One of the best ways to add value to your home is by adding a wall. This can be done in an existing room and it will give you the added benefit of being able to change the size or shape of that space. There are many different types of walls, but for this article we will focus on how to build a drywall wall using 2″ thick wood studs as our main material because it’s one of the most common types used in homes today (and also because there’s less risk involved when compared with steel-framed construction).
Step 1. Determine if the wall is load-bearing.
- Examine the existing wall. Determine if it is load-bearing or not. If it is, you will need to add a header for added structural support.
If the wall doesn’t have any obvious signs of structural integrity and looks like a standard stud wall, you can proceed as normal with your project.
Step 2. Choose the wall’s location and width.
The second step of the process is to determine where you want your wall to be located and how wide you want it to be. It’s important to decide this from an architectural standpoint, as well as from a logistical one. If your new room will have a door or window, for example, then you will need to put those in place before building the wall.
Additionally, if your home has load-bearing walls (in other words: walls that support any part of your house), then those also need extra attention when building out new spaces in them. You can determine whether or not a wall is load-bearing by checking out its purpose—if it supports floors above or below it (or both), then it’s likely load-bearing and needs special consideration when adding onto it
Step 3. Decide where you want your door or windows to be located.
The location of your door or window is important. If you are adding a new door, be sure that it is centered on the wall. If you are adding a window, make sure that it will be on the same side of the room as another existing window (if there is one). Also, if possible, try to place windows in places where sunlight will not hit directly.
Step 4. Lay out your wall studs using a 16″ on center layout (i.e., the high points of each 2×4 board are 16″ apart).
- Lay out your wall studs using a 16″ on center layout (i.e., the high points of each 2×4 board are 16″ apart).
- Measure in from each end of the board, and mark that point with a pencil or chalk.
- You’ll likely have to cut some of these down to the right length, so mark them as “cut.”
- When you have everything laid out and ready to go, nail or screw the wall studs into place by tapping them into their corresponding notch. Some people use nails or screws for this job; others prefer power tools like drills or impact drivers because they can get it done faster and easier than with hand tools only. However you choose to secure them, make sure they’re fastened securely so they won’t shift around while you’re working
Step 5. Measure and mark your top and bottom plates so they will end at the corners of the room, and cut them to length using a miter saw or circular saw.
Measure and mark your top and bottom plates so they will end at the corners of the room, and cut them to length using a miter saw or circular saw.
Step 6. Lay out your first top plate along the line you have drawn on the floor, making sure that it is flush with the corner of the room, and secure it to the subfloor using steel-toe plates and 16d nails.
- Laying out the first top plate
- Make sure the first top plate is flush with the corner of your room, and make sure that it is level and straight. To ensure you have a straight line, use a chalk line. If you don’t have access to a chalk line, use some string and hold it tight between two points on either side of where you want to measure from (it’s important not to pull it tight because this can cause kinks). After making sure your string is straight, place one end on one end point and stretch out until it touches the other end point. Mark this spot for reference later when laying out more top plates.
- Securing to subfloor
Step 7. Remove about half of the screws from each end of your top plate, then line up your second top plate along your chalk line, overlapping with the first plate by at least two stud spaces from either end.
Now that you’ve cut and installed your top plates, it’s time to put them on.
To secure your top plates:
- Remove about half of the screws from each end of your first top plate, then line up your second top plate along your chalk line, overlapping with the first plate by at least two stud spaces from either end.
- Secure this second plate to the subfloor with steel-toe plates and 16d nails.
Step 8. Secure your second plate to the subfloor with steel-toe plates and 16d nails, securing it to the loose screw ends on both ends of your first top plate as well as directly into the subfloor itself in two places along its length (at least one should be near its center).
Now that your second top plate is secured to the subfloor, you can move on to securing it directly to a stud on either side of the room.
Next, you are going to attach two rows of 2x4s by driving 16d nails through their centers into the floor joists above them. You will also need to secure these two rows together with another row of 2x4s running perpendicular between them (this wall is almost done).
Conclusion
You now know how to build a wall in an existing room! We love this project because it can improve the look of any space, add storage or even create a new bedroom for you to rent out. All it takes is some planning and elbow grease—and the right tools for cutting drywall, hanging doors, etc.—and soon enough your home will be transformed into something even better than before
Once you’ve finished building your new wall(s), consider using them as extra storage space by adding shelving units along their length. This is particularly useful in smaller homes where every inch counts
