How to Frame Wall Studs

Framing stud walls.

Wall framing is absolutely essential to any framing project. It must be done correctly and safely, or you may have structural and compatibility problems down the road. Most carpenters swear by the same, tried-and-true method to frame stud walls. Framing wall studs is not a difficult task once you get the hang of it.

Things You'll Need

• Framing hammer
• Tape measure
• Carpenter's square
• 16 penny nails
• Circular saw

Instructions

1. Identify the parts of a stud wall: the top, bottom and vertical studs. The top of the wall (top plate) is always doubled with a second two-by-four after all the walls are framed and tied together at the corners. The two-by-fours run around the entire top perimeter of the wall, and overlap the joints at the corners for additional support.

2. Determine the length of the stud wall and cut the bottom and first top plates to the desired length. Make sure the end that you are not cutting is square by laying the carpenter's square across the 2-by-4s on the end. If they are not square, then slide the carpenter's square down the board about 1 inch and make a mark. Cut the end square with a circular saw.

3. Mark the centers for the stud placement. Laying the two plates, top and bottom, side by, measure from the end in increments of 16 inches. Make a center mark at every 16 inches. Now, make a mark to the left of the 16 inch marks 3/4 of an inch. Put an X on the 16 inch center marks and, using your square, make a mark all the way across both boards at the 3/4 inch offset mark.

4. Pull the two plates apart and place them about 92 inches apart and in the same order as they were before you moved them. It is important that you don't turn the boards around. Because stud 2-by-4s are already pre-cut at 91.5 inches, you won't need to cut them. If you add the 91.5 inches, the top and bottom plates (1.5 inches a piece) and the extra 2-by-4 that goes on the top plate to connect the walls (also 1.5 inches), then you will have the total wall height of 8 feet.

5. Align the 2-by-4 studs so that the edges line up with the 3/4 inch offset and the X is in the center of the 2-by-4. Nail the bottom and top plates into the studs using two 16 penny nails per stud, top and bottom. Stand the stud wall, nail two 16 penny nails in between each stud at the bottom plate and into the floor. Use temporary braces nailed at the top corners of the stud wall and down to the floor.

6. Nail the stud walls off at the corners and attach the second 2-by-4 on the top plate where the 2-by-4s are doubled up.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be careful when cutting with a circular saw.

References

• More information on stud framing