Let me start by saying that it is entirely possible for you to build a wall in your house. It’s not as hard as you might think, especially if you’re prepared going into the project. It’s a great way to get a little more privacy in your home or even create an extra room for storage or guests. We’ll walk through the basics of how to do it right and what pitfalls to avoid, so let’s get started!
Decide if you need a permit
You will need a permit if the wall is over 6 feet tall, over 12 feet long, or over 6 feet wide. You also need a permit if it’s more than 3 feet deep (or 2 feet deep in certain cities).
You may be able to apply for your own permit. If you’re unsure whether you need one and aren’t able to get someone from your city or county to help you figure it out—i.e., an inspector—call up the person at your local building department who deals with permits (often called “building” or “zoning”) and ask them for advice on whether you need one based on the dimensions of your walls.
Make a map of the room
You’ll need to make a map of the room before you can build your wall. In order to do this, you’ll need to know the dimensions of the room and where everything is located.
- Mark out where all of your doors are on your floor plan.
- Mark out where all of your windows and other openings for lighting are on your floor plan.
- Mark out where any outlets or switches for power/lights are located in relation to windows and doors – this will be important later when deciding what type of materials will be used during construction (for example, if there’s an outlet near one side that you want covered up by drywall, but not another side).
- If there are any plumbing pipes or vents running through walls that could affect where drywall should go (e.g., heating ducts), mark them with an X on your map so that they can be traced later when installing drywall over them.
Determine type of wall to build
The type of wall you need depends on a variety of factors:
- The space in which it will be built
- The function of the room in which it will be built
- The style of the room in which it will be built
- The climate where you live (for example, if your home is located in an area with high winds or hurricanes)
- The materials used to build the room, including whether they are expensive or cheap.
Map out your power and lighting needs
- Decide where you need power and how much of it. You will need to know this information in order to determine how many circuits you need, how much wire is needed, and the location of your breakers and switches.
- Consider lighting needs as well. Make sure that all areas are adequately illuminated for their intended purpose—kitchens and bathrooms should be bright enough to prepare food or get ready in the morning; bedrooms should have a softer, more soothing light than kitchens or bathrooms; entryways require lights near entrances so people can see when they open doors at night; etc.
- Are there any electrical outlets? If so, where are they located? Outlets can be installed anywhere—in a room’s corner or along its walls—but most commonly they’re placed near windows or next to furniture that requires power (like desks). The placement of outlets depends on what kind of space you’re working with: if your walls are long lengths without partitions between them then it may make sense for an outlet every 10 feet; otherwise one every 2-3 feet might suffice
Choose your flooring
- Choose your flooring. The floor of your room will be the most prominent feature and should complement the décor. Consider how you want to feel when you’re in this room, then choose a flooring that reflects that feeling: wood for warmth, laminate for durability and affordability, tile for sophistication and luxury, carpet for comfort. If you have pets or children who might damage the finish on hardwood floors (or if you just don’t want them walking on them), consider covering up any exposed wood with tiles or rugs.
- Consider style: If you want a modern look, go with wood or laminate; if traditional is more your style, then stick with carpeting or vinyl tiles; if eclectic works better than either option alone—go ahead!
Choose your drywall tape and texture style
If you are building a wall, and not just patching or repairing one, it is important to choose the right kind of drywall tape for your project. The role of drywall tape in your wall build is to cover the seams and joints between sheets of drywall so that they are flush with each other. There are several different types of drywall tape available, including:
- Paper Drywall Tape: This is the most common type of drywall tape used for interior projects because it offers good adhesion and strength while still being easy to work with. Paper tapes can come in different widths depending on how large your project is; they also come in a variety of textures (smooth vs textured) depending on what kind of look you want for your finished product.
- Fiberglass Mesh Drywall Tape: This type of tape has increased durability compared to paper varieties due to its fiberglass mesh composition; however, it tends not be very flexible when used as compared with its paper counterpart which some people find frustrating during application since there’s no give at all so if you don’t get things lined up perfectly then there will be noticeable seams where none should exist–this may be especially true if working alone which isn’t necessarily recommended anyway because accidents happen more often than we’d like them too!
Purchase all supplies needed for the job
Before you start building your wall, it’s important to have all of the materials you need on hand. The supplies list will vary depending on how much customization you want in the design. For example, if you are going to install a window in one side of your wall, then this is something that should be factored into your calculations.
If possible, purchase everything at once and store them in an area where they won’t get damaged or dirty until they are needed. If there is no room available for storage, rent a storage unit nearby until work begins.
Prepare the room for construction
- Prepare the room for construction. If you’re building a wall in an existing room, make sure to do your homework and understand what’s behind that wall before beginning your project. You may want to remove baseboards and moldings from all four walls on either side of where you’re going to build your new wall, as well as any wallpaper or paint. Also remove any flooring, carpeting, or tile because it will need to be replaced when you’re finished with your project.
- Build a temporary partition if there isn’t enough space in which to work on one side of what will become the new wall (or if there isn’t already enough space). If this is the case, start by building a temporary partition out of plywood sheets so that you can use half of each sheet on one side while working on its mirror image across from it at the same time; then simply take down both halves when they are complete and construct them together into one solid barrier once again
Building a wall is something almost anyone can do with a little careful planning and preparation.
If you’re thinking about building a wall in your home, the first thing to do is to figure out what kind of wall you want and how much space you have available. Then, choose the materials that will best fit your needs. Finally, make sure that you have everything on hand before starting construction—this includes tools and materials as well as instructions on how to use them properly.
Building a simple partition between two rooms can be done by anyone with patience and focus. But it takes careful planning ahead of time so that everything goes smoothly when building begins (and without any setbacks).
Conclusion
Building a wall is not for everyone. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration if you’re going to attempt this task. This is why it’s important to know what type of wall you want, how much time and money will be required, as well as the tools needed before starting any project like this one. If you don’t have experience in construction or building construction-related items such as walls then we recommend working with someone who does
