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Framing a partition wall

| Posted in Construction Techniques on August 11, 2002 10:07am

I have question. I have a couple of non load bearing walls. Do I fram them before I put on my trusses, or after I put on my trusses. Room is not a problem. Or does it matter whe i put them up. Thanks Hat      

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  1. xMikeSmith | Aug 12, 2002 06:09am | #1

    after.. unless you want to do them before

    Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

    1. jimatgreatwhite | Aug 12, 2002 08:24am | #2

      Mike I think it's the other way. Before, unless you want to do it after. With trusses I'd lean way towards before. With a cut roof I might go Mikes way depending on the way the roof goes together.

      Jim

      1. xMikeSmith | Aug 12, 2002 01:05pm | #3

        jim, as an experienced framer, i figured you would do it that way.....

        but as a guy who doesn't work with frames on a day-to-day basis... most will have better luck and less problems putting their non-bearing partitions up after... unless they want to do it before...

        but either way will get it done...

        jim , you going to texas for duhammels do in November ?Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

        1. jimatgreatwhite | Aug 13, 2002 06:51am | #10

           Mike and others since I have only framed on platforms I really believe in getting the walls up first. As mentioned above you can tie in double plates, makes for a stronger house,IMHO. With trusses it gives you a platform, albeit a holey one, to set the trusses from. With a cut roof It really depends on the roof system as to wether or not or how many walls I'll throw up

          Mike haven't been in the loop enough to know about the Texas get-together. I'll have to look it up. Chances are slim, though I do have a brother down there that could make it a little easier.

          Jim

          1. MarcBo1 | Aug 13, 2002 06:34pm | #11

            I agree with Jim. Partitions give you more choices for accessing different areas of the truss, sometimes making installation a lot easier.

          2. xMikeSmith | Aug 13, 2002 08:26pm | #12

            must be my improper eddycation.....when i started our boss was always chasing roof payments.. surprising how little you can actually have standing before you can get a "roof" on and get that 2d payment..

            nowadays... we use almost NO flat-bottom trusses... so the chances of getting a partition wall ht. wrong is odds-on against us... we get the roof trusses on.. paper -in and then start thinking about partitions...

            it also allows our customers one last shot at moving walls..now i do know that REAL framers like their walls (all of 'em) standing.. but we ain't real framers .. we just play at it on the internet... hah, hah, hahMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          3. User avater
            BossHog | Aug 13, 2002 08:41pm | #13

            You bring up an interesting point.

            With so many wall height changed and ceiling profiles, this kind of stuff is always a problem. Framers are always complaining that they didn't know what wall height to build, how big to make the cathedral room, etc. Framing the interior walls afterwards would make that a lot easier.

            With the quality of prints and concrete work we're getting nowdays, none of the dimensions ever seem to work out in the field.

            Eat a live toad first thing in the morning, and nothing worse can happen to you for the rest of the day.

          4. MarcBo1 | Aug 14, 2002 07:28am | #14

            We don't worry about partition wall heights when scissor trusses are being installed. We use finger-joint studs that dictate wall heights to either 8ft or 9. We build the partitions first, giving us our walking surface for truss installation, and then frame the partitions up to the scissor. Of course, it depends on the situation. Some trusses can be handled by one man, but many are humongous and it's nice to handle these without resorting to a ladder if possible.

  2. Edgar76b | Aug 12, 2002 05:33pm | #4

    If it is standard 2x4 stick framing. You might want to tie your double top plates, on your partiton walls, into the exterior walls. You should do it before. I don't know? I guess it depends on the type of framing you are doing. And The design.  am not the guy to ask though . Just my 2 cents worth. 

    ."I was born in the country, razed in the city, I'm a natural born shaker from my hips to the ground" 



    Edited 8/12/2002 10:37:15 AM ET by Edgar76b

  3. User avater
    BossHog | Aug 12, 2002 05:40pm | #5

    I don't think it makes a plugged nickel's worth of difference.

    If you have time before the trusses get there (They always seem to be late) go ahead and frame them. If not, frame them on a rainy day after the roof is on.

    What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

    1. Redfly | Aug 12, 2002 08:57pm | #6

      If you frame your walls on the floor and then stand them up, it will be a little harder if the trusses are already up, since you may run into them trying to stand your walls.  So, I would frame them first, then set the trusses.

      Unless you want to do it the other way.....

      1. User avater
        BossHog | Aug 12, 2002 09:22pm | #7

        "If you frame your walls on the floor and then stand them up, it will be a little harder if the trusses are already up, since you may run into them trying to stand your walls."

        Heck, that's what sledgehammers are for...............

        A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

    2. JohnSprung | Aug 12, 2002 10:21pm | #8

      If these non-bearing partitions are done first, is there any concern that they might get built a touch too tall, and end up supporting the trusses where they shouldn't?  Or would that kind of error have to be really huge to be worth worrying about?  Would seasonal truss uplift be a consideration?

      -- J.S.

      1. User avater
        BossHog | Aug 12, 2002 11:12pm | #9

        "If these non-bearing partitions are done first, is there any concern that they might get built a touch too tall, and end up supporting the trusses where they shouldn't? "

        Technically, yes. But I've never known that to be a serious problem. I guess if the home were on a slab, and the slab were really out of level badly you might need to work on some of the walls.

        "Would seasonal truss uplift be a consideration?"

        Not sure what you mean there. Do you like if some of the walls were too low, and someone attampted to pull the bottom chords of the trusses down it might cause problems? That could definitely be the case. Other than that, I don't see how it would affect it.

        If we weren't meant to eat animals, why are they made of meat?

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