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Framing

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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
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Wall-Framing Layout, Step by Step
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.
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    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

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

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    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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