The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Building a wall adds privacy, dampens sounds, and redefines spaces.
Do-it-yourselfers who may not consider themselves experienced can build a wall by taking the project step by careful step.
Alternatively, it can be placed parallel to and on top of a beam or joist.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
If the floor is concrete, any point on the concrete is solid for an interior wall.
Mark Stud Locations on the Plates
Mark the intended stud locations on the top and bottom plates.
Put two two-by-fours against each other.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Place a short scrap piece of two-by-four at each end and mark these spots.
Finally, mark five positions between the outside marks.
The marks should be 16 inches apart, on-center.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Tip
Stud positions may vary slightly after the plates are installed.
Drive the nails by hand directly through the two-by-four.
The nails should make contact with a joist or beam.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
For concrete floors, use apowder-actuated nail gunto attach a pressure-treated two-by-four directly to the concrete.
If the two-by-four is slightly bent, it can be used.
Just be sure to install it with the curve facing up.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Fasten the Top Plate to the Ceiling
The top plate must be directly above the bottom plate.
It must be connected across perpendicular ceiling joists or directly on one joist.
Use thelaser-levelplumb function to ensure that the top plate is directly above the bottom plate.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Nail the top plate into place.
Measure and Cut the Studs
Cut the vertical studs with theelectric miter saw.
Begin with one stud at the end.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Measure between the bottom plate and the top plate.
Transfer the measurement to a stud, then cut the stud with the saw.
Continue for the remaining studs.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Number each stud and corresponding plate position (1,2,3, etc.).
It helps to cut studs a bit on the long side.
Studs that are too short can’t be used.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
you’re free to always shave off extra length if you need.
Nail the Studs in Place
Tap the first stud into position.
To ensure plumb, strike a vertical laser line down the center of the stud from the side.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
With theframing hammer, toenail each stud into its corresponding position.
Toenail by driving the nail in straight until it grabs the stud.
Next, angle the top of the nail up to about 60 degrees.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Drive the nail the rest of the way.
confirm that the nail sinks into the plate.
Hang the Drywall
Hang the drywall horizontally on the studs, one above the other.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Fasten the sheets to the studs with the cordless drill andcoarse-thread 1-1/4-inch drywall screws.
Fill the Screw Holes
Use the drywall knife tofill the screw holeswith joint compound.
Cover the tape with another layer of joint compound.
Do not exceed the space of the seam.
Let the compound dry, then check for any gaps and fill if necessary.
Sand any parts that aren’t completely smooth.
Paint the Wall
Rolldrywall primeronto the drywall.
Let the primer dry.
It costs about $200 to build one wall that’s 8 feet long.
Drywall Installers, Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
