WALL

CONSTRUCTION

Corner post and its purpose.

A corner post is
a square post
supporting a
structural
member at the
corner of a
building.

How to build a wall.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

On the floor, lay the top and bottom

plates side by side.
Locate the joists in the ceiling.
Hang a plumb bob from each end of
the top plate on the ceiling.
Use stud-framing clips to install
each wall stud.
Form the connections and corners.

Bottom Plate

The horizontal
beam on which
the studs of a
partition rest.

Corner Braces

The diagonal
braces let into
the studs of
wood frame
structures for
reinforcement.

Cripple Stud

Always have an
additional 2 by 4
along the
corners so the
drywall can be
connected to it.

Header

A header is a
frame that goes
above the door.

Load-Bearing Wall
Bearing Wall

Non Load-

A load-bearing wall (or bearing

wall) is a wall that bears
a load resting upon it by
A wall capable only
conducting its weight to a
of supporting its own
foundation structure.
weight and (if it is a
n exterior wall)
capable of resisting t
he force of the wind
blowing against it; it
cannot support an
imposed load.

On Center

abbreviation for "on-center",

which means that an object is
placed at the center of the
mark. For instance, in
building a wall, a building
plan may call for the wall
studs to be places every 16inches OC. This means that
the center of each stud is
placed every sixteen inches.

Rough Opening

When building a
wall or house
windows and
doors are put in
after walls are
installed.

Sole Plate

What connects
the wall to the
floor.

Stud

An upright
support in the
wall of a building
to which
sheathing,
drywall, etc., are
attached.

Trimmer

A short beam that

supports one or
more joists or
beams at an
opening in the floor.