Framing An Attic Wall

On center and sandwiched between top and bottom plates.

Framing an attic wall. Your attic wall will not be a supporting wall. It will not bear any loads. A knee wall is a. If your upper floor is on the attic level floor a and you receive a warning message about drawing objects on the attic level click ok.

The top plate can be either single or double. Staple insulation between the wall studs and ceiling joists image a. Nail the end studs to framing in the existing wall. Fasten the bottom plate by driving 16d nails through it into the floor.

Lay the plates face to face. Lay the top and soleplates side by side and measure starting from one end. From the menu go to build wall straight exterior wall then click and drag in the wall the same length as the deck railing below it. An attic wall needs to be located near the joists and studs so it can be held in place properly.

If the walls aren t plumb stagger the plates by the differences in the step 1 plumb bob measurements. Draw another line 1 inches from the first. Carefully measure where each of the new wall studs will go and mark the locations with perpendicular lines across the plates. Two by four lumber is standard for framing most walls including short walls in the attic.

A wall is a collection of studs usually sized 2 4 or 2 6 equally spaced usually 16 in. Place header against sole plate in doorway. How to frame an attic space basic framing. Use r 30 insulation for the ceiling and.

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. Calculate the placement for any door opening and cut the jack and cripple studs to length. Purchase enough to install a stud on each end of the wall and every 16 inches between. Score the shims with a utility knife and snap them off flush with the plate.

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. Build the header and have it ready when you layout the rest of the wall framing. Use a nail gun to attach sheets of osb to the walls over the insulation. The end wall studs extend up from the bottom plate and are attached to the short vertical walls in your attic.

If your attic is unfinished and your end wall studs do not fall upon the existing short vertical wall studs you ll have to nail pieces of blocking in between the existing vertical wall studs. Mark stud locations 15 1 4 inches from plate end then every 16 inches. Build the frame with the lumber laying on edge on the floor next to where it will be erected. How to finish attic walls and ceilings step 1.

Make sure to nail into the wall studs. If you want your attic space to have a flat ceiling you ll need to add collar ties to the framing.