How to Frame a New Wall in a Garage

Adding a wall in your garage can serve a number of purposes, from designating a separate stall for a special vehicle to creating a storage or workshop area. Use basic framing methods when installing a new wall and remember some general guidelines to make the process easier.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Masonry nails
• Framing nails
• Hammer
• 2-inch by 4-inch lumber studs
• Measure tape
• Carpenter's level
• Plumb bob
• Circular saw
• Chalk box

1. Determine where you want the wall and check the adjacent walls and the ceiling for available studs beneath the sheetrock to secure the new framing. If your new wall will run in the opposite direction from your ceiling joists, you will be fine. If you are building the wall parallel to the joists, you will need to insert stud backers between your joists to secure the top of the new wall.

2. Pop a chalk line on your garage floor where the bottom of the wall will run. Use a plumb bob with a string long enough that you can hold it above your chalk line and reach the ceiling. Make a mark on the ceiling at each end of the chalk line. Pop another line on the ceiling.

3. Cut your bottom and top wall plates from 2-inch by 4-inch lumber. Lay both plates side by side, next to the chalk line.

4. Measure from the garage wall and make a pencil mark on each stud at 16-inch intervals. After marking out all your intervals, measure backwards from each one ¾ of an inch and make another mark. This is where the outside edge of each stud will line up.

5. Install the plates on the floor and ceiling, using masonry nails to secure the floor plate to the concrete and framing nails to secure the ceiling plate to the studs beneath the sheetrock.

6. Measure and cut your wall studs to correspond with the distance between your floor and ceiling plates.

7. Align each stud on the mark you drew earlier and secure it to the top and bottom plates with framing nails. Repeat the process to frame the entire wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Add additional strength to the end of your framed garage wall by installing one or more additional studs inside the end stud, nailing them together. This creates a stronger exterior wall to install a door, if needed.
• Use chemically-treated lumber to frame the bottom plate if there is a possibility of water getting on your garage floor later.
• Don't cut corners by measuring all your vertical wall studs and cutting them all one length. Garage floors usually have a slope to allow for drainage. Measure and cut each one separately as you go.