|  After
having enough "zigging and zagging" when I built the five
short walls, I decided to build the long, straight section
of wall next. Rather than continuing with the office area, I figured
a nice, straight 28' wall with no pipes or ducts in the way would
be a welcome relief.
The challenge was knowing how far to come out from the wall
to make sure the three oval ducts were concealed behind it. I
also wanted to make sure the corners were square. Since it was
such a long section, if it were off just a bit, it would make
a big difference at the other end.
I used the 3-4-5
rule to make sure my corner was 90 degrees, then snapped a
chalk line all the way down the wall.
How to snap a chalk line
On a very long wall it's a good idea to fasten your chalk line
at both ends. Then, place a finger on the half-way point of the
line, and snap a line on either side of that point. The chalk
will adhere to the floor better, and you'll also end up with a
straighter line.
Building the wall
 |
Since there were no obstructions,
building the wall was a piece of cake! I built the three
8 foot sections using method 1 of How to frame a wall.
I tipped them into place and secured them to the top using
12D nails, and the bottom using Tapcon screws.
My goal for the weekend was to finish three sections
of the wall, leaving the last four feet so I'd have room
to repair the final crack before continuing. I was able
to build and secure the three sections in about 5 hours
total. Not bad for a rookie! |
Finally finished framing the longest wall!
|
