How to Start Framing a Wall

Layout

• 1

  Mark the position of one of the wall's ends on the floor with a pencil; to lay out the wall, you will mark a rectangle on the subfloor to represent the shape and position of the wall's bottom plate. The first mark represents one corner of the wall's bottom plate; determine which corner the mark will represent. Stretch a tape measure across the floor, beginning from the first corner mark. Use the tape measure to mark the position of the wall's opposite corner.

• 2

  Pull a chalk snap line from one mark to the other. Position the snap line directly over both marks and stretch the line taut. Pull the line away from the floor and release, or "snap," the line against the floor to create chalk line that runs straight through both marks; this line represents one side of the wall.

• 3

  Align a framing square's heel with one of the corner marks. The term "heel" refers to the outside corner of the L-shaped square. Align the long side of the square, called the "blade," directly over the chalk line so that the small side of the square, called the "tongue," rests precisely perpendicular to the line. Run a pencil along the outside edge of the square's tongue to lay out the end of the wall; draw the line slightly longer than the actual width of the wall. 2-by-4 walls are approximately 3 5/8-inches wide and 2-by-6 walls are approximately 5 1/2-inches wide.

• 4

  Stretch a tape measure along the line that represents the wall's end. Use a pencil to mark the second corner along the line that represents the wall's end. Remember to begin your measurement at the corner mark; you now have two sides of the rectangle. Move to the opposite end of the wall. Align the framing square with the opposite corner mark and use a pencil and tape measure to lay out a line that represents the opposite end of the wall. Mark the width of the wall along the line. You now have three sides of the rectangle.

• 5

  Stretch a chalk snap line across the fourth, unmarked side of the rectangle. Align the chalk snap line with the wall's corners. Stretch the line taut, pull the line away from the floor and release the line to lay-out the final side of the rectangle. When you raise the wall, you will place its bottom plate directly inside of the rectangle.

Framing and Raising

• 6

  Stretch a tape measure across a piece of framing lumber. Mark the length of the wall on the lumber's surface. Place a framing square over the mark, butt the square's tongue against the board's edge and align the tongue with the mark. Draw a pencil along the edge of the tongue to lay out a line across the board's width and through the mark; you will cut the board across this line. Lay out the length of the wall on a second piece of framing lumber. These two boards form the top and bottom plates of the stud wall; they are the horizontal framing members of the wall..

• 7

  Calculate the number of studs required for your walls. Studs are a wall's vertical framing members. Walls require studs every 16-inches or 24-inches, depending on design. Divide your wall's overall length by 16 or 24, according to your wall's spacing requirements. Calculate the length of your studs. The length of an individual stud equals the overall height of the wall, minus the thickness of the bottom and top plates. Most framing lumber is approximately 1 5/8-inches thick. Multiply 1 5/8-inches by 2 and subtract the product from the overall height of your wall.

• 8

  Lay out the length of the studs using a framing square and pencil. Mark the appropriate quantity of studs. Cut the framing lumber along the laid-out lines with a circular saw. Lay the top and bottom plate parallel on the floor. Lay the studs between the top and bottom plate. Position the studs perpendicular to the top and bottom plate. Use a framing square and pencil to lay out the positions where studs must attach to the top and bottom plate. They should be 16 inches or 24 inches on center.

• 9

  Fasten studs to the top and bottom plate with a framing hammer and framing nails. Raise the wall, position the wall over the laid-out rectangle and secure to the wall to the subfloor. Secure the wall to plywood subfloors with hammer and nails. Secure the subfloor to concrete slabs with concrete anchors.