How to Frame a Recessed Refrigerator

Design your kitchen with a false wall. If you are remodeling your kitchen, you can simply design a second wall in front of the existing refrigerator wall. This wall will recess to the existing wall at your refrigerator area.

Measure the size of your new recessed refrigerator. Add 3 inches to your width measurement. Measure your depth from the hinge to the back. With most refrigerators, you will need 4 to 6 inches of additional depth.

Turn off the electricity to the wall. Remove the outlet covers and use a test light to ensure the wires are dead. Remove the outlets, then spread and wire nut the ends of the electrical wires to keep them apart.

Measure 6 inches from the existing wall. Draw a line on the subfloor that is parallel with the existing wall. Mark the width of the refrigerator and draw lines at a 90 degree angle from the new wall to the old wall.

Measure the length of the left section of your new wall. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch board to this length. These are your top and bottom plates. Lay the boards flat on the floor. Make an X mark on the face of each plate at each end. These X marks indicate the location of studs and all walls have studs on each end. Align the ends. Hook the measuring tape over the end of the boards. Measure 16 inches. Subtract 3/4 inch or half the thickness of a 2-by-4-inch board and mark. You will notice that your 16 inch mark is red on the tape. Continue to 32 inches, subtract 3/4 inch and mark. Continue measuring every 16 inches across the plate, subtracting 3/4 inch before marking.

Place the thin side of your framing square on your 15 1/4 inch mark. The thin side of your square is the exact thickness of a 2-by-4 board. Place the square so that the thin side is across the boards at your mark. The fatter side should be away from the ends of the board and aligned with the long side of the plate holding the square straight. Draw a line for your studs on either side of the thin side of the square and across both plates. Mark an X between your two lines showing where the stud will be positioned. Continue across the plates.

Place the two plates on top of each other. Position your measuring tape on the top of the boards. Run the tape up the wall to the ceiling. This is the height of your studs. Cut the number of studs you need. Nail two studs together in an L-shape for your outside corner where the new wall will turn and go toward the existing wall.

Position your two plates on their 2-inch long side with your marks facing inward. Place your stud corner at the corner where the fridge will be. Align the ends. Nail through the bottom plate into the ends of the studs. Use two nails for every stud end. Nail through the top plate the same way. Place all of your studs between the plates with the curved side of the studs upward. Align your studs with your drawn lines on your plates and nail the studs and plates together. Complete your entire wall, all the way to the end.

Stand up your wall and fit it into place. Nail your new wall to the side wall. Nail the new wall to your ceiling joists and to the subfloor at your floor joist locations. Repeat this with your right side wall. Finish by measuring, cutting and nailing two small plates between your two walls along with a stud flush against your existing wall on each side.