It’s time for your DIY home project. You’ve got some drywall, a hammer and nails, but you have no idea where to start. If you want to build an interior wall with a door, it’s not as hard as it sounds—provided you have the right tools and know-how. After all, we’re talking about building an entire wall from scratch here. The good news is that this job is well within reach of most DIYers as long as they are willing to do the prep work and are up for a little heavy lifting. We’ll walk you through each step on how to build an interior wall with a door. With these tips under your belt, building this new room in your house will be simple. So get out your tools and let’s start framing.
Determine where to build the wall and buy the materials.
To build an interior wall with a door, you’ll need the following materials:
- Wood (choose your favorite type)
- Nails or screws
- Saw (the saw will cut the wood)
- Hammer and screwdriver (you can use these to hammer in nails or attach screws)
To build an interior wall with a door, you will also need to know how to operate these tools:
Identify plumbing, electrical and HVAC lines that might be in the way.
Identify plumbing, electrical and HVAC lines that might be in the way.
Ask an expert if you’re not sure.
If you’re not sure, don’t cut the wall until you do.
Make sure you know where the wires are before you start cutting.
Plan a post layout.
Once you have determined your desired layout, plan how to frame the space. This will involve planning the layout of studs and windows, electrical outlets, plumbing, HVAC and ductwork. The most efficient way to do this is by running a series of lines along the walls at heights where you would like them located. Use these lines as guides for placing your framing members later on in the project.
Hang plates.
Once your plates are in place, you’ll need to hang the door. Hanging the door is a little more involved than hanging plates because you have to make sure it’s level, plumb and straight. To do this, use a carpenter’s level and check that both sides of the frame are at 90 degrees (vertically). Also check that both sides of the frame are level with each other horizontally (parallel).
Layout stud markings.
- Mark the studs on the top and bottom plates with a framing square.
- Mark the studs on each side plate.
- Mark your framing with chalk or masking tape if you’re using a drywall patching compound to cover it up later.
Cut studs.
Cut the studs to length. Using a circular saw and a stud finder, make your cuts along the lines you drew on the wall. When you’re done cutting, double-check that each stud is centered in its opening by measuring to both edges of its face (the side facing into your room) at 3/4″ intervals using a tape measure and pencil. If any measurements are off by more than 1/8″, adjust them as necessary before moving forward with construction.
Cut door opening.
Cut the opening to the size of your door. Make sure it will fit through and swing open properly. You can use a circular saw or a reciprocating saw to cut it out, but make sure you have a dust mask on if you’re using a reciprocating saw to avoid breathing in any sawdust. A jigsaw or sabre saw will also work well for cutting out an opening in drywall, although these may take longer than other tools because they aren’t designed for cutting through plasterboard walls (a specialised tool is required).
Hang the first stud.
You’ll want to find the first stud in your wall. You can do this by using a stud finder, which tells you where the studs are. You might be surprised by how many of them there are
You may also want to mark out where you want your door and window openings on the wall. These can be done with a pencil and tape measure, but it’s better if they’re done properly so they don’t look sloppy when you’re done building your wall.
Hang the rest of the studs.
Place the remaining studs in their respective positions, making sure they are level and plumb. You can use a level or plumb bob to do this (the latter requires a helper). If you don’t have one, you can make your own by tying a string to an object such as a hammer handle or screwdriver and then placing it on top of the wall’s surface. Next, place your framing square against the string (called your plumb line) at each location where you need to mark the position for fastening another stud.
You may also want to add metal plates around doorways so that they are secure enough not to be easily pushed out of their frame when opened; these screws should go into joist holes every 12 inches from top to bottom on both sides of doorway openings
Cut top plate, mark it and nail it in place.
- Cut the top plate to size and nail it in place.
- Hand-mark the door’s rough opening on the top plate, then measure down from the ceiling to mark its bottom edge.
- Nail an offset block to the wall at each side of the rough opening, so you can use them as guides when measuring and cutting your jamb pieces later.
- Make sure your top plate is level and plumb before driving nails into it.
Install headers, cripples and trimmers as needed.
Once the headers and cripples are in place, you can complete your interior wall by installing trimmers. Trimmers are shorter 2x4s that go between the ends of two walls to create a seam. To install them, slide plates into position behind each stud, then use shims to create a gap between the plates and the studs. The gaps allow for expansion and contraction as weather conditions change.
When everything is level and plumbed properly, it’s time to fill in all those empty spaces with insulation.
Add shims as needed to make everything level and plumb.
As the wall progresses, it’s important to keep checking that everything is level and plumb. Shims are used to adjust the height of a wall, and they can also be used to make sure that it’s level and plumb (making sure that all sides are straight). Use shims under the top plate where necessary until the framing members are perfectly aligned.
Building a wall is a great DIY project if you have a little know-how!
Building a wall is a great DIY project if you have a little know-how! It’s important to plan out the design and layout of your wall beforehand. If you’re not sure what to do, ask someone who has built an interior wall before.
Don’t rush through this process—take your time and do it right! No one wants to come home from work and find out their family room is smaller than it was last night after they spent all day building that new bookcase. Don’t forget to take breaks and have fun too
Conclusion
Building a wall is one of the best options you have when it comes to creating more space in your home. If you can follow these steps, your project will be an easy and inexpensive way to complete whatever renovation you want.
