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Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Framing

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Chapter
  • Introduction to Framing
  • Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Framing Floors
  • Framing Walls
  • Framing Stairs
  • Framing Roofs
  • Efficient Framing Methods
  • Timber Framing
Building Skills

Wall-Framing Layout, Step by Step

Following a systematic sequence will ensure that your wall framing comes together without any mistakes.

By Andy Engel Issue 274 - April/May 2018

How you lay out the stud locations in a wall affects everything that comes after, from sheathing, to hanging drywall, to plumbing and HVAC rough-in, to trimming the interior. The stud layout is marked on the plates—the horizontal members at the top and bottom of a wall. It’s worth taking the time to find straight, long stock for the plates, and to cut them accurately to length. The blueprints will rarely, if ever, specify the location of every stud, so the carpenter is expected to understand framing principles well enough to get the layout right regardless of the level of detail on the plans.

There are four things to consider when laying out a wall: load path, the location of intersecting walls, window and door openings and the king and jack (or trimmer) studs that outline their rough openings, and the common studs.

Watch this step-by-step video about laying out stud walls, and check out “Building Skills” in issue # 274 for more.

From Fine Homebuilding #274

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Previous: The Evolution of Top-Plate Building Codes Next: Wall-Framing Layout

Guide

Framing

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Framing Walls

View Comments

  1. user-7256908 | Dec 09, 2018 08:18am | #1

    Marking point loads and wall partitions on wall plates
    Is something I also do but I layout all my plates on edge
    (Since this is always the wall assembled) .i label all headers
    Legs( aka cripples) girders stairwell openings cantilevers
    and mark plates transfer layout for joists trusses rafters
    Etc..that will be on top wall ( no laying out on step ladders)
    using black crayon or permanent marker

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Framing

Framing

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Introduction to Framing
  • House Framing Concepts, Tips, and More
Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Tools
  • Techniques
  • Framing Lumber
  • Steel
Framing Floors
  • Floor Framing
  • Engineered Floors
  • Floor Sheathing
Framing Walls
  • Wall Framing Basics
  • Layout
  • Wall Assembly
  • Raising and Straightening Walls
  • Framing Rough Openings
  • Blocking
Framing Stairs
  • Stair Layout
  • Building Stairs
Framing Roofs
  • Roof-Framing Basics
  • Roof Design
  • Laying Out and Cutting Rafters
  • Framing Valleys
  • Working with Trusses
  • Dormers
  • Special Situations
Efficient Framing Methods
  • Advanced Framing
  • Double-Stud Walls
Timber Framing
  • Timber-Frame Construction
  • Timber-Frame Design

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