How to Frame a Corner in a Basement

Lay two 2-by-4 boards on a flat surface with their short ends lined up. Measure 1-1/2 inches from the boards' non-corner ends. Hold a carpenter's square across both at the measurement mark and draw a straight line. Place an X between each board's end and the line on both boards. These X marks indicate a wall stud placement.

Measure 16 inches from the boards' non-corner ends and make another mark. Draw a line across both boards. Measure 1-1/2 inches from the line and make a second line across both boards. Place an X between the two lines on both boards.

Continue to measure along both boards and place an X mark every 16 inches until you can no longer measure 16 inches between marks. Measure 4-1/2 inches from the boards' corner ends. Draw a line across the boards. Measure 3 inches from the boards' corner ends and draw a second line. Measure 1-1/2 inches from the boards' corner ends and draw a third line. Place an X inside each of these rectangles.

Measure the room's height, from subfloor to ceiling joists, and subtract 3 inches to allow room for the top and bottom plates. Transfer this measurement to the wall studs; you will need one wall stud for each X mark. Cut the wall studs to the appropriate length with a circular saw.

Separate the two boards with the X marks and lay the wall studs between them, with the wall studs' ends lined up with the X marks. You will have three wall studs right next to each other on the corner ends. Hammer 2-inch nails through the plates and into the wall studs' ends to hold them in place.

Lift the wall up and move it to its permanent location. Hold a level against the wall frame and adjust it so it is plumb. Hammer 3-inch nails through the top plate and into each ceiling joist then hammer 3-inch nails through the bottom plate and into the subfloor, approximately 16 inches apart.

Mark wall studs onto two more 2-by-4 boards the same way you marked the wall studs on the previous boards. However, this time you do not need three wall studs on the boards' corner ends, just one.

Cut enough wall studs for each X mark. Lay the boards between the top and bottom plates and nail them in place. Lift the wall up. Position the corner end tight against the three wall studs on the other wall's corner end.

Hold the level against the wall and nail it to the ceiling joists and the subfloor.