How to Build Staggered Stud Partition Walls

You can use studs to create partition walls that give the illusion of much-needed extra space in your bedroom or living area. More convenient and less time consuming than concrete walls, these walls are considered are temporary, and they can be removed and installed where and when you want. Follow the simple steps below to build your own staggered stud partition walls.

Step 1: Initial Steps

The most important decision is to choose the place of setting up the wall. You can purchase the materials needed from a local hardware store. Wear safety goggles before beginning work. Measure the dimensions of the room where you will put the wall, and get the timber boards sized up accordingly.

Step 2: Marking Joists

You need to mark or locate the position of the floor joists and also the joists in the ceiling. The former can be easily found as the nail positions of the flooring boards are externally visible. To find the ceiling joists, you may use a cable detector that can search the nailed areas of the joists easily. You need to find the joists because the frame for the studs have to be attached to them.

Step 3: Head and Sole Plates

You should have had your timber pieces sawed at the store. Mark the end portions on the timber used for the head plate, at the position of the points of fixing. Place a plumb line at these marked places, and lower it down to the proper area for the sole plate. You may need some help in doing so. Drill holes at the points, and drive in nails to fit them to both ceiling and floor. Make sure that both plates are in line with each other.

Step 4: Positioning the Studs

Mark points on the sole plate at desired intervals to fit in the studs. Use an off-cut to draw a 2-inch line at the end of the sole plate and then place the off cut straight on the board surface to mark edges of the studs. The studs are ready to install. You just need to align these against the sole plate and head plate, and push them firmly so that they fit in snugly against the walls.

Step 5: Final Steps

You need to insert a skirting board below the end studs. To do this, carefully use a sharp chisel and hammer to scrape off the extra inches from the stud ends. Make sure that the width of the skirting board is not less or more than the gap created on chiseling. Now hammer in 4-inch nails at the portions where the studs have to be attached to the walls. Take noggins, and keep them in a staggered position on the studded parts. Now screw them in between the studs for additional support.