumber
Saw
Chalk line
Concrete screws
Drill
Laser level
Wood screws
Level
Framing nails

Instructions

- 1
  Measure along the bottom of one of the two walls. This will give you the length of the bottom plate. Repeat the process for the top of the wall. Use the bottom measurement to cut down a piece of pressure-treated 2-by-4 lumber. Use the top measurement to cut a piece of regular 2-by-4 lumber.
- 2
  Snap a chalk line down about 1/2 inch from the wall. Place the bottom plate along this line and secure it in place with concrete screws. Place a laser level on top of the plate and aim it at the ceiling to indicate where the top plate will need to go.
- 3
  Install the top plate to the ceiling joists with wood screws. Measure along the bottom plate and mark it every 16 inches with a straight edge. This will give you the placement for all of the studs.
- 4
  Measure from the bottom plate to the top plate to get the length of the studs. Cut 2-by-4 lumber to make the studs.
- 5
  Install three studs at the end where this wall will meet the other to form a corner. Check each stud with a level before driving nails. The studs must abut each other -- install the first stud by toe-nailing it with three framing nails at each end, then nail the second stud to the first and the third to the second. Stagger the nails so they don't hit each other.
- 6
  Install one stud at the opposite end of the top and bottom plates. Install a stud at each marking you made earlier. Check all of the studs with a level before driving framing nails through each one. Repeat until all of the studs have been installed.
- 7
  Measure from the three abutting studs to get the length of the second wall. Repeat the process you used to build the first wall frame, but only place one stud on each end -- you don't need three for the end that will make the corner.

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