Stud Wall Floor Plate

The top plate can be either single or double.

Stud wall floor plate.

Mark the layout on the floor. Set the top and sole plates side by side on the floor. Drill holes through the wood sole plate with a wood bit and mark the floor. 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.

Then with a combination square and a pencil extend the lines across the plates. First mark the inside edge of the wall at each corner and snap chalk lines. If you re building a wall in place start by lining up the top and bottom plates and mark where the studs need to go. Pressure treated wood is required whenever you attach framing lumber or furring strips directly to concrete or other exterior masonry walls below grade.

Building a wall in place. The wall studs will will support the frame of the new wall. Check the wall for plumb with a carpenter s level then nail the bottom plate to the floor. These plates must be made of pressure.

Sole plates or sill plates are the first pieces of framing lumber placed in home construction. Starting at one end measure and mark the plates every 16 inches. Their exact construction and connection with the wall studs depend on the method of framing that is utilized. Start by checking if the floor and ceiling are level.

Note that this requirement is only for exterior walls as these may wick moisture onto the lumber. Mark the location of interior walls as well and snap chalk lines on both sides of interior wall locations to ensure correct plate positions. Lag shields produce strong joints but they involve more installation steps than most fasteners. Moisture barrier between the sole plate the concrete slab.

Eliminate wood framing basics mistakes by chalking a full size map of your walls directly on the floor. At the foundation level floor joists rest directly on a sill that is treated with preservative so that contact with the foundation will not promote termites or rot. Make sure the edges of the two plates are flush. Replace the sole plate and drive lag screws with washers into the shields.

Draw an x at the end of each plate and to the right side of the line on each. If you re cutting studs or headers and cripples make a cutlist for the entire project and cut them all at once. Anchor the wall by nailing up through the top plate into the ceiling plate. Move the sole plate drill the floor suck out the dust and tap the shield into place.

To protect a plaster ceiling install the plate with 2 1 2 inch long drywall screws. Interior walls are within a climate controlled environment and are presumed to be free of moisture. Large openings in the wall are made for windows and doors. Lines on the floor before cutting any wall plates then cut every wall plate in the house before framing.