I love building a pony wall. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I have built many pony walls, and now I am going to teach you how.
Pick the spot for your pony wall.
Now that you have an idea of how a pony wall works, it’s time to figure out where to put it.
- Pick a spot that is convenient for applying and removing the pony wall. You want to be able to get at it without having to go through any extra trouble.
- Make sure there is enough room around your chosen spot so that you can work comfortably with both hands while using the pony wall. If possible, leave yourself some space on both sides of your body when working with this tool so that nothing gets in your way while using it.
- Make sure there are no obstacles nearby (like walls) or people who might bump into you while using this tool in its designated spot; otherwise, accidents could happen.
Grab a stud finder, and mark the wall where your studs are.
Before you begin measuring, grab a stud finder. These are available at any hardware store and are fairly inexpensive. They’re very easy to use: simply run the tip of the tool along the wall until it beeps, then mark this spot on your wall with a pencil or pen. You do not need to find an exact center of each stud; just make sure that you measure both sides of the wall and mark where they intersect (if they don’t intersect at all, that’s fine).
Measure the width of your pony wall.
The first thing you want to do is measure the width of your pony wall. Measure between the two studs, and then also measure the distance between top plate and bottom plate. You need to take note of these measurements because they will be important when determining where you will place your pony wall.
Make a note of where your top plate will sit on the wall.
The first step in building a pony wall is to mark where the top plate will sit. This is where you will attach the top of your pony wall, so it’s important that you get this right.
You need to measure down from where you want it (about 28″ for a standard 6-foot ceiling) and make your mark on the wall using a pencil or similar implement. The top plate will be flush with this mark when you attach it, so be sure that this measurement matches up with what you have planned for your shower (for example, if having seven foot ceilings).
Lay out all of your boards in order on the floor or ground.
- Lay out all of your boards in order on the floor or ground.
- Use a level to check that each board is straight and level.
- Make pencil marks at the ends of each board so you know where they begin and end, then measure and mark where you want them spaced evenly apart using a tape measure (this will help you make sure they are spaced evenly as well).
Starting with the first board, screw it into place on the floor. Use 2-1/2 inch construction screws and drive them into each stud through the bottom plate. Use a power drill or impact driver to get this done quickly and easily.
- Starting with the first board, screw it into place on the floor. Use 2-1/2 inch construction screws and drive them into each stud through the bottom plate. Use a power drill or impact driver to get this done quickly and easily.
- Once you’ve done that, use a level to make sure they’re straight up and down as you go. Add more screws as needed; leave a small gap between boards if possible.
- Attach the end board with construction screws driven in through each stud into each board below.
Cut your end board to size and screw it into place at one end of the pony wall, lining it up with the top plate mark you made earlier. This will be at about 60 inches from ground level. Attach the end board with construction screws driven through the side of each stud into the end board.
To make sure your end board is straight up and down, you can use a level to line it up with the top plate mark you made earlier. Using a power drill or impact driver, attach your end board with construction screws driven through the side of each stud into the end board.
Once all four sides are attached, you’ll have finished your pony wall.
Screw in your remaining boards, using 5/8 inch plywood spacers between each one to keep them equal distance apart as you go. This can also be done with 2×4 scraps if you don’t have plywood spacers handy. Screw in through each stud into each board below, and use a level to make sure they are straight up and down as you go.
Next, screw in your remaining boards, using 5/8 inch plywood spacers between each one to keep them equal distance apart as you go. This can also be done with 2×4 scraps if you don’t have plywood spacers handy. Screw in through each stud into each board below, and use a level to make sure they are straight up and down as you go. Lastly, hammer a nail through the top of each board into the wall studs on either side to make sure they stay firmly attached when it comes time to hang anything on them.
Conclusion
With that, we’ve come to the end of our guide. We hope that you learned a lot about pony walls for showers, and are now prepared to build one yourself. If so, then we’re happy you stopped by. See you again soon.
