Frame Partition Wall Attic Top Plate

Partition wall assembly overview 2.

Frame partition wall attic top plate.

The soleplate the top plate the studs and in the case of walls that exceed 10 feet in length fire blocking is required between the studs. On center and sandwiched between top and bottom plates. Use a stud to locate the top plate. The standard second story wall consists of a horizontal floor plate a ceiling plate and wall studs all made from similar dimension lumber.

Attach the bottom plate to the floor directly below the top plate. Measure the distance from each floor mark to its abutting wall. Measure the distance between the two plates. Cut one stud to size and use that along with a level to mark the location of the top plate at both ends and snap a line to guide placement.

Fasten the bottom plate by driving 16d nails through it into the floor. As you shim and plumb each section of wall drive 16d nails through the top plate into the framing with a hammer or nail gun. Normally one 2x4 is used to form the soleplate and in the case of load bearing walls two 2x4 s are stacked to form the top plate. From that mark drop a plumb bob and mark the floor.

The top plate can be either single or double. Take a 2 foot by 2 foot scrap of osb or plywood and tack it alongside a rafter so one edge is in contact with the underside of the roof sheathing. How to build a partition wall 1. Nail the end studs to framing in the existing wall.

How to frame an attic space. Concrete screws work well to attach the track to concrete. Lay out the wooden partition photo by david carmack. Unlike wood steel studs are reliably straight.

Large openings in the wall are made for windows and doors. Score the shims with a utility knife and snap them off flush with the plate. Mark the ceiling 3 inches from one wall where the partition will abut it. With vertical studs between a horizontal sole plate at floor level and a top plate at the top of the wall.

Installing the top plate of a short attic wall is the tricky part. Have a helper hold the top plate against the ceiling while you nail or screw into ceiling joists along the line. Double plating is most common on load bearing walls unless the roof rafters or trusses and floor joists stack directly over the studs in the wall then a single top plate can be used. Building requirements for partition walls.

Cut your bottom and top plates and mark the position of the studs. A basic wall frame includes. Once the walls are in place another board the tie plate attaches to the top of the ceiling plates tying all the walls together and providing the base on which to construct the roof. Use your short 2 foot level to draw a plumb line down along the scrap of wood.

This line must start at the underside of the roof sheathing.