How to layout and frame walls


studspacing
Framing walls for a building or a shed is basically a procedure of measuring and cutting studs, headers, ... and cripples and nailing them to the top and bottom plates.  Within the framework, provisions are made for door and window openings and other openings of choice to the homeowner.

The studs are spaced at 16 inches on centres throughout the perimeter of the walls.
In between the openings, extra studs are installed to stiffen the header, the framework and to absorb the structural load of the roof and snow load. (Non structural walls require no load bearing headers)

Let's fiqure out the tape measure before the framing begins.  On a tape measure, the 16-inch spacing is color coded with either a red or black arrowhead.  The 16-inch increments are 16, 32, 48, 64, 80 96... and so on, depending on how long a tape measure one has.

To layout the 16 inch spacing on the wall plates, place the first mark at 15-1/4" and mark an X to the right of it.  Do the same thing for 31-1/4", 47-1/4" and so forth.  One might ask, why not mark on the actual 16" on centres.  The reason being - since the thickness of a 2"x 4" or 2"x 6" is 1-1/2", half the thickness of that is (1-1/2" -3/4"=3/4").  The 16 inch spacing minus 3/4" =15-1/4".  The same rule applies to all the spacings:
32"-3/4"=31-1/4"
48"-3/4"=47-1/4"
64"- 3/4"=63-1/4"
80"-3/4"=79-1/4"
96"-3/4"=95-1/4"

The 24"spacings for non-structural walls and roof trusses use the same principal of layout..  Floor trusses are spaced at about 19-3/16", 38-3/8", 57-5/8"... on centres (see diamond head markings)

Most sheathing wallboard and cladding are made to coincide with the 16 or 24-inch spacings.
 

Let's assume that we want to build two 2"x 4" walls that is eight feet high and eight feet long with double top plates that intersect at 90 degrees.  To begin framing the wall, cut the top and bottom plates of Wall A to 8 feet.  The Wall B plates are 3-1/2" shorter than Wall A. (92-1/2")

Fifteen studs are cut to 91-1/2" long. (96" minus two top plates and the bottom plate)

Face butt the top and bottom plates against each other and layout the 16 inch spacing on the top edge of the plates, marking with an X.

Wall A requires seven studs and one corner stud whereas Wall B needs seven only.

The wall plates of Wall A are placed on edge (long side) on a flat surface and the seven studs butted against and nailed.  A corner stud is placed at the intersecting corner of the Wall A and nailed to receive Wall B.  Once the unit is nailed, Wall B wall plates are marked out.  However,

The copyright of the article How to layout and frame walls in Home Renovations is owned by Eriki Filipe. Permission to republish How to layout and frame walls in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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