How to Frame a Beam on Top of a Wall

One of the key components of any wood-framed wall is the top plate, the long beam that spans the width of the wall. The top plate, especially in exterior walls, must often bear loads, so it needs strength and durability. Typical building code requires a double top plate, which usually consists of two boards fastened together on their broad sides and running the entire length of the wall in most situations. Using proper framing techniques for a double top plate helps ensure the structural integrity of the wall.

Things You'll Need

• 2-by-4 lumber
• Circular saw
• Hammer
• Nails 16d
• Nails 10d
• Nail gun
• 2-by-6 lumber

Instructions

1. Cut two 2-by-4 pieces of lumber to length with a circular saw. Trim about 4 inches from each end of one of the boards with the saw so that beams from intersecting walls have space to overlap. Cut a 2-by-4 board the same length for the bottom plate. But don't trim off any of the bottom plate.

2. Frame the wall that the beam, or top plate, will support. Use a hammer to drive 16d nails through each side of each wall stud into the first or lower board of the double top plate -- the board without 4 inches removed from the ends.

3. Drive a 16d nail through the top of the first board for the double top plate into the stud. Repeat for each stud. Fasten the bottom plate to the studs in the same way.

4. Take the cap plate, the board that has the 4 inches cut off at the ends, and center it over the board already nailed to the top of the studs. Drive two 10d nails into the board at each end, making sure the nails penetrate the longer board. Hammer one 16d nail into the cap plate at each stud.

Tips & Warnings

• Understand that the purpose of leaving 4 inches off the cap plate is so that you can place another top plate in the space where two wall corners intersect.

• Using a nail gun, if you can obtain one, makes the framing process go faster.

• Check with your local building code before constructing any wall. Use 2-by-6s instead of 2-by-4s if you want a larger, stronger top plate.

• Ensure that any joints in the lower top plate and the cap plate occur at least 48 inches apart if you are not using a single length of board for each layer of the double top plate.

References

• You Tube: Framing Basics - 3 Simple Tips for Framing a Wall
• Ultimate Guide to House Framing; John D. Wagner
• Hometime: Framing