How to Frame a Room Divider
Dividing a room by installing a new interior wall can have a dramatic effect that can make your home noticeably more attractive and functional. This high-impact remodeling project is actually remarkably simple to accomplish, as long as you have a basic knowledge of wall framing and some standard tools. Whether you plan to put in a full wall with a doorway or just a partial wall to alter the geometry of the living space, the results are sure to impress. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Stud finder
- Tape measure
- 2-by-4 lumber
- Hammer or nail gun
- Framing nails
- Concrete nails (if necessary)
- Square
- Level
- Plumb bob
- Circular saw or hand saw
Instructions
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1
Using a stud finder, pinpoint and mark the location of the ceiling joists along the line where you will place the new divider wall.
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2
If the floor where the divider wall will be is covered by carpet, tile or another material, remove enough of it to allow the sole plate (the 2-by-4 that will be the base of the new wall) to rest directly on the wood or concrete beneath.
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3
Cut a pair of 2-by-4s to the length of your divider wall. These will be the sole and top plates.
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4
Lay out the plates next to one another, and mark both to indicate the placement of framing studs, which should be at each end of the plates and every 16 inches in between. If you are installing a room-length divider wall with a doorway, mark the placement of the doorway as well, including a 3/8-inch gap on either side for shims, and spaces for 2-by-4s on each side to frame a rough doorway opening.
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5
Nail the top plate to the ceiling joists you marked earlier, and nail the sole plate to the floor directly below it using framing or concrete nails. If necessary, use a plumb bob to ensure proper placement of the sole plate.
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6
Cut, place and toenail (nailing diagonally through the 2-by-4) each framing stud to attach it to both plates. If your wall will have a door, adjacent studs should be 1-1/2 inches shorter than the door. (Once the wall frame is complete, you will cut out part of the sole plate to make up this difference.) The studs adjacent to them will be standard, full-height 2-by-4s. You can then install a horizontal header 2-by-4 on top of the shorter studs, and place a short "cripple" stud between this header and the top plate. Your divider wall frame is now complete and ready to finish with drywall or paneling.
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Tips & Warnings
If you prefer a lower room divider, such as a knee wall or half wall, simply skip Step 1 and adjust all of your lumber measurements accordingly. Because you won't have a top plate anchored to the ceiling, you may want to nail the edge of your divider frame to a stud in an existing wall for additional stability.
An alternative method of framing full walls is to lay out your lumber on the floor, nail everything together to create the complete frame and then tip it into position and nail it into place. If you do this, shorten your wall height by 1/2 inch to give you room to slide the frame into place.
