Things to think about when doing your own wall framing

Wall framing is a complex project that needs to be done perfectly for your new home to look the way you want it to. It's possible to do wall framing on your own if you're careful and methodical. Doing your own wall framing in the home you're building can save you money and also be a good experience to have for future projects. To do your own wall framing in a way that ensures you get the best possible result, there are a few things you should think about.

Markings

The first thing you need to do to start off the framing process is mark out on the floor where all your walls will go. Use the bottom plates for all the different walls as a marking tool, and draw with a piece of chalk on the floor where you want the bottom plate to go. This is a way for you to get a good overlook on how you'll proceed with your work. It's also a good way to check that all the angles are straight and like you planned them. It's easier to redo a line on the floor than a bottom plate that's already stuck on the floor in case the angles were to be wrong.

Windows and doors

After you've stuck the bottom plate, you should start with marking the places where doors and windows go. You should do this before laying the studs to make sure you get the measurements exactly right before doing something that is difficult to change later. Make sure that you put a mark both on top and on the front of the bottom plate, as the marking might not be visible when you start putting up vertical boards. Preferably, you should mark the centre of the window or door opening as well as the edges of it, as this makes it simpler to fit the door or window later.

Top plate

You also need to transfer these markings to the top plate. Remember that if you're installing timber wall frames, that timber wall frames and trusses can cause the markings to distort, as the ink might bleed into the wood. That's why you should mark the top plates at the same time as the bottom ones, to not give the ink time to bleed. Once you've fitted the top plates, you also need to measure and check that the markings still are conforming to the bottom plate, so that they haven't been moved by the installation of the plate. Make sure that the vertical boards between the top and the bottom plate are perfectly straight before you stick them to the plates. 


Share