Frame Partition Wall Attic Top Plate

Lay out the wooden partition photo by david carmack.

Frame partition wall attic top plate.

A wall is a collection of studs usually sized 2 4 or 2 6 equally spaced usually 16 in. Score the shims with a utility knife and snap them off flush with the plate. Mark the ceiling 3 inches from one wall where the partition will abut it. On center and sandwiched between top and bottom plates.

Measure the distance from each floor mark to its abutting wall. You can t align the centers of the plates because the edge of the top plate will extend too far since it s on. How to frame an attic space. How to build a partition wall 1.

Take a 2 foot by 2 foot scrap of osb or plywood and tack it alongside a rafter so one edge is in contact with the underside of the roof sheathing. Unlike wood steel studs are reliably straight. Once the walls are in place another board the tie plate attaches to the top of the ceiling plates tying all the walls together and providing the base on which to construct the roof. Normally one 2x4 is used to form the soleplate and in the case of load bearing walls two 2x4 s are stacked to form the top plate.

Have a helper hold the top plate against the ceiling while you nail or screw into ceiling joists along the line. Use your short 2 foot level to draw a plumb line down along the scrap of wood. This line must start at the underside of the roof sheathing. The soleplate the top plate the studs and in the case of walls that exceed 10 feet in length fire blocking is required between the studs.

Fasten the bottom plate by driving 16d nails through it into the floor. Large openings in the wall are made for windows and doors. Attach the bottom plate to the floor directly below the top plate. Double plating is most common on load bearing walls unless the roof rafters or trusses and floor joists stack directly over the studs in the wall then a single top plate can be used.

A basic wall frame includes. Nail the end studs to framing in the existing wall. Measure the distance between the two plates. The top plate can be either single or double.

As you shim and plumb each section of wall drive 16d nails through the top plate into the framing with a hammer or nail gun. Cut your bottom and top plates and mark the position of the studs. Installing the top plate of a short attic wall is the tricky part. Use a stud to locate the top plate.

Building requirements for partition walls. With vertical studs between a horizontal sole plate at floor level and a top plate at the top of the wall. Cut one stud to size and use that along with a level to mark the location of the top plate at both ends and snap a line to guide placement. From that mark drop a plumb bob and mark the floor.

Repeat at the partition s other end.